Ghana launches new TV series to promote maternal health

Government on Wednesday launched “The Maternal Health Channel” TV series aimed at complementing a concerted national effort to inform, educate and stimulate interest in maternal health issues.

It will also help to find urgent solutions to the tragedy of death and disabilities of pregnant women.

The TV series would be aired on Ghana Television and TV3 Network on Thursdays and Fridays respectively.

President John Dramani Mahama said government still considered maternal health as a critical issue which must be given the needed attention by all development partners to ensure the safe delivery of pregnant women and protection of their new born babies.

President Mahama, whose speech was read on his behalf by Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, commended the Kingdom of the Netherlands and other partners like UNICEF, UNFPA, Ghana Coalition of NGOs on Maternal Health, Creative Storm and Ghana Health Service for sponsoring the TV series.

He stressed the need to ensure the safety of all pregnant women to avoid their needless deaths in an effort to bring new lives to the world.

He said government had, therefore, designed various interventions to improve the health practices and human resources at health centres, and strengthen emergency services for quick transfer of pregnant women to medical facilities.

Mr Gerard Duijfjes, Netherlands Ambassador, expressed reservation that about 4000 women die in Ghana every year while over 100,000 were disabled due to pregnancy related complications.

He, therefore, urged all stakeholders to watch the TV series and engage further discussions that would lead to changes in the maternal mortality rate of the country.

Dr Joyce Aryee, Founder of Salt and Light Ministry, urged all stakeholders, especially queen mothers, to help disabuse the minds of people on negative practices that contributed to maternal mortality.

Dr Aryee, who is a gender advocate, noted that prejudices and superstitions that contributed to the death of pregnant women in the 21st century must be dealt with holistically.