A report by the Northern Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has shown that, the region is making significant gains in the area of maternal health, and part of this achievement, has been attributed to frequent informative and educative reportage by media practitioners in the region.
According to Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr. Jacob Mahama who disclosed this to journalists during a bi-annual advocacy and updating seminar for media personnel on maternal health issues in Tamale, the media over the years has been identified as a key player in the promotion of positive health behaviours in the region, which he indicated is worthy of emulation by other stakeholders.
He disclosed that there has been a significant improvement in Antenatal Care in the region especially between 2009 and 2010 with 120% to 125% attendance, postnatal 85% to 86% and maternal deaths also reduced from 96% in 2009 to 85% in 2010.
Dr. Mahama added that, between January and February 2011, the region has recorded 12 cases of maternal deaths with “all the cases being institutional ones” that is, records from the hospitals in the various districts.
He also mentioned other health related problems where the region chalked some successes which include 85% treatment coverage for persons who contracted tuberculosis and supervised delivery 37%.
The Deputy Director of Public Health however attributed the causes of maternal death to postpartum haemhorrage constituting 19%, anaemia 16% and eclampsia 15%.
He further highlighted that, no single case of guinea worm has been reported yet since 2010 till date.
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