The World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with UNFPA and UNICEF, recently completed a Maternal Health Scoping Review to document lessons learned in reducing preventable maternal and perinatal mortality from 2000 to 2019.

The outcome of the review included the implementation of a Network of care which is an innovative approach to optimise health systems' functioning

Government says it is committed to replicating its new system of Network of Care across the country after the successful piloting of the concept.

With the introduction of the Network of Care, health specialists would be available to attend to patients at any health facility they report to without necessarily being referred to any specialist or other advanced health facilities for treatment.

The objective is to deliver timely care at the patient’s convenience and reduce the turnaround time.

At a technical meeting held by the WHO to engage stakeholders ahead of this initiative in Accra, in a speech read on behalf of the Minister of Health, the Director of Nursing Services (MoH) Dr Barnabas Yeboah said, maternal health is a central priority for the country and thus the ministry is committed to implementing the new model.

“Maternal health well-being and survival must remain a central goal and investment priority for especially developing and middle-income countries. 

"Ghana has always been committed to improving maternal health outcomes through the development of policies, strategies, and programs that have high impact to ensure efficient and high impact on the overall health system,” he said.

He further stated that Ghana’s availability to Basic Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal care is on low rate and for that, the ministry is open to a consensus to improve perinatal health outcomes

On her part, Maternal Health lead at the WHO, Allisyn Moran, also expressed her outfit's commitment on how to achieve their goal of improving the efficiency of already existing healthcare services in the country in achieving the SDGs

“We really are optimistic that this innovative approach can really help accelerate progress to achieve the sustainable development goals”.