MATERNAL MORTALITY REDUCES IN ASHANTI (MIRROR, PAGE 35, MARCH 13, 2010)

From George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

Maternal mortality in the Ashanti Region was significantly reduced from 222 in 2008 to 177 last year.
Out of the number, 23 died as a result of complications that set in after they attempted aborting their pregnancies
Twenty of the victims were teenagers whose organs had not matured enough to enable them to have safe delivery.
Describing last year’s maternal mortality reduction in the region as very important so far as quality health delivery was concerned, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr Akwasi Yeboa Awudzi, said over the last four years, maternal mortality had always increased.
“ In 2006, as many as 175 women died in the region during delivery and in 2007, the number of pregnant women who lost their lives as a result of complications in delivery was 179. In 2008, the number shot up to 222, and it was only last year that we managed to reverse the trend, making it possible for us to achieve that significant reduction to 177 cases of maternal mortality,” he explained.
Addressing participants who attended a safe motherhood seminar in Kumasi, Dr Yeboa Awudzi pointed out that in the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs alone , as many as 152 women lost their lives in 2008 as a result of some complications that set in during delivery, adding that 120 women lost their lives in the metropolis.
He explained that the reduction in maternal mortality in the region in 2009 was the result of the contingency measures put in place by the health professionals in collaboration with other stakeholders.
“All hands were on deck and with the active support from all the major hospitals and clinics in the metropolis, we managed to devise means of treating emergency cases, hence the significant reduction in maternal mortality,” he noted.
Dr Yeboa Awudzi said over the years, “it was the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) which was undertaking caesarean sections, so many cases were referred there, making it impossible for them to treat all the emergencies. Now many of the other hospitals such as Suntreso, Kumasi South, Tafo and the Manhyia hospitals are all undertaking caesarean section. This has considerably reduced the workload on KATH, hence the significant reduction in maternal mortality”.
“ KATH has only two theatres, so when they receive more than necessary emergencies, they are unable to attend to all at the same time, and this affects the chances and survival of those who may not receive emergency treatment on time, but now the situation is different,” he explained.
He said apart from this, a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have also supported the health sector by educating women on the need to undertake regular antenatal care to reduce complications during delivery.
Dr Yeboa Awudzi said to further reduce maternal mortality, there is the need for many of the peripheral hospitals to have adequate number of gynaecologists.
On the increased number of abortions in the region, he advised women to patronise family planning services to avoid unwanted pregnancies and the complications that set in.
Mrs Agartha Amoateng-Boahen, President of SAMORGHEP, an NGO, expressed concern about the alarming rate of maternal mortality in the country and called for the collaboration of all stakeholders in promoting safe motherhood “ instead of promoting the nakedness of our women, especially by our youth on television and other platforms”.
“ In Ghana we seem to be very concerned when we hear of motor accidents but for a very long time, we have neglected this worse silent killer which deprives us of our wives, mothers, sisters and dear ones,” she stressed.