By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Sandema (U/E), Aug. 08, GNA – The Builsa North Municipal Health Directorate, has achieved a major milestone in maternal and child healthcare with 100 per cent postnatal care coverage across all six sub-municipals during the first half of 2026.
Mr Cabral Vwawojei Bantiu, the Municipal Director of Health Services, announced this when he presented the Directorate’s half-year performance review meeting on the theme: “From Policy to Practice: Leveraging Stakeholder and Partner Support to Achieve Universal Health Coverage through Free Primary Health Care.”
He said the achievement reflected the dedication of frontline health workers towards safeguarding the health of mothers and newborns.
“I am pleased to report that Postnatal Care performance has been outstanding. The Municipality achieved 100 per cent postnatal care coverage during the first half of 2026, with every sub-municipality recording complete coverage.
“This remarkable achievement demonstrates the commitment of our health workers to ensuring that mothers and newborns receive essential care after delivery,” he stated.
The Director noted that despite the success, early antenatal registration remained a major concern as only 51.4 per cent of pregnant women registered for antenatal care during the first trimester, representing a slight decline from the previous year.
“Early booking remains critical for identifying pregnancy-related complications, initiating preventive interventions and ensuring positive maternal and neonatal outcomes. We therefore need to intensify community education to encourage women to report early for antenatal care,” the Director said.
Mr Bantiu highlighted significant improvements in maternal healthcare indicators, saying nearly all pregnant women who registered for antenatal care had their haemoglobin levels checked, which resulted in an impressive 99.4 per cent anaemia screening coverage.
He also said the municipality recorded progress in continuity of maternal care, with attendance for at least four antenatal visits increasing to 84.4 per cent during the review period.
He said the improvement reflected stronger adherence to recommended antenatal schedules and enhanced follow-up by health workers, which also ensured considerable increases in malaria prevention during pregnancy.
Mr Bantiu said coverage for the third dose of the Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT3) rose to 79.4 per cent, while IPT5 increased to 40.4 per cent.
“Although these improvements are commendable, IPT5 coverage remains below desired levels, and additional efforts are required to ensure pregnant women receive all recommended doses,” the Director noted.
Mr Bantiu reported a significant reduction in stillbirths, with the rate declining from 26.1 per 1,000 live births in 2025, to 13.3 per 1,000 live births during the first half of 2026.
Family planning services also recorded modest gains, with the municipal acceptor rate increasing from 40.2 per cent in 2025 to 41.5 per cent in the period under review.
He said while Chuchuliga and Sandema West posted strong performances, more work was needed to improve uptake in other sub-municipalities through community education, greater male involvement and expanded access to contraceptive services.
Mr Bantiu expressed concern that referral services continued to pose significant challenges and said although maternal, neonatal and general referrals increased during the review period, referral facilities failed to provide feedback on any referred cases.
“It is of concern that no referral feedback was received from referral facilities. Strengthening the referral feedback system remains essential for continuity of patient care and quality,” the Director observed.
Mr Bintiu also described the nation’s Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) policy, as a critical step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and indicated that policy formulation, would determine its success.
He called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to overcome challenges and sustain progress towards UHC, urging them to remain committed to accountability, innovation and teamwork.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Christabel Addo
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Reporter’s Email: [email protected]