The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has commended OXFAM for complementing its efforts at reducing maternal mortality in the Upper East Region.

Mrs Joyce Bagna, the Bolgatanga Municipal Director of Health Services, made the commendation at a stakeholders’ meeting in Bolgatanga on Monday to review the end of the first phase implementation of Oxfam and the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC) project in curbing maternal mortality in the Region dubbed “Oxfam/ISODEC Top Project in the Region”

Oxfam is the main sponsors of the project, while ISODEC is the implementing agency.

Evaluating of the Project, the Consultant to the Project, Mr Joseph Ayembilla, said the project had chalked successes and had made significant progress in establishing and building the capacity of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and Community Health Committees (CHCs) in six communities in three districts of the Region.

These are Bolgatanga Municipality, the Bawku West and the Kessena-Nankana East districts.

He said 105 TBAs had been identified and groomed and are providing support to expectant mothers, advising and assisting them regularly to attend health facilities to deliver.

Mr Ayembilla said 32 TBAs had been provided with mobile phones and this had made it possible for them to reach out to midwives in times of emergency.

He said 141 CHCs have been empowered to do door-to- door education on health issues in the project communities.

Mr Ayembilla mentioned some of the challenges that confronted the first phase of the project and said the project period was short and caused a rush in the implementation of the project.

He also mentioned limited number of project staff as one of the factors that nearly affected the smooth operation of the project and called for more project staff for the second phase.

Mrs Rosemond Akola, Project Manager of Oxfam was full of happiness for the successful implementation of the project and said it would be scaled up in the second phase to benefit other communities in the Region.**