Mahama Urges Action to End Preventable Maternal Deaths in Ghana

Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has called for urgent measures to end preventable maternal deaths in Ghana, emphasizing that no woman should lose her life during childbirth. He made this appeal during the launch of the Ghana 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the Presidency in Accra.According to Ghana News Agency, this review marks Ghana's third Voluntary National Review, succeeding those conducted in 2019 and 2022. The report was spearheaded by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Statistical Service, and the National Africa Peer Review Mechanism. President Mahama expressed concern over Ghana's maternal mortality rate, which stands at over 300 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly exceeding the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target.In certain rural areas and communities, the numbers are even higher, prompting President Mahama to describe the situa tion as a silent emergency. He emphasized the need to improve antenatal care, expand the number of Community-based Health Planning and Services facilities (CHIPS), increase the number of skilled birth attendants, and ensure maternal health services are both affordable and accessible.President Mahama highlighted the success of Dodowa Hospital, which reported zero maternal deaths for four consecutive years during his previous administration. He urged other facilities to aim for similar outcomes, stressing the importance of reducing maternal mortality rates across the country. He pointed out that in some northern regions, the rate approaches 400 per 100,000 live births, underlining the necessity of targeted interventions.President Mahama attributed the high maternal mortality rate to various factors, including delays by ambulance services and poor road conditions, which can hinder timely access to emergency care. He called for addressing these issues to break the 300-barrier and move towards zero maternal de aths.In addition to maternal health, President Mahama expressed concern over the rising HIV/AIDS infection rates among young Ghanaians. He advocated for a bold, youth-led national conversation on prevention, supported by schools, health workers, parents, and the media, to tackle the communication failures, stigma, and limited access to sexual health education contributing to the spread of the disease.