The Ashanti Region of Ghana is grappling with a deeply concerning rise in maternal deaths, painting a stark picture of the challenges facing its healthcare system. Between 2020 and 2024, a staggering 889 women lost their lives during childbirth, a trend that has sparked alarm among health officials. This stark reality stands in stark contrast to the national target of 125 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, a benchmark the region is tragically far from achieving. The year-on-year increase in maternal mortality, from 124 deaths in 2020 to 199 in 2024, underscores the urgency of the situation and the need for a comprehensive and effective response. This upward trajectory suggests that despite ongoing efforts to improve healthcare services, critical gaps remain, hindering the region’s progress towards ensuring safe motherhood.
The alarming statistics presented by Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, the Ashanti Regional Health Director, reveal a persistent and escalating problem. The figures not only highlight the sheer number of lives lost but also expose a system struggling to provide adequate maternal care. The rising trend suggests a potential combination of factors at play, including limited access to quality healthcare facilities, shortages of skilled healthcare professionals, and potentially underlying socio-economic factors that influence healthcare access and utilization. The fact that the number of maternal deaths continues to climb despite efforts to bolster healthcare services points towards a need for a more in-depth analysis of the root causes and a reassessment of existing strategies.
While the Ashanti Region has made strides in improving its doctor-to-population and nurse-to-population ratios, significant disparities persist. Although the ratio of doctors to population has improved considerably between 2020 and 2024, moving from 1:17,169 to 1:5,614, and the nurse-to-population ratio has seen a remarkable improvement from 1:7,169 to 1:614, these figures remain far from ideal. The desired target for nurses is 1:450, indicating a continuing need for increased staffing to adequately serve the population. This shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural and underserved areas, can severely impact access to timely and appropriate care for pregnant women, contributing to the high maternal mortality rate.
Addressing this critical issue requires a multi-pronged approach focused on strengthening the foundation of healthcare delivery in the region. Dr. Adomako Boateng has emphasized the importance of bolstering primary healthcare services, improving the distribution of healthcare professionals to ensure equitable access across the region, and ultimately enhancing the overall quality of care provided to expectant mothers. This strategy highlights the need for a systemic approach, focusing not only on increasing the number of healthcare providers but also on improving the infrastructure, resources, and training available at primary healthcare facilities, which serve as the first point of contact for many pregnant women.
Strengthening primary healthcare services is crucial for early detection and management of pregnancy-related complications. This involves equipping these facilities with the necessary resources and trained personnel to provide comprehensive antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, and postnatal care. Improving the distribution of healthcare professionals, particularly in underserved areas, is essential to ensure equitable access to quality maternal healthcare services for all women, regardless of their location. This will involve incentivizing healthcare workers to practice in rural and remote areas and implementing strategies to retain them.
Ultimately, improving the quality of care hinges on continuous professional development for healthcare providers, ensuring they are equipped with the latest evidence-based practices and skills to manage complex obstetric cases. This includes training on emergency obstetric care, neonatal resuscitation, and postpartum hemorrhage management. Furthermore, incorporating community-based health programs and empowering local communities to actively participate in maternal healthcare initiatives can significantly contribute to reducing maternal mortality. By addressing these critical areas, the Ashanti Region can strive towards achieving the national target and ensuring the well-being of its mothers and newborns. The recognition of Amansie West, Asante South, and Sekyere South health facilities as top performers offers a glimmer of hope and a model for other facilities to emulate, demonstrating that progress is possible with dedicated efforts and effective strategies.
