High Institutional Maternal Deaths Recorded in Upper East Region

The Upper East Region (UER) recorded 44 institutional maternal deaths in 2017, as against 33 in 2016 respectively. 

This was disclosed by the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services (GHS), Dr. Windfred Ofosu, during the first ordinary meeting of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) for the year 2018, at the conference Hall of the Regional Coordinating Council in Bolgatanga. 

The meeting brought together stakeholders including the 13 Municipal and District Chief Executives, Technocrats, Heads of Departments, presiding members, the Media among others.

It was in fulfillment of the Local Government Act 936 of 2016, which mandates the Regional Coordinating Councils throughout the country to hold at least two ordinary meetings in a year. 

Speaking to GBCONLINE, the Regional Director of the Ghana Health Services, Dr. Winfred Ofosu gave the reasons for the high recorded cases of institutional maternal deaths in the region as non-communicable disease such as bleeding profusely, hypertension and quack doctors. 

Dr. Ofosu also mentioned that the region for the past three years had recorded high prevalent rates of HIV/AIDS cases. He cited for instance that whilst in 2014 and 2015, the region recorded prevalent rate of 1.4 per cent and 1.5 per cent respectively, it also recorded 1.7 per cent in 2016. 

On the Doctor patient ratio, the Regional Director described it as not the best and indicated that the region which has a population of One million, two hundred and sixteen thousand six hundred and 80 is currently having only 10 doctors, two of them Cubans.  

He however, hinted that another batch of eight doctors had just been posted to the region and indicated that measures were being taken to ensure that they stay and work in the area. 

The Regional Director mentioned inadequate water supply, lack of accommodation and staff attitudes among the factors affecting quality health care delivery in the region. 

He indicated that measures were being put in place to mitigate such problems and to ensure   prudent use of financial resources especially internally Generated Funds. 

The Regional Minister, Mr Rockson Bukari Ayine on his part stressed that whilst there were other part time jobs in  the big cities like Kumasi and Accra for doctors working in such places to make additional income it was not so in the region. 

There is the urgent need for pragmatic measures including holding stakeholder meetings in the region involving everybody particularly all the fifteen Municipal and District Assemblies, traditional and religious leaders as well as the Cooperate world  to chart the way forward  to help retain doctors in the region, 

STORY BY: Emmanuel Akayeti – GBC.

GBCONLINE
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