Dept GCSP Minister Hon Rachel Appoh: Maternal Mortality Rate Is Declining

Deputy Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection (GCSP) and NDC MP for Gomoa Central, Hon Rachel Nana Adwoa Appoh has said that despite some challenges her ministry is pleased to announce the sudden decrement of maternal mortality rate in recent times. According to her, it is unacceptable that each year close to 8.8 million children have to die before their birth due to diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, lack of immunization, pneumonia and HIV/AIDS. �Again, it is quite uncomfortable and challenging to see women suffer great danger to their health because they are pregnant or are going to give birth. Neglect by husbands, poor road infrastructure and transport, domestic violence, illiteracy and ignorance are some causes of maternal deaths,� she asserted. Speaking at an official inauguration of the Rural Maternal and Child Foundation in Dormaa Akwamu over the weekend, Hon Nana Adwoa assured government readiness to cut down maternal mortality drastically so as to save innocent lives. This she believes will need more education in the rural areas so there will be need for expertise to be deplored in such areas to school mothers. �Although these challenges exist, new trends in maternal mortality estimates confirm that, the number of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth is declining. ��along with other indicators, Ghana is making progress in saving mothers� lives, through rapid progress in key strategic approach to the safe motherhood by deploying trained midwives, ensuring adequate essential supplies of drugs and equipment,� she said. Adding; �awareness creation on the importance of family planning and making family planning accessible, providing timely obstetric care to women with complications and education on the importance of anti and post natal care�. However, government has improved living standards among women through women empowerment programs and poverty alleviation. Again, government has direct programs and project interventions like the free maternal health, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for pregnant women and children, anti and post natal care for women, improved nutrition and diet campaigns are all programs that has help prevent maternal deaths and access to health facilities to ensure the attainment of MDG 3, 4 and 5. The Deputy Minster emphasized that; women cannot be viewed in isolation, when designing measures to support pregnant women in the development process. This she explained that ��Maternal health issues is not just about women, nor is it for the benefit of women only, but it involves changing gender relationships between women and men in order to prevent maternal deaths and child mortality�.