The Ministry of Health has intensified efforts to address maternal mortality in the Bono Region, with Deputy Health Minister Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah calling for a closer examination of gaps in healthcare delivery that continue to contribute to preventable maternal deaths.
Prof. Dr Ayensu-Danquah said the response must go beyond identifying haemorrhage and hypertension as major causes of maternal deaths to examining why women who develop such complications often fail to receive timely and effective care.
She made the call during a two-day working visit to the Bono Region under the Ministry’s Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (M-MARP).
The visit formed part of the programme’s Regional Ecosystem Assessment and marked her sixth regional engagement.
The assessment brought together officials from the Bono Regional Health Directorate, the Sunyani Regional Hospital, municipal and district health directorates, medical superintendents and members of the Bono Regional Health Management Team.
It focused on maternal health service delivery, referral systems, emergency obstetric care and other factors influencing maternal health outcomes in the region.
Focus must shift from causes to gaps in care
Prof. Dr Ayensu-Danquah explained that M-MARP was established to examine what actually happens within health facilities and communities, rather than focusing solely on policies and programmes.
She noted that although Ghana had introduced several maternal health policies and interventions over the years, maternal mortality remained a major concern.
According to her, this required a reassessment of existing strategies and a coordinated effort to address persistent weaknesses in the healthcare system.
She expressed concern that many women who die from maternal complications had already come into contact with the health system, including through antenatal care.
This, she said, raised important questions about the quality, timeliness and effectiveness of the care they received before, during and after complications developed.
Prof. Dr Ayensu-Danquah therefore called for deeper investigations into the circumstances surrounding maternal complications, rather than simply recording the immediate medical causes of death.
Referral delays and equipment shortages
The Bono Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Abudulai Abukari, identified delays in seeking care, referral challenges and delays in receiving appropriate treatment as some of the factors contributing to maternal deaths in the region.
He also cited weaknesses in identifying high-risk pregnancies, inadequate critical medical equipment and limited ambulance availability as challenges affecting emergency referrals and maternal healthcare.
Dr Abukari said the region had introduced several measures to address the situation, including regular maternal death reviews and refresher training for midwives.
The region has also established a clinical WhatsApp platform to enable health workers to seek specialist guidance on complicated cases in real time.
He called for stronger referral systems, sustainable financing, improved infrastructure and equipment, and a better distribution of health personnel to areas where they are most needed.
Collective action needed
Prof. Dr Ayensu-Danquah stressed that reducing maternal deaths could not be achieved by healthcare workers alone.
She said families, traditional and religious leaders, communities, civil society organisations and development partners must all be involved in the response.
According to her, the M-MARP regional assessments are intended to generate practical action points that will strengthen maternal health services and help prevent deaths that could otherwise be avoided.
