The Ghana Health Service, through its Family Health Division, has held an inception meeting to develop a Costed Implementation Plan (CIP) aimed at reducing neonatal mortality in Ghana. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to deliberate on the scope, purpose, priority areas, and expected outcomes of the plan, while also initiating technical inputs to guide its development.
In his welcome address, Programme Manager for Newborn Health, Dr. Edward Antwi, emphasized that the neonatal period, the first 28 days of life, remains the most critical stage for a child’s survival. He noted that although Ghana has made progress in reducing neonatal mortality from about 29 to approximately 17 deaths per 1,000 live births, more targeted and coordinated interventions are needed to meet national and global health targets.
Presenting an overview of the newborn health programme and the rationale for the CIP, Ms. Rita Aqaniba highlighted the importance of investing in simple, cost-effective interventions such as maintaining newborn body temperature, early detection and management of danger signs, infection prevention, and appropriate care practices.
She further noted that while Ghana has an established structure for newborn care from community to specialized levels, gaps persist in infrastructure, equipment, referral systems, and human resources. Adding that although over 200 newborn care units exist nationwide, only a few are equipped to provide advanced specialized care.
Dr. Naana Wireko Brobby, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, in sharing her clinical experience explained that neonatal deaths account for nearly half of all under-five mortality. She identified prematurity, birth asphyxia, infections, and neonatal jaundice as the leading causes of newborn deaths, noting that most are preventable with timely and appropriate interventions. She stressed the need for sustained investment, improved coordination, and strengthened health systems to enhance newborn survival.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Antwi highlighted the importance of collaboration and collective action, noting that the success of the Costed Implementation Plan will depend on the commitment of all stakeholders to translate discussions into practical actions that will improve newborn care outcomes across the country.
Source:https://ghs.gov.gh/