Maternal Mortality Rate Reduces

Mr John Nkaw, Northern Regional Programme Officer of SEND-GHANA on Wednesday stated that maternal mortality rates have been reduced in 2011 to 350 per 100,000 live births as compared to 451 in 2008. He indicated that Ghana is far from achieving the Millennium Development Goals� (MDGs) aim at reducing maternal mortality to 185 per 100, 000 live births. Mr Nkaw made this known during a training workshop on maternal mortality rate and tax sensitisation in Tamale. The event, which was organised by SEND-Ghana, was to contribute to the effective delivery of maternal health services and progress towards the achievement of MDGs and other income tax laws in the country. He said government should equip communities with knowledge and skills to adopt good health practices, reduce the danger related to pregnancy and childbirth in the community. He said it is important for government to use tax revenue to solve maternal health care especially at the district levels and as well as monitor quality and effectiveness of delivery in the country. Mr Nkaw advised Ghanaians to pay their taxes regularly to accrue more revenue for government to implement project activities and to help achieve the national MDG5 acceleration framework and the country�s action plan for maternal health. He also called on government to improve on accountability, responsiveness and good service delivery in maternal health by the end of 2016. Participants were drawn from 30 districts in the Northern, Upper East and Upper Regions to take part in the two-day programme.