The Upper East Region has recorded a total of 19 maternal deaths and under- 5 mortality rate of 13.9 deaths in the mid-year of 2019.
The worrying situation show an increase of 19 maternal deaths giving maternal mortality ratio of 104.5 per 100,000 live births compared to 17 deaths, a maternal mortality ratio of 98.5 per 100,000 live births in 2018.
Under-5 mortality of 13.9 deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 11 deaths 1000 live births in 2018.
This was disclosed by the Upper East Regional Health directorate at its 2019 mid-year performance review on the theme: ‘The role of quality data in achieving universal health coverage’.
The Regional Director of Health Services Dr. Winfred Ofosu, said, although the region made strides in skilled delivery, antennal coverage, zero under-5 malaria mortality, delays in referrals due to lack of ambulances in the region accounted for the high maternal mortality.
“The key challenge with respect to maternal deaths is actually referrals, our roads are not very good, so sometimes when these women are referred, they delay in arrival at the hospitals where the interventions will take place.
Even though we have some of the motorking ambulances, they cannot travel in the night due to security reasons. So, having ambulances that can really visits all the places and can travel our roads will help a lot to reduce the delays in arrival at the hospitals, that is the major challenge that accounted for the increase in maternal deaths for the half year of 2019”.
He appealed for a speedy and timely delivery of government’s One-Constituency-One-Ambulance project to salvage the situation.
“We know government has order 275 ambulance for all the constituencies, so we are waiting for those ambulances to come to augment the system, so that, they can work in sink with the motor king ambulances.
If that happens, then we can reduce the delays associated with maternal complications and transfer from the primary health facilities to the secondary or tertiary health centers”.
The region made marginal increases in antenatal coverage of 79.5% compared to 78.1% in 2018, skilled delivery was 71.4% compared to 70.1% and a post-natal care of 71.9% compared to 70.9% in 2018.
Dr. Ofosu described as significant in achieving a zero under-5 malaria fatality and over 15% increase in hospital admissions as well as childhood immunization rate of 83.1% compared to 80.5% in 2018.