The Oti Region has recorded a significant decline in maternal mortality, which a development health authority has described as a major milestone, even as a worrying rise in infant deaths poses a fresh challenge to the region’s healthcare system.
Dr Kofi Amo-Kodieh, the Oti Regional Director of Health Services, disclosed that maternal mortality dropped from 70 to 41 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2025, reflecting sustained efforts to improve maternal healthcare delivery.
He made this known at the 2025 Annual Performance Review Meeting held under the theme: “Strengthening Quality Public Health and Clinical Services for Improved Health Outcomes: The Role of the Health Professional.”
Dr Amo-Kodieh attributed the improvement to increased access to skilled delivery services, which rose from 62.7 per cent to 67 per cent within the review period, alongside enhanced antenatal care and strengthened community-level interventions.
“This achievement demonstrates the impact of targeted interventions and the commitment of health workers across the region,” he said.
Outpatient Department (OPD) attendance also recorded a marginal increase, an indication of growing public confidence in the health system and improved access to basic healthcare services.
Despite these gains, he expressed concern over a sharp rise in infant mortality, which increased from 2.8 to 3.38 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2025.
“We are making steady progress in reducing maternal deaths, but the rising infant mortality is a serious concern that requires urgent, coordinated action,” he stressed.
He explained that the increase could be linked to gaps in neonatal care, delayed health-seeking behaviour and persistent challenges in accessing quality healthcare in remote and hard-to-reach communities.
The region recorded mixed outcomes in reproductive and child health indicators while teenage pregnancy saw a slight decline, anaemia in pregnancy rose to 29.4 per cent, raising concerns about maternal nutrition and pregnancy outcomes.
Some childhood immunisation indicators also recorded marginal declines, a situation Dr Amo-Kodieh warned could expose children to preventable diseases if not urgently addressed.
He attributed these challenges to inadequate health infrastructure, shortage of critical health personnel and logistical constraints in delivering services to remote communities.
Dr Amo-Kodieh said the Regional Health Directorate continues to grapple with systemic challenges, including the absence of a regional medical store, which had affected the efficient distribution of medical supplies, as well as a shortfall of about 60 medical doctors.
He further raised alarm over increasing encroachment on lands reserved for health facilities, cautioning that the trend could undermine future expansion of healthcare infrastructure.
“Without immediate steps to secure these lands, we risk losing critical space needed for future health projects,” he warned.
In response, the Directorate had implemented key interventions to strengthen healthcare delivery which included the completion of a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Worawora Government Hospital, installation of a dedicated transformer to stabilise vaccine cold chain systems and ongoing construction of an oxygen plant to enhance emergency and critical care.
Dr Amo-Kodieh called for stronger collaboration among government, local authorities and development partners to address gaps in the health system.
He emphasised that sustained investment in infrastructure, human resources, and community-based services would be critical to consolidating gains in maternal health while reversing the rising trend in infant mortality.
“We must build on the progress made and intensify efforts to ensure that every mother and child has access to quality healthcare, regardless of location,” he added.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Ghana Health Service to improving health outcomes in the Oti Region, expressing optimism that with the right support and coordinated interventions, the region could further reduce preventable deaths and move closer to achieving universal health coverage.