Family planning acceptor rate in the Ashanti Region increased from 22.5 in 2020 to 32.6 in 2023, the Regional Health Directorate, has reported.
Despite the progress made over the period, the directorate is still working hard to achieve 40 per cent target, according to the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng.
The Regional Director, who was speaking at the 2024 Integrated Annual Performance Review and First Quarter Health System Innovation Meeting, also disclosed that, proportion of mothers who made at least four antenatal visits increased from 74 per cent to 95 per cent within the period.
“Proportion of deliveries attended by trained health workers was 53.5 per cent in 2020, 60.7 per cent in 2021, 60.5 per cent in 2022, 57 per cent in 2023 and 52.5 per cent (we underperformed) in 2024 against the target of 65 per cent, Dr. Adomako Boateng further disclosed.
The meeting, which sought to review and discuss health indicators in the region for the past year was on the theme, “Strengthening Primary Health Care through Network of Practice towards Universal Health Coverage: Role of Stakeholders.”
It was attended by stakeholders who play diverse roles in health delivery across the 43 districts in the region.
Dr Adomako-Boateng bemoaned the cumulative maternal deaths of 889 per 100,000 live births between 2020 and 2024, citing inequity in the doctor geographical population as one of the factors accounting for the situation.
He thanked the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) for their continuous support as the directorate sought to address the challenge, stressing that, time was not on their side as they raced against time to achieve the target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director General of Ghana Health Service, in a virtual address, said the Service was committed to reforms and transformation to achieve the resetting agenda.
He spoke about plans to enhance public health emergency preparedness and response including case management to improve service delivery.
“We shall embark on an aggressive health education and promotion, which will be spearheaded by leadership while, committing to quality and accountability,” the Director General stated.
According to him, it was important to work together to reposition the Ghana Health Service to deliver world class healthcare for all.