By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Bolgatanga, June 26, GNA – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Upper East Region has recorded 27 maternal deaths between January and June 24, 2026.
Out of the number, the Bolgatanga Municipality recorded the highest number of deaths, with 10 cases, followed by the Bawku Municipality with seven, Builsa South recorded four deaths, while Bawku West and Tempane recording two each.
Pusiga and Builsa North districts recorded one maternal death each.
The leading causes of the deaths included eclampsia, which accounted for seven cases, followed by post-partum haemorrhage with five cases.
The data further indicated that sepsis caused three deaths, while uterine rupture and antepartum haemorrhage each accounted for two deaths.
Severe anaemia caused one death, and two cases were attributed to unknown causes.
The figures were disclosed in a presentation delivered on behalf of Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari, the Upper East Regional Director of the GHS, during a joint Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) strategic planning meeting involving healthcare professionals from the Upper East, North East and Northern regions.
The meeting, organised with support from the Korea International Cooperation Agency–Project Management Service (KOICA-PMS), focused on data-driven strategic planning aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality.
It was attended by Regional Directors of the GHS from the three participating regions, clinicians, public health experts, Municipal and District Directors of Health, and other key stakeholders in the health sector.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of the meeting, Dr Abubakari urged expectant mothers and their families to ensure that all deliveries took place in healthcare facilities.
“We are encouraging our mothers, husbands and mothers-in-law to ensure that every delivery occurs in a health facility. With the primary healthcare system we run in Ghana, access to healthcare has significantly improved,” he said.
He noted that Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, health centres and hospitals, both public and private, were available across the region to provide safe delivery services.
“If our expectant mothers deliver in these facilities, we will be able to drastically reduce maternal deaths in the region,” he added.
Dr Abubakari explained that although antenatal care was essential in reducing maternal mortality, that alone could not eliminate maternal deaths.
“Antenatal attendance enables us to identify risk factors and counsel pregnant women on the appropriate mode of delivery,” he said.
Ms Myeongsean Kim, the KOICA+CHPS Project Manager, said Phase Two of the project was aimed at improving maternal, newborn and child health in the Upper East and North East regions.
“Since 2023, we have been implementing several activities in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and the Government of the Republic of Korea through KOICA,” she said.
Ms Kim explained that the project team identified maternal mortality as a major concern during its assessments and monitoring visits, “During our assessment and monitoring, we realized there is still a challenge with maternal deaths. While we know the theoretical causes, we want to understand the practical causes on the ground,” she said.
“If the problem lies in gaps in the referral system or a shortage of health workers, we cannot achieve our objective unless those issues are addressed. We therefore discuss the real challenges with stakeholders and identify practical, applicable solutions that can be implemented,” Ms Kim added.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali /Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Email: [email protected]