The Sekyere East District Health Directorate has recorded no maternal dead between January 2017 and June this year.
District Health Director, Dr. Dorothy Afuakwa told Adom News’ Kwame Kulenu they used to record huge numbers of material mortality in previous years, particularly the rural areas.
But the figures have been reducing in recent years until it reached zero since last year.
Available data from the district indicate in 2015, there were five maternal deaths out 1,861 deliveries, while in 2016, two mothers died out of 2,044 deliveries; but in 2017, all mothers survived out of 1,934 deliveries and so far no mother has died from 1,072 births up to June 2018.
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Dr. Dorothy Afuakwa said they did not have resources to intervene until World Vision came to the District with health intervention programs, and helped to build one CHPS Compound, which is now being used as OPD, labour ward and other for healthcare purposes.
She said World Vision also educated pregnant women on the dos and don’ts, including eating habits, and that is what has helped to arrive at the zero maternal death for one and a half years.
“World Vision also helps to train health officers to build their knowledge on health delivery and also train community volunteers to assist the health staff,” she said.
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World Vision also educated mothers on regular breastfeeding, which has also reduced infant mortality rate in the District.
Dorothy Afuakwa, however, stated that the Health Directorate lacks vehicles and staff accommodation.
She said some workers travel between 45 minutes and 1.30 hours from Kumasi to work every day.
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This, she said, was undermining quality health delivery in the District.
Some breastfeeding mothers told Adom News that children failed to give regular breast milk for six months, are not growing well, but those who got consistent breastfeeding, after sensitization by World Vision are growing faster, stronger and smarter.
They thanked World Vision for their support.