Midwives shortage hits Ghana - report

Research has revealed a shortfall of midwives by 29 percent in Ghana. The means the country needs 1,459 additional midwives to cushion this deficit and make advancement to achieving the 95 percent Skilled Birth Attendants (SBA) coverage by 2015.

The research further showed that 69 percent of maternal deaths and 61 percent of neonatal deaths could be averted by 2015 if all women delivered at health facilities which had midwives as well as fully-functioning Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care.

The research which was conducted by MamaYe, a campaign aimed at improving maternal and new born babies in Sub-Saharan Africa, showed that between 2008 and 2010, there were variations in the number of midwives, nurse-midwives and nurses with midwifery competencies in Ghana. In 2008, there were an estimated 3,780 midwives, nurse-midwives and nurses with midwifery competencies in Ghana while 2010 recorded 3,591 personnel, showing a decrease of five percent.

According to Derick Romeo Adolga, the Communications Director of MamaYe campaign, old age is a contributory factor to the increasing attrition in the midwifery profession. He said, most of the midwives are old and need replacement with young professional staff. He added that, the poor conditions of service has led to the exodus of some competent midwifery professionals to get lucrative jobs.

In 2010, the government under late President Mills instituted strategies to improve the situation by strengthening the free maternal health care policy and ensuring that 95 percent of pregnant women had access to comprehensive Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT). Government also took measures to ensure security for family planning commodities.

According to Mr. Adolga, those initiatives helped to improve the midwifery profession and its services to pregnant and nursing women. He called for repetition and strengthening of the policies instituted in 2010.