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Akosua Manu Urges Sustained National Action and Bipartisan Inquiry to Combat Maternal Mortality
•2 min read•1 source
Akosua Manu, Advisor on Gender and Social Protection to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for a definitive and sustained national strategy to combat Ghana's high maternal mortality rates. Speaking ahead of the launch of the Presidential Initiative on Maternal Health Emergency Response (PRIMER), Manu highlighted the stark reality of the nation's healthcare system, where the maternal mortality ratio remains alarmingly high. She emphasized that the time for mere announcements has passed, and Ghana must now transition into a phase of consistent, life-saving interventions that prioritize the safety of expectant mothers.
The gravity of the situation is underscored by data showing that Ghana records approximately 801 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Manu contrasted this figure with developed nations like Germany, which records only four deaths per 100,000 live births, to illustrate the vast gap in emergency obstetric care. This disparity, she argued, indicates that many deaths are preventable if the right systems, infrastructure, and accountability measures are in place. The focus of the PRIMER initiative is intended to bridge this gap by prioritizing emergency responses during childbirth and ensuring that healthcare facilities are equipped to handle complications.
Beyond technical medical interventions, Manu is advocating for a structural shift in how the state handles maternal health. She has proposed a bipartisan parliamentary inquiry to investigate systemic failures within the health sector that contribute to these fatalities. By involving multiple stakeholders and ensuring legislative oversight, the goal is to create a culture of accountability where every maternal death is scrutinized to prevent future occurrences. She warned that without such a rigorous approach, new initiatives risk becoming temporary measures rather than catalysts for permanent change.
As Ghana prepares to implement the PRIMER initiative, the call for collective action remains central. Manu stressed that eliminating preventable maternal deaths requires the involvement of not just the government, but health professionals, civil society, and the private sector. The success of these efforts will ultimately be measured not by the launch of new programs, but by the measurable reduction of deaths and the strengthening of the nation's healthcare resilience for all women across the country.
