Gov't deepens maternal health assessment in Bono Region

The Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Health, has intensified efforts to address preventable maternal deaths as the Maternal Mortality Action and Response Programme (MMARP) continues its regional ecosystem assessments across the country.

The Bono Region has become the latest focus of the initiative, with Deputy Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, MP, leading the MMARP regional engagement as part of efforts to identify gaps in maternal healthcare delivery and strengthen systems for timely and quality care.

Day One of the Bono engagement marked the sixth regional engagement under the MMARP Regional Ecosystem Assessment, bringing together the Bono Regional Health Directorate, management of the Sunyani Regional Hospital, Municipal and District Directors of Health Services, Medical Superintendents, and members of the Bono Regional Health Management Team.

The engagement went beyond reviewing statistics. It created a platform for health managers and frontline professionals to examine the realities confronting women and health facilities at different levels of the healthcare system.

Discussions focused on existing maternal health interventions, challenges affecting service delivery, referral coordination, emergency response, and the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that women receive the right care at the right time.

For MMARP, the assessment is intended to move maternal health discussions from identifying problems to understanding where the system breaks down and what can be done to close those gaps.

The team subsequently visited the Abesim Health Facility, where frontline health workers shared experiences from the community level.

The engagement offered an opportunity to better understand the practical challenges involved in providing maternal healthcare closer to where women live.

The regional tour also included a courtesy visit to the Chief of Dorman Kyidom, Abesim, reinforcing the importance of traditional and community leadership in efforts to improve maternal health outcomes.

The involvement of community leaders is particularly significant because maternal survival is not determined solely within hospitals.

Access to care, early decision-making, transportation, referrals, community awareness and timely intervention can all influence whether a pregnancy ends safely.

The MMARP regional ecosystem assessments therefore seek to build a clearer picture of the entire maternal healthcare chain—from the community and primary-care level to referral facilities and emergency care.

The Bono engagement is expected to provide evidence and practical insights to inform targeted interventions, improve coordination and strengthen accountability across the maternal health system.

At the heart of the initiative is a simple but urgent message: No woman should die giving birth.

The MMARP campaign, championed by the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Health and led by Deputy Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, MP, is calling for collective action from health professionals, traditional authorities, communities and other stakeholders to make maternal survival a shared national responsibility.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith