Bongo District Records Drastic Reduction in Neonatal Deaths

Bolgatanga: Neonatal deaths in the Bongo District of the Upper East Region have significantly reduced from 2.6 per 1000 live births in 2023 to 0.3 per 1000 live births in 2024, as stated by Ms Estella Abazesi, the District Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS).According to Ghana News Agency, at the 2024 annual health performance review meeting held in Bolgatanga, Ms Abazesi also noted a decrease in stillbirths from 8.6 per 1000 live births to 6.2 per 1000 live births. She emphasized that all stillbirths and neonatal deaths in the first half of 2024 were audited, and the lessons and recommendations were shared on the labour room platform to engage midwives for improved Ante-Natal Care (ANC) services and newborn management.The review meeting provided the GHS management in the district an opportunity to evaluate their performance and plan for 2025. It also fostered collaboration among stakeholders to enhance service delivery. The meeting was attended by officials from the Regional and District Health Di rectorates, the Medical Superintendent and Administrator of the Bongo District Hospital, nurses, midwives, and other stakeholders.Ms Abazesi highlighted that despite the success in reducing neonatal deaths, the district recorded two maternal deaths, resulting in a ratio of 52 per 100,000 live births in 2024, compared to 77 per 100,000 in 2023. Child health promotion services, such as the Expanded Programme on Immunisation, showed improvement. PENTA One coverage was 104 percent in 2024 compared to 106 percent in 2023, while PENTA Three slightly decreased from 109 to 108 percent. Measles One coverage increased from 100 percent in 2023 to 114 percent in 2024, and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) coverage improved from almost 91 percent to 94 percent.Regarding second-year life vaccines, Ms Abazesi reported a significant increase in Measles Two coverage from 89 percent in 2023 to 109 percent in 2024. Vitamin A coverage for children aged 12 to 59 months improved from 90 percent in 2023 to 94 percent in 2024. Fami ly planning indicators also showed progress, increasing from 37 percent in 2023 to 41 percent in 2024, with ANC services improving from 82 to almost 86 percent.Skilled delivery saw a slight reduction to almost 76 percent from just over 77 percent in 2023, with ANC visits improving modestly from 87 to 91 percent in 2024. First trimester pregnancies improved from about 79 percent to about 84 percent in 2024, while anaemia at 36 weeks decreased from 40 to 33 percent.Teenage pregnancy remained unchanged at 11 percent in both 2023 and 2024. Ms Abazesi called for the formation of more adolescent health clubs to enhance adolescent services across the district's healthcare facilities. Tuberculosis cases increased to 127 in 2024 from 112 in 2023, with a treatment success rate of 100 percent for both years.The Director encouraged staff to leverage the 'Network of Practice' initiative of the GHS to enhance facility management, attitudes, behaviors, and practices and to work collaboratively to improve access to qua lity health service delivery. She expressed gratitude to staff and partners, especially WaterAid Ghana, for their contributions to health service delivery in the district and called for continued support.Alhaji Ibrahim Habila, the District Coordinating Director, commended the GHS staff for their achievements despite numerous challenges and urged them to continue improving healthcare delivery in the district.