HEALTH

15 maternal deaths recorded in Bono Region this year
Bono Region has recorded 15 maternal deaths from January to June this year, Dr Prince Quarshie, the Deputy Director of Public Health at the Regional Health Directorate.

Date Created : 7/29/2022 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : Emmanuel Gyan / Ghanadistricts.com

He regretted cases of maternal deaths were becoming disturbing, saying 33 cases were recorded in 2017, 26 cases in 2018, 22 cases in 2019, and 26 cases and in 2021.

Dr Quarshie gave the statistics at the regional launch of the “zero tolerance for maternal death campaign” of the directorate in Sunyani on the theme “stop preventable maternal deaths and disabilities.”

As a major referral health facility, he said the Regional hospital in Sunyani recorded high cases of the deaths, saying hemorrhage or excessive bleeding and unsafe abortion were the major contributing factors of all maternal deaths recorded within the periods.

Dr Quarshie added excessive bleeding and unsafe abortion contributed about 46.7 and 26.7 percent of the cases respectively, citing that this year two girls between 10 and 19 years had died through unsafe abortion.


He therefore called for active collaboration between all stakeholders in the health sector to help prevent maternal deaths in the region, saying delays in referral of cases, eclampsia, cardiogenic shocks and inadequate monitoring of labour were other causes of the deaths.

Dr explained the campaign formed part of the nation's efforts to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Three (SDG3) of reducing maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030 and called on everybody to support the campaign.

Nana Daasebre Amankona Diawuo II, the Paramount Chief of Berekum Traditional Area who presided advised health workers to adhere to professionalism, and remained committed to serve the nation.