KEEA records zero maternal deaths in 2025

The Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) health directorate recorded no maternal deaths in 2025, a significant milestone in its health delivery efforts. 

At its 2025 annual performance review of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the Municipal Director of Health Services for KEEA, Martin Sumani Daanko, said the progress made in such a key area and others called for urgent, relentless action to sustain gains.

The review was held on the theme: “Reboot, Re-centre; Drive Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Forward.”

Maternal health gains

Mr Daanko disclosed that 95 per cent of pregnant women made at least four antenatal care visits in 2025, describing it as commendable.

However, he said only 50 per cent of deliveries were attended by skilled birth attendants, though that marked an improvement from the 42 per cent in 2024.

“The gap between ANC attendance and skilled delivery is concerning. Where are these mothers delivering? Who is assisting them? These are critical questions we must collectively address,” he said.

He noted that anaemia in pregnancy at 36 weeks reduced from 18 per cent in 2023 to 15 per cent in 2025, contributing to improved maternal outcomes.

TB detection

He however stated that declining tuberculosis (TB) detection and falling family planning coverage were worrying and needed attention to improve the indicators.

The municipal director described the drop in TB case detection from 107 per cent in 2024 to 61 per cent in 2025 as worrying even though there were no TB deaths recorded in 2025.

“TB diagnosis and treatment are free of charge, yet many symptomatic individuals are not presenting for care. We must intensify active case search and community awareness,” he stated.

Family planning

He noted that family planning declined from 31 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent in 2025, saying low contraceptive use could result in unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions and increased maternal morbidity.

On malaria, he said that malaria remained the leading cause of morbidity in the municipality, although admissions dropped from 1,050 in 2023 to 595 in 2025, with no malaria deaths recorded.

On non-communicable diseases (NCDs), he said the cases were rising steadily, adding that the incidence of hypertension increased from 0.99 in 2024 to 1.57 in 2025, while diabetes rose slightly from 0.36 to 0.38.

“These trends reflect lifestyle transitions, poor dietary patterns, physical inactivity, stress and inadequate preventive screening. Early detection and lifestyle modification are critical,” he said.

HIV

Mr Daanko disclosed that KEEA continued to record the highest HIV prevalence in the Central Region.

He stated that in 2025, of the 6,102 individuals tested,133, representing 2.2 per cent, tested positive, adding that all positive cases had been linked to caregivers.

Staffing and logistics constraints

He indicated that the municipality operated 43 health facilities, including three public hospitals, Elmina Government Hospital, Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital and Ankaful Leprosy and General Hospital, four health centres and 17 CHPS compounds, serving a population of 183,616.

However, Mr Daanko said only 26 medical doctors, 16 physician assistants, 495 nurses and 102 midwives were available to serve the population.

“The Municipal Health Directorate currently has only one pickup, while Elmina Government Hospital lacks a vehicle for outreach services,” he lamented and called for support.

Regional directorate

In a speech delivered on her behalf, the Central Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Alberta Adjebeng Biritwum-Nyarko, described the theme as “timely and strategic,” stressing the need for renewed commitment and innovation in service delivery.

“To reboot challenges us to critically examine our systems, strategies and operational approaches. In the Central Region, rebooting is not optional; it is imperative,” she stated.

She said the region recorded modest improvements in 2025, including a 3.7 percentage point increase in pregnant women receiving IPT3, a 5.61 per cent decline in OPD malaria cases per 1,000 population, a 4.16 per cent reduction in stillbirth rate, and a 4.6 per cent increase in skilled delivery coverage.

MCE

The Municipal Chief Executive of KEEA, Ishmail Zagoon Saeed, commended the GHS for its efforts and pledged continued assembly support.

He said the assembly would resume work on the maternity block at the Elmina Government Hospital and begin renovation works at Abrem Agona and Kissi health centres this year.

Mr Saeed also revealed that two new CHPS compounds were under construction at Besease and Simiw as part of a policy to build two CHPS facilities annually.

Unlike previous projects, he said, the facilities would be fully equipped and provided with staff accommodation and mechanised water systems before being handed over.

He urged residents to prioritise hygiene and sanitation as the rainy season approaches.