Oxfam in Ghana, in collaboration with the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Ghana (SOGOG), has organized a five-day Trainer of Trainer's workshop on Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (EMONC).
The workshop aimed to update midwives with current trends and life-saving interventions to address major obstetric and newborn causes of morbidity and mortality.
The training, themed “Improving Maternal and Newborn Outcomes Through Improved EMONC Coverage in Ghana,” brought together 27 midwives selected from eight districts across five regions.
Mr. Mahamoud Mohammed, Accountable Governance Programme Manager, Oxfam Ghana, emphasized the workshop's importance in equipping health professionals with updated knowledge, especially in the dynamic field of maternal healthcare.
Dr. Ali Samba, President of SOGOG, highlighted the progress made in maternal health, with Ghana achieving 90% antenatal coverage and reducing the maternal mortality ratio to 263 per 100,000 live births.
Despite these achievements, he stressed the ongoing need for improvement and identified EMONC training as a crucial strategy to further reduce maternal mortality.
Dr. Laura Bourjolly, representing the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada, emphasized the collaborative effort to develop and integrate protocols and procedures that meet the needs of healthcare providers in Ghana.
The workshop covered topics beyond EMONC, addressing conditions associated with pregnancy, hypertension, and other relevant areas.
The training concluded with a call for continuous resource allocation to sustain the reduction in Ghana's maternal mortality ratio, demonstrating the commitment to ongoing advancements in maternal healthcare.