Juliana Azuma-Mensah, Women’s Minister
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20th October, 2011
Manya Krobo Queenmums Adopt Measures To Curb Maternal Deaths
Queens in the Manya Krobo District have taken steps to reduce maternal mortality and other pregnancy related complications in the area.
They have decided to offer their homes to pregnant women who live far from medical care during labour and emergency cases, to stay with them two weeks preceding their delivering.
The queens, who came together under the banner of the Manya Krobo Queen Mother’s Association (MKQMA) and, through their outreach programmes, identified pregnant women who lived in distant communities with unmotorable roads and which delayed access to timely medical care during labour and emergency cases, to stay with them.
This came to light when GNA encountered some pregnant women in the Manya Krobo areas to enquire about their problems as far as maternal health care was concerned.
The women told GNA that most of them hitherto did not go to health facilities because they had to trek long distances and, therefore, resorted to traditional herbs during pregnancy and home delivery.
Joyce Teki, an expectant mother, told the GNA that she nearly died during the birth of her first son because she did not attend ante-natal care for the condition to be detected, neither did she go to a health facility for delivery.
She said it was because her home was far away from any health facility and the roads in the area were so bad that vehicles plied it once in every three days.
Miss Teki said she was happy that the queenmothers were offering that support which, she noted would reduce maternal mortality drastically in the area.
Manye Esther Nartekie, Deputy Queenmother of Manya Krobo, who confirmed the story to GNA in an interview in Koforidua, said the move formed part of the aims and objectives of the association to see to the welfare and well being of women and children in the area, with special emphasis on maternal health.
She said the association was alarmed by the rate of maternal deaths and identified causes such as delays in accessing health care and the failure on the part of many women to attend ante-natal clinic.
She said the queens through their outreach programmes moved in the communities and identified all pregnant women to ensure that they attended ante-natal clinic.
Manye Nartekie said they then decided to accommodate pregnant women who lived far away to ensure that they received skilled and timely delivery.
She said that they had to provide financial assistance to enable the pregnant women to eat balanced diet to stay healthy.
She indicated that the queens collaborated with the Ghana Health service (HGS) and various health facilities in the area, and went through ante-natal care registers occasionally to ensure that all pregnant women they had identified attended clinics.
She said since they adopted that strategy, maternal deaths had reduced drastically.
Manye Nartekie said apart from the Ghana Health Service, a local non-governmental organisation, Ipas, that was interested in maternal issues was supporting the queens to reduce abortion related issues. GNA
They have decided to offer their homes to pregnant women who live far from medical care during labour and emergency cases, to stay with them two weeks preceding their delivering.
The queens, who came together under the banner of the Manya Krobo Queen Mother’s Association (MKQMA) and, through their outreach programmes, identified pregnant women who lived in distant communities with unmotorable roads and which delayed access to timely medical care during labour and emergency cases, to stay with them.
This came to light when GNA encountered some pregnant women in the Manya Krobo areas to enquire about their problems as far as maternal health care was concerned.
The women told GNA that most of them hitherto did not go to health facilities because they had to trek long distances and, therefore, resorted to traditional herbs during pregnancy and home delivery.
Joyce Teki, an expectant mother, told the GNA that she nearly died during the birth of her first son because she did not attend ante-natal care for the condition to be detected, neither did she go to a health facility for delivery.
She said it was because her home was far away from any health facility and the roads in the area were so bad that vehicles plied it once in every three days.
Miss Teki said she was happy that the queenmothers were offering that support which, she noted would reduce maternal mortality drastically in the area.
Manye Esther Nartekie, Deputy Queenmother of Manya Krobo, who confirmed the story to GNA in an interview in Koforidua, said the move formed part of the aims and objectives of the association to see to the welfare and well being of women and children in the area, with special emphasis on maternal health.
She said the association was alarmed by the rate of maternal deaths and identified causes such as delays in accessing health care and the failure on the part of many women to attend ante-natal clinic.
She said the queens through their outreach programmes moved in the communities and identified all pregnant women to ensure that they attended ante-natal clinic.
Manye Nartekie said they then decided to accommodate pregnant women who lived far away to ensure that they received skilled and timely delivery.
She said that they had to provide financial assistance to enable the pregnant women to eat balanced diet to stay healthy.
She indicated that the queens collaborated with the Ghana Health service (HGS) and various health facilities in the area, and went through ante-natal care registers occasionally to ensure that all pregnant women they had identified attended clinics.
She said since they adopted that strategy, maternal deaths had reduced drastically.
Manye Nartekie said apart from the Ghana Health Service, a local non-governmental organisation, Ipas, that was interested in maternal issues was supporting the queens to reduce abortion related issues. GNA
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