Accra, Feb. 4, GNA – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says the improved public–private partnerships and community engagement is contributing towards positive outcomes in the delivery of critical maternal, newborn and child health services.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the GHS, who gave the commendation during the maternal and child health conference, said collaboration between the GHS and private sector players like Zipline Technologies in recent years had significantly improved maternal healthcare.
The GHS indicates that 875 maternal deaths were recorded in 2018 and 838 in 2019, respectively. The figure further decreased to 776 in 2020 despite an increase in deliveries while institutional maternal mortality ratio reduced from 117 in 2019 to 106 in 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Director-General of the GHS, therefore, called for improved efforts by all stakeholders to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of 70 per 100,000 live births in 2030.
He noted that the recent decrease in maternal mortality in the country could be attributed to increased partnerships, resulting from the delivery of essential maternal medications and medical supplies to health outposts via drones.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye emphasised that there had been a steady decline in maternal deaths and improvement in maternal healthcare delivery since Zipline rolled out its rapid delivery system in the GHS supply chain processes.
Based on concerns regarding growing number of maternal deaths in the country, the Government in 2019, introduced the medical drone delivery system, which helped link health facilities especially those in hard-to-reach communities with Zipline to deliver medical supplies.
Following successful works in Rwanda, Zipline was engaged as the special purpose vehicle to facilitate the decentralisation of medical health.
The company has since 2021, delivered 16,627 pregnancy category medications, and on countless occasions, flown critical medical supplies to save pregnant women from intrauterine deaths.
Naa Yawson, the General Manager of Zipline, believed that in view of the advancements in healthcare delivery, Ghana should adopt modern technology to end maternal deaths by improving access to maternal healthcare delivery.
She further extended her appreciation to all stakeholders for recognizing the impact of the drone delivery service in addressing maternal healthcare challenges.
“Zipline has been contributing to improved access to quality maternal healthcare in Ghana by providing solutions to emergency interventions such as intrauterine foetal death (dead baby in the uterus), low haemoglobin in pregnant women, and ectopic pregnancy.
“We are, therefore, excited to be identified as an integral partner in helping government reduce maternal mortality in Ghana,” she said.
Zipline has hinted that it will continue to carry out the needed expansion to ensure more people in critical need of medical and blood products are serviced, regardless of the location.
GNA