A collaborative effort between two Christian charities and four international NGOs has led to the launch of a $5.2 million project aimed at improving access to maternal and newborn services for children, mothers, and pregnant women in Ghana. The project, dubbed “Holistic Opportunities for Positive Engagement in Maternal and Child Health” (HOPE-MCH), seeks to address the high rates of maternal and child diseases and mortalities in the country.
The project will focus on three key areas:
1. Infrastructure upgrades: Disability-friendly infrastructure upgrades will be provided for 30 primary health facilities to ensure accessibility for all.
2. Medical supplies and equipment: 35 health facilities will receive essential medical supplies and equipment to enhance service delivery.
3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities: WASH facilities will be enhanced at 20 health centers to promote hygiene and prevent infections.
Additionally, the project will:
– Train 100 health service providers on disability-friendly basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC)
– Deploy 20 motor tricycle ambulances to improve access to care
The project is expected to benefit approximately 232,590 individuals by improving care at 110 health facilities, contributing to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Three and Six. It will be implemented across 10 districts in the northern parts of Ghana, with additional districts in the Northern, Savanna, North-East, Upper East, Eastern, and Ashanti regions also benefiting.
The project is funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Charities (LDS) and will be implemented by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), The Hunger Project (THP), MAP International, Vitamin Angels, Medicines for All International, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the National Ambulance Service (NAS).
Speaking at the launch, the Country Representative of CRS, Daniel Mumuni, emphasized the organization’s commitment to serving marginalized communities and called for collaborative efforts to achieve the project’s objectives. The Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, stressed the need for data-driven decision-making in transforming Ghana’s educational and health systems. Other dignitaries present at the launch included representatives from sector ministries, regional directors of the Ghana Education Service, and heads of decentralized departments.