Maternal Deaths Shoot Up At KATH

Maternal death rate at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), in the Ashanti Region has increased according to hospital officials.

Latest figures from the hospital show that over 1,200 out of 100,00 women died during child birth in 2017.

It is at this backdrop that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KATH, Dr. Oheneba Owusu-Danso, has called for an urgent review of the maternal health strategies to bring down the increasing deaths.

Speaking at the annual performance review meeting of the hospital, the CEO indicated that most of the deaths were those referred from other health facilities.

According to him, the urgent review would need to focus on equipping district hospitals and other facilities in order to provide skilled care at the community level.

As part of plans to reverse the disheartening trend, Dr Danso said “a new 24-hour pharmacy had been set-up to stock and sell non-insured medicines to save patients from walking long distances to buy these drugs.”

The hospital has also prioritized capacity building of the staff to update their skills and knowledge for efficient discharge of their duties, the CEO added.

Dr Danso is however hopeful that the newly established Maternal, Mother and Baby Unit (MBU) as well as the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) project, would significantly improve maternal and neonatal care.

The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo spearheading the MBU project, raised funds for the construction of the benefit of mothers and babies.

By: Grace Ablewor Sogbey/ [email protected]