Bawku west: The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Bawku West District has reported advancements in maternal and child health services that surpass national targets. The district achieved nearly perfect postnatal care coverage within 48 hours, reaching 99.97 per cent.
According to Ghana News Agency, HIV testing among pregnant women as part of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme achieved 99.9 per cent. Syphilis screening also maintained high coverage at 99.81 per cent. A notable accomplishment was the increase in skilled delivery coverage, which rose from 82.14 per cent in early 2025 to 98.16 per cent in 2026. This information was disclosed by Mr Stephen Bordotsiah, the District Director of GHS, during the 2026 half-year performance review meeting.
The meeting, attended by healthcare professionals and stakeholders, aimed to evaluate activities and formulate strategies for improved service delivery. Mr Bordotsiah credited the district's progress to the enhanced use of skilled birth attendants and the dedication of healthcare professionals to maternal healthcare. He also noted progress in malaria prevention during pregnancy, with the Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in pregnancy, third dose (IPTp3) coverage increasing from 64.56 per cent to 69.90 per cent.
Additionally, the district saw a reduction in anaemia among pregnant women at 36 weeks, declining from 38.89 per cent to 34.34 per cent, due to better maternal nutrition and antenatal care interventions. Despite these gains, Mr Bordotsiah expressed concerns over some indicators that failed to meet district targets.
He pointed out an increase in the stillbirth rate to 13.59 per 1,000 births, above the target of fewer than 11 per 1,000 births, emphasizing the need for improved antenatal, intra-partum, and emergency obstetric care. The Family Planning acceptor rate also fell to 35.07 per cent, below the district target of 40 per cent, necessitating enhanced community engagement and counselling services.
Immunisation coverage was another area of concern, with Measles-Rubella second dose (MR2) coverage dropping to 74.14 per cent, well below the 95 per cent target, and Vitamin A supplementation reaching only 54.53 per cent, against a target of 80 per cent. Mr Bordotsiah highlighted the risk of preventable illnesses and the need for strengthened outreach services and community mobilization.
Outpatient Department (OPD) attendance per capita remained low at 0.71, compared to the expected 1.2, suggesting delayed healthcare seeking or residents opting for services outside the district. Encouragingly, Tuberculosis (TB) interventions showed progress, with a 49.16 per cent improvement in screening coverage, nearing the district target of 50 per cent.
On sub-district performance, the Tilli/Widnaba Sub-District was recognized as the overall best performer with a composite score of 88 points. Boya/Gbantongo, Sapelliga/Googo, Zebilla South, and Zongoire jointly held the second position with 82 points each. Mr Bordotsiah encouraged lower-performing sub-districts to focus on improvement and learn from their higher-performing counterparts.