The Oti Region has recorded a notable decline in maternal mortality, but health officials are raising alarms over a concurrent increase in infant deaths, highlighting persistent challenges in neonatal care.
Dr. Kofi Amo-Kodieh, Oti Regional Director of Health Services, revealed that maternal mortality fell from 70 to 41 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2025, crediting improved access to skilled delivery services, enhanced antenatal care, and strengthened community interventions.
“Targeted interventions and the dedication of health workers across the region have contributed to this achievement,” Dr. Amo-Kodieh said during the 2025 Annual Performance Review Meeting, themed “Strengthening Quality Public Health and Clinical Services for Improved Health Outcomes.”
Outpatient Department attendance also showed slight growth, signaling increased public confidence in healthcare services.
However, the Director expressed concern over rising infant mortality, which increased from 2.8 to 3.38 deaths per 1,000 live births. He linked the trend to gaps in neonatal care, delayed healthcare-seeking behaviour, and challenges in accessing quality services in remote communities.
Other concerns include rising anaemia in pregnancy (29.4%), marginal declines in childhood immunisation coverage, and a shortage of approximately 60 doctors in the region. Encroachment on land reserved for health facilities also threatens future expansion of critical infrastructure.
In response, the Regional Health Directorate has implemented several interventions, including completing a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Worawora Government Hospital, stabilizing the vaccine cold chain with a dedicated transformer, and constructing an oxygen plant to bolster emergency care.
Dr. Amo-Kodieh called for stronger collaboration between government, local authorities, and development partners to address systemic gaps and ensure equitable access to quality healthcare.
“While progress in maternal health is encouraging, urgent measures are needed to reverse the rising trend in infant mortality and protect the most vulnerable,” he concluded, reaffirming the Ghana Health Service’s commitment to advancing health outcomes across the Oti Region.
