By J. K Nabary, GNA
Bereku (C/R), March 11, GNA – Zero Maternal Mortality was recorded at Awutu District Health Service in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Dr Felix Gerald Kwaning Darbbey, the District Health Service Director, disclosed this in a presentation at the 2025 Annual Performance Hearing summit at Awutu Bereku.
The Health Directorate has 30 Community Health Planning and Services compounds, Two Health Centers, Two Polyclinics, five Maternity Homes and three Private Clinics working under it.
He said the theme for the meeting “Reboot, Re-Center, Drive Universal Health Coverage,” encouraged them to think about their journey together, reassess their priorities and confidently work towards their goal for everyone in the district, support the Service and the mission of the World Health Organisation to ensure that people accessed healthcare efficiently without hindrances.
According to Dr Darbbey 3,258 deliveries was recorded in 2023 against 2,932 in 2024 but increased to 3,280 in 2025.
Anemia in pregnant women at 36 weeks reduced from 3,029 in 2023 to 2,815 in 2024 and increased to 2,973 in 2025, skilled deliveries reduced from 3,258 in 2023 to 2,923 in 2024 and increased to 3,280 in 2025, while Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) deliveries dived from 211 in 2023 to 74 in 2024 and further up to 61 in 2025.
According to him, Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendants decreased from 163 in 2023 to 75 in 2024 and increased to 193 in 2025, with clients insured cards increasing to 71,721 in 2023 as against 81,111 in 2024 and to 90,363 in 2025. Hypertension cases went up to 684 in 2024 from 595 in 2023 and rose to 765 in 2025.
The Directorate recorded 392 accidents in 2023 against 373 in 2024 and 353 in 2025 at the OPD.
“The results came about due to integrating some funded activities with other activities, improved behavioural change communication, mostly on skin diseases and advent of wellness clinics, quarterly TB case searches and mop-up exercises and contract tracing conducted as well as intensified monitoring and supervision at the sub-districts facilities.”
He said Antenatal Clinic attendance reduced from 6,094 to 5,600 in 2024 and increased slightly to 5,829 in 2025, teenage pregnancies reduced from 681 in 2023 to 563 in 2024 and increased to 603 in 2025, Pregnant women who tested for HIV increased from 5, 327 in 2023 against 6,227 in 2024 and reduced to 5,833 in 2025 saying 279 tested positive in 2023, 63 in 2024 and 39 in 2025.
He said malaria still topped the cases in the district with 20,135 in 2023, 20,712 in 2024 and to 17, 360 in 2025, followed by Upper respiratory tract Infections which had 5,799 in 2023, 4,459 in 2024 and 3,678 in 2025 and Hypertension last on the table with 595 in 2023 against 684 in 2024 and to 765 in 2025.
He said their major concerns at the end of 2024 included inadequate funds for health education and surveillance, faulty/unavailability of vaccine fridges in some the facilities, insufficient space at the district directorate, persistent increase in skin diseases and low Tuberculosis (TB) case detection.
He said the key priorities for 2025 included intensification of community-based surveillance on detection of priority diseases, especially cholera, measles and yellow fever cases, improved behavioral change mostly on skin diseases, improved TB case detection and reporting through training and case searches.
Dr Darbbey mentioned some of their major challenges to include deplorable nature of roads which hampered monitoring and supervision, in adequate office at the district level, improved, yet still low reporting rate by private facilities, low skilled deliveries in most facilities, low recording of epidemic and other prone diseases.
“To sustain our achievement we must have the courage to face issues, we must be honest, welcome new ideas, find new smarter ways, focus on what really matters at providing services, especially on mothers who need care, vulnerable children, teenagers and adolescents who need help in navigating the health issues that they encounter.”
He said to move forward they need to focus on strengthening primary healthcare services which is the solid base of primary healthcare delivery, encourage community involvement at ensuring that persons who had not yet enrolled on NHIS had access to free service delivery when they were sick.
In a speech delivered by Mr Benjamin Addo of the Central Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) on behalf of the Regional Director, Dr (Mrs) Alberta Adjebeng Biritum-Nyarko, she commended the Directorate on their achievement and successes in 2025.
She stated that the theme for the meeting speaks directly to the realities confronting their health system and called for renewal of commitment, innovation and purposeful leadership at all levels.
“I sincerely commend all health workers across the public, private and academic sectors for your dedication and professionalism throughout the entire 2025,” she added.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Kenneth Odeng Adade