The Central Tongu District Directorate of the Ghana Health Service has recorded zero maternal deaths in 2025, a significant improvement from previous years, Baba Awuni, the Central Tongu District Director of Health Services, has announced.

He said maternal mortality in the district reduced from 57.7 percent in 2023 to zero in 2025, describing the achievement as a testament to the resilience and commitment of health staff and stakeholders despite numerous operational challenges.

Awuni made this known at the 2025 Annual Performance Review Meeting of the Directorate held at Adidome on Tuesday, under the theme: “Strengthening the Primary Healthcare System for Improved Access to Quality Health Service Delivery: The Role of Stakeholders in Network of Practice (NoP).”

He added that anaemia at 36 weeks of pregnancy declined from 41.2 percent in 2023 to 28.6 percent in 2025, while the stillbirth rate reduced from 6.3 per 1,000 live births to 4.9 per 1,000 live births within the same period.

According to Awuni, Antenatal Care (ANC) fourth visit coverage increased from 59.4 percent in 2023 to 114.3 percent in 2025, while ANC registrants within the first trimester improved from 57.4 percent to 64 percent. Skilled delivery also saw a marginal increase from 49.5 percent in 2023 to 51.6 percent in 2025.

However, he noted that some key indicators did not show improvement. Family planning acceptor rate declined slightly from 28.3 percent in 2023 to 27.3 percent in 2025, while overall ANC coverage dropped from 82.1 percent to 68.5 percent. Childhood immunisation coverage, using Penta 3 as a proxy, also declined from 75.1 percent in 2023 to 70.4 percent in 2025. Institutional neonatal mortality increased from 1.72 percent to 2.7 percent over the same period.

Awuni attributed some of the challenges to staff attrition, inadequate infrastructure, funding gaps, and limited transport. He disclosed that staff strength reduced from 224 in 2023 to 210 in 2025, with 18 officers currently on study leave. None of the health centres in the district meets the minimum staffing requirement of 51 personnel for a Category A Health Centre. Mafi-Kumasi Health Centre currently has the highest staff strength of 38, while Kpoviadzi has only seven staff. Some Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds are manned by a single officer.

He further indicated that only the District Director of Health Services had official accommodation, with other senior officers renting privately. Some facilities, including Dekpoe, Gidikpoe, and Mawoekpor, operate from private homes, while Old Bakpa and Agorve operate under trees.

Awuni said ongoing construction works by the District Assembly at Dekpoe, Aflavenu, Kanekope, Adalekpoe, and Gidikpoe were supported under the government’s reset agenda and by the area Member of Parliament, Alexander Roosevelt Hotordze.

To address some of the challenges, Awuni said his office liaised with the Regional Health Directorate for staff postings and collaborated with the District Assembly, the office of the Member of Parliament, traditional authorities, and Community Health Management Committees to provide accommodation and other logistical support.

The Directorate received two motorbikes and two laptop computers from the Member of Parliament to support outreach services and improve National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims submissions and data capture.

Awuni said routine and static outreach services were intensified, food demonstrations were conducted to improve maternal and child nutrition, and stakeholder engagements were strengthened to enhance service delivery. He expressed appreciation to health workers, traditional rulers, the District Assembly, development partners, and other stakeholders for their support and urged renewed commitment to strengthen the primary healthcare system through the Network of Practice approach.

Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V, Dufia of Adidome and chairman of the event, mentioned that the review meeting offered an opportunity to assess performance, identify gaps, and align strategies to improve access to quality healthcare in the district in 2026. He expressed optimism that with sustained collaboration and dedication, the directorate and health workers would further improve outcomes and advance towards Universal Health Coverage. He pledged his commitment to supporting their operations in the district.

Dodzi Addison Mornyuie, the Central Tongu District Chief Executive, also lauded the health workers, reassuring them of the Assembly’s resolve to continue bolstering their day-to-day services in the enclave.