The three-day event also provided a platform for stakeholders in the health sector to discuss the successes and challenges of a network implemented in 2017 to improve the quality of MNCH.

The network, known as the “Network for Improving Quality of Care for MNCH”, was established by Ghana, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, India, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda.

It was supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and other partners.

At the opening ceremony of the ‘5th Global Meeting of the Network for improving Quality of care for MNCH’, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said although the network countries had not met their target of reducing maternal death by half, significant progress had been made.

He said in Ghana for instance, births occurring in a health facility had increased from 54 per cent to 79 per cent and births attended to by a skilled provider increased from 55 per cent to 79 per cent.

He said neonatal and infant mortality also reduced from 29 to 25 and 50 to 37 per 1000 live births respectively.

“Despite this progress, Ghana’s maternal mortality of 319 per 100,000 live births, raises red flags for mothers and babies receiving care.

Most of these deaths are preventable,” he added.

Universal Health Coverage

The acting WHO Assistant Director General of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Anshu Banerjee, said improving quality of care was significant, adding that UHC could not be achieved without quality primary health care.

“It is important that the quality of care of national health strategic plans is integrated into the work of the Ministry of Health and then implemented across all networks at the community, district, regional and national level,” he said.

The WHO Resident Representative in Ghana, Dr Francis Kasolo, for his part, said the global meeting was crucial for them to reflect on the progress made and reassess how to address the emerging and unfinished agenda of quality of care in MNCH services.

“As the WHO, we cherish the partnerships and we look forward to our continued collaboration to chart an accelerated path towards achieving UHC with a focus on quality,” he said.

The Implementing partners, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UNICEF, UNFPA and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) expressed their commitment to strengthen collaboration to improve the quality of care provided to mothers, newborns and children.