Ghana has made significant progress in reducing neonatal mortality, with the rate now at 17 deaths per 1,000 live births.
While this decline marks a major achievement, the government is committed to further improving this figure to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 12 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Over the past decade, Ghana has implemented several key initiatives that have contributed to this progress.
Expanded access to prenatal care, enhancements in healthcare infrastructure, and comprehensive community health education have been pivotal in reducing neonatal mortality rates.
Despite these advances, the challenges persist. Director of Family Health Division at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Marion Okoh-Owusu, acknowledged these issues but also highlighted the successes of public health interventions.
“The reduction in neonatal mortality is a testament to the effectiveness of our public health initiatives,” Dr. Okoh-Owusu said.
“However, we recognize that more needs to be done to achieve the SDG target. Our commitment includes strengthening training programs for healthcare workers, increasing funding for neonatal care, and fostering public-private partnerships to ensure every newborn gets the best start in life.”
At the recent 12th Annual Newborn stakeholder Conference, which centered on the theme “Improving Respiratory Care for the Newborn Within the Network of Practice,” these ongoing efforts were further emphasized.
