{
  "id": 238745,
  "title": "986 pregnant women died in Ghana in 2024 – Deputy Health Minister",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/986-pregnant-women-died-in-ghana-in-2024-deputy-health-minister",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-06T21:39:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/986-pregnant-women-died-in-ghana-in-2024-deputy-health-minister/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the Deputy Minister for Health, has revealed that 986 pregnant women lost their lives in Ghana in 2024. The country's maternal mortality ratio stands at 235 deaths per 100,000 live births. Dr Ayensu-Danquah highlighted maternal mortality as a critical public health issue and stressed that no woman should lose her life during childbirth. Improving maternal healthcare is a top priority for the government, she emphasized. During a tour of the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme in Accra on Thursday, August 6, Dr Ayensu-Danquah explained that the initiative would help health authorities evaluate maternal healthcare delivery, pinpoint key shortcomings, and implement strategies to enhance outcomes for mothers nationwide. \"In 2024, 986 pregnant women died,\" she stated. The Deputy Minister underscored the importance of strengthening primary healthcare to curb maternal deaths, noting that health centers must be well-stocked to detect high-risk pregnancies early and refer pregnant women to specialized care when necessary. She also announced that the government would tackle infrastructure and equipment issues at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital as part of broader efforts to enhance maternal healthcare services and ensure better outcomes for pregnant women.",
  "summary": "The Deputy Minister for Health in Ghana, Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has revealed that 986 pregnant women died in the country in 2024, resulting in a maternal mortality ratio of 235 deaths per 100,000 live births. Dr Ayensu-Danquah highlighted maternal mortality as a significant public health concern, emphasizing that no woman should lose her life during childbirth. She underscored the government's commitment to reducing preventable maternal deaths and stressed the importance of strengthening primary healthcare to address this issue. During a tour in Accra, Dr Ayensu-Danquah announced that the government would focus on improving infrastructure and equipment at healthcare facilities, including the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, to enhance maternal healthcare services and ultimately improve outcomes for pregnant women across Ghana.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}