The West Gonja Municipal Health Directorate (WGMHD) has achieved a remarkable milestone by reducing maternal mortality to zero, down from a previous rate of 187.4 per live birth. This accomplishment was announced by the Municipal Director of Health Services, Madam Gertrude Yentumi, during the WGMHD’s 2024 First Half Performance Review held on August 13th.
In her address, Madam Yentumi praised the unwavering dedication of health staff and the support from various partners, acknowledging their crucial roles in reaching this significant goal. “It has required immense sacrifice and commitment from health personnel, policymakers, and stakeholders to bring the directorate this far,” she stated.
She also noted other significant achievements, such as the reduction in neonatal mortality from 6.5 to 5.2 per 1,000 live births and a decline in teenage pregnancies from 13.1% to 12.6%. Immunization coverage has also improved, with PENTA 3 coverage rising from 89% to 99% and OPV3 from 83% to 87%.
Additionally, Madam Yentumi highlighted infrastructure advancements, including the construction and handover of a fully equipped maternity ward at Larabanga Health Centre. The municipality also received seven motorbikes to enhance mobility for health workers across the region.
However, she acknowledged ongoing challenges, such as the reluctance of health workers to accept postings outside Damongo, a shortage of community health nurses, and an alarming increase in both non-communicable and communicable diseases. Notably, hypertension cases have risen from 302 in 2023 to 447 in 2024, and typhoid cases have surged from 1,489 to 1,687 over the same period.
Despite these hurdles, Madam Yentumi reaffirmed the directorate’s commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery, emphasizing the theme of “Data Quality for Informed Decision Making to Achieve Universal Health Coverage.” She urged health staff to prioritize quality data collection and called for intersectoral collaboration to address the municipality’s health challenges.
The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude to the Regional Director of Health Services and partners such as World Vision Ghana, CRS, Savannah Signatures, and FHI 360 for their ongoing support in providing logistics, training, and resources to strengthen healthcare services in West Gonja. Madam Yentumi’s final remarks honored the dedication of municipal health workers, sub-municipal leaders, and selfless health volunteers who continue to serve in challenging conditions.
