Ghana’s initiative reduces maternal mortality – UNFPA

babyGhana’s work on the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), was on Thursday showcased as one of the activities that has contributed and promoted the reduction of maternal mortality.

The programme, which was implemented by the former First Lady of Dr Ernestina Naadu Mills, was aimed at creating awareness on Millennium Development Goals 5 and mobilising domestic resources to reduce maternal mortality at the community and district levels.

Speaking on “Best Practices in Improving Reproductive Health Care” during one of the concurrent sessions at the on-going third Women Deliver Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Mrs Doris Mawusi Aglobitse a Programme Analyst at the UNFPA- Ghana Office, said Ghana   programme was launched in 2009.

She explained that the launch by the former First Lady set the agenda for political commitment, embarked on district and regional level campaigns using policy dialogue, advocacy and community social mobilisation, increase domestic resources and societal change, all in support of maternal health.

The more than 3,000 delegates, including policymakers, advocates and world leaders representing 150 countries, are attending the three-day conference organised by Women Deliver, a global advocacy organisation, which brings together voices around the world to call for action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women.

The event has been flaunted as the largest global conference of the decade to focus on the health and well-being of girls and women.

Mrs Aglobitse noted that the outcome of the national and regional advocacy was spread throughout the 10 regions of Ghana as well as all 175 districts and results were documented to in the national CARMMA report to be used as an information and accountability tool to monitor progress.

“We need political commitment at the highest level to facilitate the acceptance of programmes to influence societal change and make the world a better place where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled,” she said.

CARMMA is an African Union initiative to promote and advocate renewed and intensified implementation of the Maputo Plan of Action for reduction of maternal mortality in the Africa.

Since 2009, UNFPA, with support from various UN agencies, bilateral donors and International Planned Parenthood Federation, has been the driving force behind CARMMA, pushing for its adoption and implementation at global, regional and national levels.

August Burns, Executive Director for Grounds for Health and an advocate who also spoke on cervical cancer, reminded the session that the disease kills 275,000 women every year.

She said there is the need for stakeholders to act and ensure that no woman dies of cervical cancer.

Source: GNA

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