The Ghana Registered Midwives Association is calling on the government to swiftly settle the National Health Insurance Authority indebtedness to service providers to enable midwives to deliver improved services to reduce maternal and neonatal mortalities.
According to the association, d=the government’s delays in reimbursing service providers for national health insurance claiams makes it difficult for facilities to access consumables for the free maternal health service delivery.
This was disclosed at the 28th International Day of The Midwife in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on the theme: “Midwives: Defenders of Women’s Rights”.
President of the association Mrs. Netta Forson Ackon said, though the country had made strides in maternal and neonatal health care, numerous challenges hinder the achievement of zero maternal and neonatal mortality.
“Government has declared that maternal health services be delivery freely to all pregnant mothers so that, when these pregnant mothers go to the facility, the NHIA will reimburse them but there has being a lack of reimbursement. The NHIA has started reimbursement, however, some facilities have not been paid at all. So, when they are not having the means to work it affects the pregnant mothers because some of the midwives have gone into their savings to withdraw to continue to care for pregnant mothers hoping that, the monies will be paid but is taking a lot of time.”
Mrs. Netta Ackon also impressed on the government to improve health care across the country by providing timely provide critical logistics and consumables for maternal health delivery.
In a speech read by Dr. Banabas Yeboah on behalf of the Minister of Health Kwaku Agyeman Manu, he said, the government was committed to achieving universal maternal health coverage by deploying midwives to deprived communities.
“The Ministry of Health recognizes the crucial role of midwives in improving maternal and child health outcomes in the country.
This government is committed to accelerated deployment of Midwives to deprived communities through the CHPS to ensure that, mothers do not travel far distances to access basic maternal health care. Currently, we have 14.8% of our midwives in CHPS zones and we hope to increase this percentage”.
For her part, Upper East Regional Minister Paulina Abayage said, the government was dedicated to improving the midwife-pregnant mothers’ gap and urged midwives to accept postings to remote areas.
“Government this year is recruiting 40,000 health staff and the process with the latest advertisement for recruitment of 99 medical officers, 427 nurses and midwives among other cadres of health staff.
The implementation of the revised CHPS strategy requires the deployment of midwives to add to the range of primary health services and this calls for dedication and committed on the part of midwives to accept postings to underserved communities”.
Fourteen outstanding midwives across the country were awarded fridges.