The Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has intensified government efforts to reduce maternal deaths and strengthen emergency healthcare delivery in the Northern Region, through community engagement and specialised health workforce training.
The activities, undertaken this week, under the government’s Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP), form part of broader efforts to reduce preventable maternal deaths by fostering stronger collaboration among health authorities, traditional leaders and local communities.
As part of her tour, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah visited Adibo and Gbungbaliga in the Yendi Municipality, where she engaged traditional authorities, inspected health facilities and interacted with residents on the challenges affecting maternal healthcare.
She paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Gbungbaliga Traditional Area, Naa Bapri Gbungbal-Naa Abdallah Abudu Sulemana and visited the Adibo Health Centre, the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compound and the Yendi Municipal Hospital.
The visit was aimed at identifying factors contributing to maternal mortality and strengthening community participation in government interventions. Addressing residents and community leaders, the Deputy Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving maternal and child healthcare, particularly for women in underserved communities.
She announced that under the government’s Free Primary Health Care initiative, community health workers equipped with mobile health backpacks would conduct regular household visits to provide essential maternal and child healthcare services.
According to her, the outreach programme would improve access to healthcare for vulnerable populations, especially pregnant women in remote communities who often face difficulties accessing medical services.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah also encouraged families to adopt healthy diets using locally available foods, stressing that good nutrition is essential to improving maternal and child health outcomes.
Traditional leaders appeal for support
The Paramount Chief commended the Deputy Minister for engaging directly with community members, describing the visit as a demonstration of government’s commitment to addressing healthcare challenges at the grassroots.
He, however, appealed for the deployment of additional health workers, expansion of existing health facilities, staff accommodation, transportation for outreach services, reliable drug supplies and backup power systems for the Adibo Health Centre and the Gbungbaliga CHPS compound.
Beyond maternal health, Dr. Ayensu-Danquah also championed efforts to strengthen Ghana’s emergency healthcare workforce during a visit to the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Training College (NMTC) in Tamale.
She welcomed 49 students admitted into the college’s newly introduced Bachelor of Science in Emergency Nursing Programme, the institution’s first cohort for the specialised programme.
Addressing the matriculation ceremony, she reminded the students of the vital role they would play in saving lives.
“Your clients are waiting for you at the door of every emergency room in this country,” she said, urging them to prepare themselves for the demands of emergency healthcare. She described the programme as a significant milestone under the government’s Reset Agenda and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares, which seeks to strengthen the country’s healthcare system through specialised training and improved service delivery.
The Deputy Minister urged the students to uphold professionalism, discipline and high ethical standards throughout their training, noting that emergency nursing requires sound judgment, technical competence and compassion.
The Principal of the Nurses’ and Midwives’ Training College, Tamale, Dr. Abdulai Abdul-Malik, welcomed the pioneer students and encouraged them to pursue academic excellence while developing the practical skills and integrity required of emergency nursing professionals.
The Deputy Minister’s visit coincided with an orientation programme in Tamale for advisory board members of health training institutions. Held under the theme, “Effective Governance, Role Clarity and Collaboration between Management and Advisory Boards of Health Training Institutions,” the programme seeks to strengthen institutional leadership and improve the quality of health training nationwide.
The maternal health outreach, emergency nursing initiative and governance reforms underscore government’s broader commitment to improving healthcare delivery and building a resilient health workforce capable of meeting Ghana’s evolving healthcare needs.
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