PATH Ghana to start Oxytocin Initiative

Accra, Feb. 24, GNA - The Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) Ghana, an international non-profit organisation, would begin a three-year project called the Oxytocin Initiative (OI) in the country to complement government's efforts to reduce maternal mortality. Oxytocin is a life saving drug recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for the prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage.

Mrs. Patience Cofie, the Country Director of PATH Ghana, said this at the inauguration of the company's office in Accra. The branch is a subsidiary of PATH which has offices in 70 countries to create sustainable, culturally relevant solutions and enabling communities worldwide to break longstanding cycles of poor health. The organisation's vision is to improve the health of people around the world by advancing technologies, strengthening systems, and encouraging healthy behaviours.

Mrs. Cofie said the Bill and Melinda Gates funded project sought to reduce high maternal mortality rate in the country, particularly those attributable to postpartum haemorrhage and for Ghana to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDGs) five.

"It will improve maternal health and survival in Ghana by creating a strong evidence base to support expanded safe use of Oxytocin". "The project involves the introduction and administration of Oxytocin via the Uniject injection device, a pre-filed, auto-disable device that will be used by community-based health workers," she said. Mrs. Cofie said the initiative was jointly developed by PATH, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Heath, the Family Health Division and the Kintampo Health Centre under the Research Development of the Ghana Health Service. She said despite successes chalked by the health sector it continued to face numerous challenges including incidence of malaria and high maternal deaths. Mrs. Cofie said PATH Ghana would help support the malaria Vaccine Initiative through the vaccine trials in some of the regional hospitals in the country.

Dr. Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, the Deputy Minster of Health, said the objectives of PATH Ghana were in line with government's policy to achieve the complex health care needs of people especially those in the rural areas. He said the rich experience of the organisation in developing solutions would provide government with a strategic advantage to test some of the innovations. Dr Quaye-Kumah assured government's support for the project and to ensure its results were utilised to review health policies.