Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has engaged health managers, frontline health workers and community stakeholders in the Berekum Municipality as part of efforts to identify and address factors contributing to maternal and newborn deaths.
At the Berekum Municipal Health Directorate, the Municipal Health Director, Mr. Kennedy Ohene Adjei, briefed the Deputy Minister on maternal mortality, neonatal and newborn statistics in the municipality.
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He identified challenges with referrals, heavy workloads on health workers and inadequate equipment at peripheral health facilities as some of the factors contributing to maternal deaths.
Prof. Dr Ayensu-Danquah also visited the newly constructed Kutri No. 1 CHPS Compound in the Berekum East Municipality, where she inspected the facility and interacted with health workers and community elders.
She highlighted the important role communities can play in efforts to prevent maternal deaths.
At a community durbar held at the Zongo Health Centre, the Deputy Minister engaged chiefs, Imams and residents on maternal health issues, including the importance of proper nutrition for pregnant women.
Community members also used the engagement to present challenges affecting healthcare delivery in their communities for consideration.
The engagements formed part of the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP), which seeks to strengthen health systems and mobilise stakeholders to help reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths in Ghana.
