Ghana’s Second Lady Hajia Samira Bawumia has launched the Safe Delivery Project in the Saboba district of Northern Region as part of efforts of her girl-child and women empowerment and humanitarian services to the vulnerable and less privileged in society.
Through the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project, the Second Lady distributed birth kits to expectant mothers in their last trimester, which consist of Cord clamps, cord tie, gauze, cord sheets / baby wiping cloth, sterile blade, combine dressing, delivery mat, name tag, and gloves.
Other items in the package were chlorhexidine gel/methylated spirit, misoprostol tablets (anti-haemorrhaging prophylaxis), hematinic capsules, folic acid tablets, and soaps.
The Second Lady also presented beds, digital infrared thermometer, pharmaceutical aids, traps & mucous for ENT, among other large quantity of medical equipment to the Saboba district hospital for efficient healthcare delivery.
This is in line with the UN sustainable development goal 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages and to reduce the global maternal mortality rate to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
In her address, Mrs. Bawumia observed the Saboba district is one of the worst affected districts in Ghana as far as maternal and neonatal mortality are concerned.
“I am happy that today I am launching the Safe Delivery Project the in Saboba District. This project is being launched here not only because you are dear to my heart but also because you are one of the worst affected districts in Ghana.
“We need to reduce maternal deaths, reduce neonatal deaths, increase skilled delivery, and increase antenatal care and post-natal care by addressing some of the major causes of maternal mortality –Postpartum Haemorrhage, infections, and hypertension” she stressed.
Hajia Samira indicated the work of addressing avoidable maternal deaths in Ghana is however, a collective one and thanked the Ghana Health Service, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), KGL Foundation, Unilever, and MedShare Incorporated, USA, for their immense support in the fight against maternal and neonatal mortality in the country.
The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu in his remarks challenged the Ghana Health Service to ensure the intervention reflects in the physical benefits of the people.
He said, “as a Regional Minister, it is my duty to make sure that every person who finds himself or herself in my region stays healthy and if I have somebody who has left the comfort of her office to help me achieve this feet, I think I should be grateful to her.”
Meanwhile, Dr Ibraimah Abubakari, the Northern Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, for his part said Ghana is committed to achieving the SDG goal 3.8 which bothers on universal health coverage.
“By this commitment, we (Ghana Health Service) are determined to provide timely access to high quality health service without regards to where we find ourselves and without regards to our ability to pay. This already, is in line with the vision of the Ghana Health Service which is to ensure that all communities have access to timely quality and comprehensive healthcare” he stated.
