No maternal deaths were recorded in Atiwa District for 2012

Health facilities in the Atiwa District recorded no maternal deaths, decreases in still births and low birth rates during the 2012 year under review.

Dr Kofi Annan, Medical Superintendent of the Nyirasi Government Hospital said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Kwabeng on Thursday, during a presentation of items to health facilities by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Atiwa West, Mr Kwasi Amoako-Attah.

He said that achievement was made possible due to the Millennium Accelerated Framework Strategy and also the CHPS concept which was aimed at increasing access to health service delivery.

Dr Annan said there was a significant increase in most of the service indicators for 2012 due to the support received from collaborators and partners such as the District Assembly and the MP among others.

He said despite their limited resources, they were able to bring quality health care to the people in the area.

Dr Annan also commended all stakeholders and the health staff in the district for their commitment to duty.

He said inadequate staffing at the various facilities, lack of constant power supply; inadequate residential and office accommodation and poor community participation among others were some of the challenges of the health sector in the district.

Dr Annan said the district hospital intended to use a comprehensive approach involving all women in the reproductive age group to ensure that the zero maternal death recorded last year would continue.

This approach, he said, would encompass activities such as health education on the importance of ante-natal care and supervised delivery, intensification of activities of the Ante-Natal unit and constant availability of ambulance services within the facility.

Dr Annan said other approaches such as lobbying for the posting of qualified midwives to the facility and inter-sectarian partnership to advocate against cultural practices that prevent women from seeking ante-natal care when pregnant, have been developed.

Mr Attah-Twum, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atiwa, commended the health staff in the district for working hard to reduce maternal deaths to zero in the year under review.

Mr Tei Djangmah, Atiwa District Director of Health Services, also commended health workers in the district, particularly those serving in the remote and difficult-to-reach parts, for the good job they were doing and their commitment to duty.