67 women died during childbirth in Brong Ahafo in 2016

pulse-ghana admin 12:04 - 13 January 2017

According to Dr Afreh, the deaths were as a result of unsafe abortions, haemorrhage and failure to attend antenatal clinic.

The figure was disclosed by Dr Osei Afreh, the deputy regional director of the Ghana Health Service in the Brong Ahafo Region.

Although this represents a reduction in the 2015 figures (87 deaths), Dr Afreh says the service is working hard to ensure that they achieve a zero percent rate in maternal deaths in the region.

According to Dr Afreh, the deaths were as a result of unsafe abortions, haemorrhage and failure to antenatal clinic.

Dr Afreh also identified that some of the region’s main other health problems include teenage pregnancy and a rise in neonatal deaths.

According to the United Nations, "between 2000 and 2015, the global maternal mortality ratio, or number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, declined by 37 per cent, to an estimated ratio of 216 per 100,000 live births in 2015."

Goal 3 of the Sustainable Development Goals have set the target that “by 2030, reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and by 2030, end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, with all countries aiming to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births and under-5 mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.”