Inadequate personnel and the lack of obstetric logistics cause maternal deaths

Breman-Asikuma(C/R), March 16, GNA - Inadequate personnel and the lack of obstetric services have been identified as the major causes of maternal deaths in Ghana.

"Although there are other causes of maternal death, I believe when there are enough doctors and the right logistic provided, the problem of maternal mortality would be a thing of the past."

Madam Pauline Essuman, Principal Nursing Officer of the Our Lady of Grace Hospital (OLG) at Breman Asikuma in the Central Region, said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday.

"Some of the logistics needed for maternal care include oxygen cylinders, drips and hypertension drugs which help to control excessive bleeding or any other complications of pregnant women."

Madam Essuman said the nation's quest to curb maternal deaths could only be achieved if adequate obstetric logics and enough doctor and nurses are stationed at the various hospitals nationwide. She said an investment in one's reproductive health was an investment i= n one's future development.

"Every death is a tragedy, the death of a young woman who may have other children depending on her is a multiple tragedy and the inexcusable fact is that so many of these deaths are preventable," he said. She noted that pregnant women must have access to skilled care, especially when complications arose and added that for pregnant women every service should be regarded as an emergency.

The Principal Nursing Officer said the free antenatal and delivery services at the public health facilities when extended to the midwives in the private sector could serve as a major boost for eradicating and ensurin= g maternal health in the country.

Giving statistics of maternal mortality/morbidity in the district, Madam Essuman said out of the 1,850 deliveries last year, the hospital recorded only two deaths.

She attributed the death of the expectant mothers to delays in transporting them to the hospital.

"Although we recorded a minimal figure we think it should be nil. Th= us, the district should be a maternal death free zone in the country. "We have put in place efficient and effective measures to enable us to achieve this goal as our contribution towards the national 91war' on mat= ernal deaths".

Madam Essuman appealed to government to consider sponsoring top-up courses for diploma in midwifery and the establishment of more midwifery schools and community maternity clinics to alleviate the problem of patient= s travelling long distances to hospitals.

A recent maternal mortality survey conducted in Ghana suggested that maternal death was still a problem in Ghana because results indicated that 450 pregnant women perished from every 100,000 live births. Maternal health according to the World Health Organization refers to the health of women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period. The major direct causes of maternal morbidity and mortality include haemorrhage, infection, high blood pressure, unsafe abortion, and obstructe= d labour.