Boosting Reproductive and Child Health in Ghana

Summary

The project can be defined as the upgrading and construction of maternal health care facilities and services in 37 districts spread across all ten regions in Ghana.

Location

Ghana

Sector

Life Sciences & Health

Applicant

Ministry of Finance

Competent Authority

Ministry of Health

Parties Involved

Project number

ORIO11/GH/01

Total project cost / Total ORIO Grant amount

22,000,000 Euro / 8,451,023 Euro

Status project

Implementation Phase

Ghana has made progress towards the attainment of MDGs 4 and 5 but with less than half a decade to 2015 there is a need for accelerated reduction in under-five mortality and maternal deaths if Ghana is to be among the countries to achieve these goals. An estimated 3,800 women in Ghana are dying yearly due to complications related to childbirth. The neonatal mortality rate in Ghana in 2006 was 43 per 1,000 live births. Stillbirths and early neonatal mortality (in first 48 hours) constitute approximately 40% of all under-5 mortality which means that 40% of the deaths of children under 5 years of age can be attributed to circumstances around the delivery.

The project consist of:

• Provision of comprehensive obstetric equipment to district hospitals;
• Rehabilitation and refurbishment of existing maternities (only where necessary);
• equipment to health centres (100) and community-based health planning and services zones (300);
• Training of health care staff;
• Engage and empower of communities in reproductive health initiatives.
• The project will take place in those districts where the hospitals do not have the capacity to provide comprehensive essential obstetric and neonatal care. The availability of emergency obstetric equipment in district hospitals and basic obstetric equipment in health centres combined with in service trainings of midwives and nurses and an advocacy and communication programme is expected to contribute to the reduction of maternal and child mortality rates. The project is designed to save the lives of approximately 3,500 mothers and more than 22,000 children over a period of nine years.