The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. (Med) Samuel K. Boakye-Boateng, has announced that the region recorded zero institutional malaria deaths among children under five between January and June 2024.

This significant achievement comes despite malaria continuing to be a leading cause of outpatient department (OPD) attendance and poor health outcomes among vulnerable groups, including children under five and pregnant women.

Dr. Boakye-Boateng disclosed this during this year’s Upper East Regional Health Directorate mid-year review held in Bolgatanga.

Dr. (Med) Samuel K. Boakye-Boateng

He encouraged the public to embrace health initiatives, including the Point Mass Distribution of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLIN) and the Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention, to reduce the malaria burden further.

While the region celebrates this milestone, Dr. Boakye-Boateng highlighted progress in other health indicators.

“The Family Planning Acceptor Rate, which measures the proportion of couples currently practising family planning methods, saw a slight increase from 18.6% to 19.3% compared to the same period last year,” he stated.

However, Dr. Boakye-Boateng expressed concern over declining performances in several key health indicators.

The proportion of deliveries attended by skilled attendants, a measure of quality care during childbirth, fell from 38.0% to 35.5%. The Institutional Maternal Mortality Ratio also worsened, increasing from 71.5 per 100,000 live births to 115.5 per 100,000 live births. The Institutional Neonatal Mortality Rate rose from 4.2 per 1,000 live births to 6.1 per 1,000 live births, while the incidence of anaemia in pregnant women at 36 weeks gestation increased from 41.6% to 44.1%.

Dr. Boakye-Boateng called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, urging them to continue working closely with health authorities to improve maternal and neonatal health indicators.

The review meeting was under the theme, “Using NoP to Drive Universal Access to Quality Maternal Health Care in the Upper East Region.”

Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) who graced the occasion described NoPs as an innovative strategy poised to catalyze significant advancements toward achieving universal access to quality maternal health care.

The Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih acknowledged the challenges of the health sector and said the government is committed to ensuring quality and accessible health care in the region.