THE issue of maternal and neonatal deaths causes pain, anxiety and confusion and uneasiness considering the fact that the factors that jeopardise maternal and new-born survival are preventable or treatable with essential services, and the most effective, affordable public health interventions.
Reproductive health problems remain the leading cause of ill-health and death for women of childbearing age worldwide. The impact of reproductive health intiatives is to make motherhood safer by improving access to family planning in order to reduce unintended pregnancy and achieving preferred spacing between intended pregnancies; achieving skilled care for all births; and providing timely obstetric care for all women who develop complications during childbirth
Reducing maternal deaths is a concern for all and that is why the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed to by world leaders in September 2000, included a specific target of reducing the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth by three-quarters by 2015.
The MDGs give a central place to maternal health and gender equality. MGD 5, improving maternal health, is often called “the heart of the MDGs” because if it fails, the other goals will also fail. However, health experts say the situation may not change by 2015 if no drastic measures are taken to reverse the situation.
In October 2007, the 62nd General Assembly of the United Nations approved a new target on universal access to reproductive health. The indicators of measuring progress towards the target included providing access to family planning to reduce unintended pregnancies of adolescents; and providing antenatal care to address health risks to mothers and children.
According to the experts, an obstetric emergency was not a situation whereby the expectant mother involved could be asked to come back the next day, since that can result in her death.
The United Nations Foundation Founder and Chairman, Ted Turner was reported to have stated among others in the media that “ one of the best ways to accelerate progress on all of MDGs is to improve women’s and children’s health and to reduce the burden of preventable diseases by expanding access to immunisation.
Last week, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan , the Akyempemhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku and a team of United Nations Foundation Board of Directors, Mr Turner visited the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on a fact finding mission.
The visit to the KATH also formed part of the United Nations Foundation Board of Directors objectives towards ending extreme poverty and tackling global challenges including health care and environmental sustainability, as well as the preparation to launch a nationwide measles immunisation campaign scheduled for early November this year.
The visit to the hospital took the team to the labour ward A2 and the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Baby Unit of the Child Health Care Unit of the hospital where there is serious congestion.
They also took advantage of their visit to find out about the Children and Maternity block project which has been under construction for the past 36 years.
Briefing the media about the present state of affairs and the problems created as a result of delay in the execution of the project, moments after the dignitaries had left the hospital, the Chief Executive of KATH, Professor Ohene Adjei said KATH authorities would need about $30 million to complete the project.
He said the delay in the completion of the project was seriously undermining quality health care delivery by creating massive congestion at both the labour and Children’s wards of the hospital.
While the wards are choked, forcing some patients on admission at the labour ward to lie on the floor, and newly-born babies packed in cots at great risk, patients intake keep on increasing daily, compounding the problem of congestion.
When completed, the Children’s and Maternity block will be equipped with a total of 995 beds , including 322 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology wards , and 448 beds and the paediatric block.
It will also be equipped with 10 separate theatres , 28 consulting rooms and other facilities that will facilitate quality healthcare delivery at the KATH.
He pleaded with philanthropists, corporate institutions , and organisations the general public to support the hospital with funds that would facilitate the early completion of the project.
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