Several midwives in the Eastern Region have received specialised training to strengthen their ability to manage obstetric emergencies and improve survival outcomes for mothers and newborns.
The three-day capacity-building programme, held in Koforidua, focused on equipping midwives with practical skills to identify danger signs early, provide initial life-saving interventions and make timely referrals when necessary.
The training was organised under the Government of Ghana-UNFPA Eighth Country Programme (2023–2027), which seeks to contribute to improved maternal and reproductive health outcomes.
Among the key areas covered were antepartum haemorrhage, anaemia in pregnancy, postpartum haemorrhage, use of the partograph, breech delivery and shoulder dystocia.
Madam Edith Asiedua, Public Health Nurse at the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, urged participants to apply the knowledge gained in their daily practice.
She said the ability of midwives to identify danger signs early and respond appropriately could significantly reduce maternal complications and deaths.
“Once midwives are able to identify danger signs in pregnancy, they can plan, manage and refer appropriately. This will significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality,” she said.
Mr Michael Agyeman, Eastern Regional Programme Focal Person, said the intervention formed part of a broader effort to achieve three transformative results under the Government of Ghana-UNFPA programme: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.
He said the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council was working with the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, with support from UNFPA, to reduce maternal deaths and stillbirths across the region.
Dr Samuel Attuah, a Gynaecologist at the Eastern Regional Hospital, said the training was particularly important for midwives working in hard-to-reach communities where access to higher-level health facilities could take considerable time.
He explained that although most patients seen by such midwives might have low-risk pregnancies, emergencies could arise unexpectedly and require immediate action.
“Although they see a lot of low-risk patients, occasionally they may come across a high-risk patient, and they should know what to do in that instance,” he said.
Dr Attuah said participants were also trained in managing emergencies such as cord prolapse, premature rupture of membranes, hypertension, retained placenta and placental abruption.
He stressed that midwives working at the peripheral level needed to master initial life-saving procedures before referring complicated cases to district or regional hospitals.
According to him, timely intervention at the point of first contact could help prevent dangerous delays in treatment and improve outcomes for both mothers and babies.
Ms Patience Mensah, Midwifery Officer at the Eastern Regional Hospital, meanwhile urged participants to combine clinical competence with compassionate care.
She challenged the midwives to become “instruments of change” by promoting empathy, dignity and Respectful Maternity Care during labour and delivery.
Ms Mensah encouraged them to treat every pregnant woman with the same level of respect and care they would expect for themselves.
“How you talk, how you touch, how you explain procedures, and how you provide privacy for the clients matters,” she said.
She noted that respectful and high-quality maternity care could strengthen public confidence in health facilities and reassure pregnant women that hospitals and other health facilities were safe places to seek care.
The training forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the capacity of frontline health workers and improve maternal and newborn health outcomes in the Eastern Region.
