The second lady, Samira Bawumia, through the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP) has launched the ‘Safe Delivery Project’ aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality drastically in deprived communities of Ghana.

SEHP, a not-for-profit organization founded by the Second Lady of Ghana seeks to use the project as a catalyst to first, reduce maternal mortality from the current reported level of 319 deaths per 100,000 live births to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals’ target of 70 per 100,000 live births.

Secondly, the project aims to support government's efforts to reduce neonatal mortality(newborn deaths) from 29 per 1000 live births to 12 per 1000 live births in keeping with UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The 'Safe Delivery Project' was launched on Thursday, 10th May 2018 in the East Gonja Municipality of the Northern region under the theme: “Promoting Safe Deliveries and Ensuring Healthy Infants; Securing Our Future.”

Speaking at the launch, Mrs. Bawumia said over the next few years, SEHP seeks to provide over 100,000 well-resourced birth kits to expectant mothers in Ghana.

The kit, she explained, contains medicines and supplies such as Anti-haemorrhage prophylaxis, pre-natal and post-natal vitamins and mineral supplements, medicated soap, gauze swab, cord clamps, cord sheet, sterile blade, delivery mat, cord ties, sterile gloves, combine dressing, baby hat, name tag, cord sheets, and methylated spirit.

She added that the kits will be distributed by trained community-based volunteers and health personnel to 100,000 expectant mothers in the worst affected communities in Ghana.

“The SEHP Safe Delivery Project aims to contribute to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality through training, education and the provision of well-resourced birth kits to expectant mothers in the worst affected communities across Ghana."

“It is also a comprehensive approach to tackling the problem of maternal and neonatal mortality,” the Second Lady stated.

Mrs. Bawumia added: “The main objective of this project is to improve the chances of survival of mothers and newborns, by addressing at least 3 main causes of maternal and neonatal mortality particularly Postpartum Hemorrhage (bleeding), hypertensive disorders and infections.

“Through this project, we can change the narrative so far as maternal and neonatal mortality is concerned. We need to drastically reduce the alarming numbers. These are not mere numbers but women, mothers, wives, sisters and loved ones. We hope that through this project we can transform the lives of our expectant mothers and improve their Reproductive health and contribute to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals’ target of 70 per 100,000 births worldwide.”

Under the program, expectant mothers will be given information on the use, importance and impact of these birth kits. These pregnant women are expected to go to health facilities with the kits during labour.

In addition, qualified Senior Midwives will train Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) and nurses on how to effectively use the birth kits and ensure safe delivery practices for the expectant mothers, in the absence of a nearby health facility.

Present at the launch were representatives of the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Health, the Gender and Children’s ministry, Chiefs and Clergy from the East Gonja Municipality among others.

Prior to the launch, a team of volunteers and supervisors trained Senior Midwives, TBAs and volunteers (nurses) in the East Gonja Municipality on the 8th of May, on the proper use of the birth kit and safe delivery practices.

Beneficiaries of the first delivery of the birth kits are residents of Six (6) sub-districts within East Gonja; Kpalbe, Makango, Bunjai, Buma, Jantong and Salaga.

In keeping with SEHP’s health objective which is to provide vital health interventions to children, women and medical institutions, “The Safe Delivery Project” was developed in an effort to improve the survival chances of mothers and newborns by addressing some of the major causes of maternal and neonatal mortality- postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders and infections.