Ministry of Health receives maternal health equipment
Accra, Jan. 28, GNA – Mr Alex Segbefia, Minister of Health, on Wednesday received various health equipment to help reduce maternal deaths in the country.
The equipment forms part of a GH¢ 23 million project sponsored by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
The equipment received by the sector minister included 2500 pieces of Umbilical Cord Clamp Umbicut, 400 Fetal Heart Detector and 140 pieces of Obstetrics Model Five Stages of Birth.
The rest were 140 pieces of Pregnancy Series, 140 Ultrasound Basic Scanner with Video Printer and an Inland Transport.
Mr Segbefia, addressing journalist in Accra, said the receipt of the equipment marked the beginning of items to be received under the Millennium Development Goal Accelerated Framework (MAF) designed by the Ministry of Health to reduce maternal and child deaths in the country.
He said as at last September, Ghana’s target for maternal mortality was 300, which was reduced from about 319, with the Ministry’s being able to achieve 185.
Mr Segbefia said following the Sustainable Development Goal, an agreement has been reached with the target for maternal mortality now set at 70 per 100,000 live births
“We agree that 70 is too many, but considering that we have about 319 at the moment, is a tall order”, he said.
Mr Segbefia said the equipment would be distributed to all the ten regions of the country.
“They are going to be distributed at various points wherever they are needed at whatever level, straight from CHPPS compound level right up to the teaching hospital. Where these items are needed we will put them there, we shall not waste time in distribution,” he said.
Mr Segbefia thanked DANIDA and Denmark for their assistance in making the purchase of the equipment a success.
In a related development, Ernest Chemist also donated 5000 vials of antibiotics valued at GH¢30,000.00 to the Ministry of Health.
Mr Richmond Nkansah Mernsah, International Business Development Manager, Ernest Chemist, who presented the antibiotics to the Health Minister, said it was part of the company’s efforts in responding to the outbreak of Meningitis in some parts of the country.
Mr Segbefia, receiving the donation, said it was timely and was going to help check the spread of the outbreak.
GNA