Maternal health not just about childbirth – Dr Kuma-Aboagye

Bolgatanga: Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General (DG) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), says maternal health is not just about delivering a baby, but the total well-being of the mother before, during and after childbirth is key.'To achieve this, we need a multi-faceted approach that includes skilled care, access to essential services, and a supportive environment for both mother and child,' he said.Dr Kuma-Aboagye was speaking at the 2024 mid-year performance review meeting of the GHS in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, on the theme: 'Using Network of Practice to drive universal access to quality maternal healthcare in the Upper East Region'.The meeting brought together District and Municipal Directors of the GHS, senior management members, Medical Superintendents across the Region, development partners and stakeholders, to take stock of their performances and strategise to improve on healthcare delivery.The DG said healthcare professionals could leverage on the Network of Practice (NoP) to drive universal access to quality maternal healthcare in several ways, including knowledge sharing, where networks could facilitate the continuous exchange of knowledge and skills among healthcare professionals.'By bringing together professionals from various backgrounds, NoPs created fertile ground for innovative solutions to emerge. This is crucial in keeping our workforce updated with the latest maternal healthcare practices and innovations, thereby improving the quality of care provided.'If a particular approach to reducing maternal mortality is working well in one district, the Network of Practice can ensure it is rapidly adopted across all districts within the region and in other regions as well. This means that no one is left behind as we forge ahead,' the DG said.He told the staff of the Service that as they aimed to achieve universal access to quality maternal health care, they must recognise that no single entity could do it alone.'The complex challenges we face require collective action, shared knowledge, and continuous innovation'.Dr Kuma-Aboagye said a NoP offered them a powerful means to bring together the best practices and resources, ensuring that every woman in Ghana had access to the care she deserved.Dr Samuel Kwabena Boakye-Boateng, the Regional Director of the GHS, in his address, recognised the significant role a functional NoP could play to ensure the region experienced enhanced and sustained strengthen health system across all service delivery levels, towards the attainment of universal access to healthcare of the highest quality.He explained that the focus on maternal health was due to the vital role it played in ensuring that the health and well-being of both mother and child was prioritised.Alhaji Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Regional Minister, noted that although maternal healthcare undoubtedly remained the foundation of national health agenda and the collective vision for a healthier and more equitable society, yet too many women continued to face barriers that prevented them from accessing timely and quality maternal care.He said the call for network of practice, was critical in dealing with dynamic challenges of universal access and quality maternal health care, as it allowed for collaborative framework between health facilities and professionals within a defined geographical area to provide comprehensive health service by managing and sharing knowledge, skills, resources and best practices.He recognised the support of development partners and all other stakeholders for their invaluable contributions towards improving healthcare delivery in the region.Source: Ghana News Agency