UNFPA calls for multisectoral approach to reducing maternal deaths in Ghana

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has called for a coordinated, multisectoral approach to reduce maternal deaths in Ghana, despite high access to maternal health services. UNFPA Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Sennen H. Hounton, highlighted that while Ghana has made significant progress in bringing maternal health services closer to women and girls, the quality and readiness of health facilities remain a concern.

He emphasized that maternal health cannot be solely managed by the Ministry of Health, as factors such as roads, electricity, and the availability of health workers fall outside the health sector's responsibility. A case in point is a woman experiencing severe bleeding, whose valuable time can be lost if the road to a health facility is poor, or if there is no reliable electricity for emergency treatment.

Hounton stressed the need for a multisectoral approach, involving other government institutions, to tackle the bottlenecks affecting maternal healthcare. He also pointed out the importance of holding sectors accountable for their role in maternal healthcare issues, noting that the presidential initiative on maternal emergency response could help bring together these needed sectors due to the limited authority of the Ministry of Health alone.

Hounton acknowledged Ghana's decision to prioritize maternal mortality as a national issue, commending the highest office for its effort. He added that many maternal deaths are preventable since the major medical causes are known, and interventions to save lives are available. The crisis lies in the post-delivery phase, where health professionals can address severe bleeding, complications requiring emergency surgery, and eclampsia.

Attention must also be paid to the risk factors, especially adolescent pregnancy and child marriage, as a significant number of maternal deaths occur in adolescents.