The Deputy Bono East Regional Director of Public Health, Dr Paulina Clara Appiah who launched the project disclosed that 44 Community Health and Planning Services (CHPS) compounds, 16 health centres and seven public hospitals making 67 facilities, would provide point of care diagnostic for pregnant women.

She said admissions from neonatal infections at the newborn care unit in the area ranges from 13 to 30 per cent of cases admitted, saying that the project was therefore important for the Bono East region.

The Deputy Director stressed that for every year of the project, at least 25,000 pregnant women would be screened for infections at the ANC, adding that the project would address infections – related deaths.

“Our region was selected to pilot this project because the pilot project of ‘Making Every Baby Count Initiative (MEBCI)’ by PATH-Ghana, our main partner, was successfully implemented in the area,” she reiterated.

Dr Appiah expressed gratitude to PATH-Ghana, Seattle USA, traditional authorities, government officials, Ghana Health Service (GHS), journalists and residents of the Bono East Region among other stakeholders, for supporting the implementation of the project.

Mr George Padmore Mensah, the Chief Director, Bono East Regional Coordinating Council (BERCC), said a total of 380 health professionals have been trained in five project districts in the region, to provide respectful care to pregnant women.

He stated that the health workers would apply the knowledge and skills acquired to identify maternal infections early and treat them to prevent complications for the mother and newborn infections.

The Chief Director said the project, which would be piloted in the country, is being implemented in the five districts of the region namely, Techiman Municipal, Nkoranza North, Kintampo Municipal, Atebubu – Amantin and Sene West districts.

Dr George Amofah, the Project Lead, Pfizer ANC Infection Prevention programme, was optimistic that stakeholders in the region, together with the GHS and partners, would collaborate to make the project successful.

The Project Lead pledged the support of his outfit and partners to help reduce neonatal deaths among pregnant women and newborn babies, saying that together we can make it.