Ho Municipal Hospital records Zero maternal death

Mad. Ntoso presenting award to Dr. Kumi

The  Ho Municipal hospital in Volta region which was hitherto regarded as a ‘death camp’ for expectant mothers has for the first time, recorded zero maternal death in the last one year.

The facility attained this feat between June 2013 and June 2014, down from 14 deaths in 2012, and three deaths in the first half of 2013.

To this end, nine midwives and two doctors were on Tuesday honoured by the Queenmothers of Asogli traditional area for their efforts in reducing maternal mortality.

At the maiden award ceremony, the Queenmothers  honoured Dr Lawrence Kumi, Medical Superintendent of the Hospital and Dr Tamara Alvarez Ramirez from Cuba, for their ‘good leadership and dedication’ in changing the image of the Hospital.

Other awardees included Madam Innocentia Anthonio, a Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the Maternity ward, Elizabeth Kpesese, Victoria Aggor, Elizabeth Klu, Agnes Asigbe, and four others.

The awardees were selected through the recommendations of mothers who attended the hospital in a two month radio phone-in programme.

The Queenmother of Ho-Dome and initiator of the award, Mama Attrato II disclosed that the Asogli Queenmothers two years ago planned to protest against the rate at which pregnant women were losing their lives at the facility.

She therefore described the hospital’s feat as a great achievement, worthy of celebration and commended the midwives for turning the situation around.

Awardees in a Group photo

Mama Atrato also noted the award ceremony would be extended to other health facilities.

Dr Joseph Nuertey, Volta Regional Director of Health Services, lauded staff of the Hospital for changing the hospital’s image to a facility of choice for pregnant women.

He also asked them to sustain the effort to drastically minimize maternal and neonatal deaths, in order for the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goal four and five, which seeks to reduce neonatal and maternal mortality ratio by three quarters by 2015.

Dr. Nuertey further disclosed, though the region has the least number of midwives, skilled delivery had started going up from 45.6 per cent in 2013 to 47.9 per cent at half year, with stillbirths decreasing from 1.9 per cent to 1.8 per cent. Whiles neonatal deaths had also decreased from five per 1000 to 3.1 per 1000.

He therefore urged other traditional areas to adopt the award scheme to help reduce maternal mortality.

Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso, Volta Regional Minister, applauded the Queenmothers for the initiative and asked midwives to put their duty above personal gains.

Madam Innocentia Anthonio, a Principal Nursing Officer in charge of the Maternity ward, on behalf of other awardees thanked the Asogli Queenmothers for the recognition given them.

She assured all and sundry that the award has renewed their commitment in working together to improve the lives of mothers and their babies towards the attainment of the MDGs 4 and 5.