Second Lady launches Safe Delivery Project in Salaga

As part of its effort to reduce alarming rates of maternal and neo-natal deaths in Ghana, the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project (SEHP) has initiated a Safe Delivery Project  at Salaga in the East Gonja district of the Northern region  to complement  the effort of stakeholders in addressing alarming rates of newborn deaths. 

The project launched by the Second Lady, is aimed at contributing to the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths through training, education and the provision of well-resourced birth kits to expectant mothers in worst affected communities across the country. 

Addressing hundreds of participants at the launch, Mrs. Bawumia said the main objective of the Safe Delivery Project is directed at improving the chances of survival of mothers and newborns by addressing at least three main causes of maternal and newborn deaths particularly Postpartum Hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and infections. 

Under the project, qualified senior midwives will train nurses as SEHP volunteers and traditional birth attendants on how to effectively use the birth kits to ensure safe delivery practices for expectant mothers. 

The birth kits is expected to contain supplies such as methylated spirit, sterile blade, delivery mat ,a pair of sterile gloves, gauze swabs, cord ties and cord clamp. Others include medication to prevent hemorrhage and vitamins supplements. 

The Second Lady said Salaga was chosen as the venue for the launch of the project because it is one of the worst affected municipalities in the country. 

She said for the first phase of the project, up to 1000 women in their third trimester have been selected from the East Gonja Municipality to receive the birth kits. 

Expectant mothers will also be registered on the National Health Insurance Scheme as part of the initiative to ensure access to skilled healthcare. 

Mrs. Bawumia was optimistic that through the SEHP project, the country can change the narrative as far as maternal and neonatal mortality is concerned. 

She reechoed the need for all stakeholders to support this course in order to transform the lives of expectant mothers and improve the reproductive health as well as contribute to achieving the SDGs target of reducing maternal and newborn deaths. 

In rural areas, only 59 percent of women have access to skilled birth. These, in addition to infections, hemorrhaging, among others, are reasons for the high rates of mortality.

By Joyce Kantam Kolamong
GBCONLINE
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