First Lady Calls For More Focus To Fight Maternal Mortality

The First Lady, Dr. (Mrs.) Ernestina Naadu Mills has stressed the need for a responsible parenthood to reduce maternal mortality in the country.

She advocated that the society must partner government to fight teenage pregnancy and other social vices that are likely to cause deaths mostly related to pregnancy.

She made the call when the leadership of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association presented an Atlas of Birth which captures countries and their performance in tackling the fight against maternal mortality. The Atlas also highlighted cities that have performed well in reducing maternal deaths across the globe.

Dr. Naadu Mills has been vigorously campaigning for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa over the past years. The campaign focused on harnessing all resources possible to end the unfortunate manner women in developing countries particularly Ghana lose their lives during child birth, as well as increase the awareness on need for the adoption of anti-natal, delivery and post-natal care by professionals.

During a briefing session with the Ghana Registered Midwives Association, She reminded society of its sacred responsibility to ensure that no woman must face her untimely death whiles giving life, and called for a cohesive national building strategy of mobilizing commitment and the support of key stakeholders including national authorities and communities to mobilize additional domestic resources in support of maternal issues.

Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills also expressed worry about how most maternal mortality cases are recorded in the very deprived and remote parts of the country due to lack of proper health facilities to handle ante-natal and post-natal cares.

She praised the association for the work that they are doing so far and called for the formation and sharing of ideas in bringing to an end maternal mortality and bemoaned the death ratio which is also associate with frequent strikes of by health providers and out-moded cultural practices which must be dealt with.

She also called on parents especially the fathers to come in and help and not leave the business of pregnancy care to mothers alone.