WOMEN ARE DYING

Alex Segbefia, Health Minister

Some findings that women are avoiding hospitals because they can’t afford what the hospitals demand of them are troubling indeed.

There is a free maternal health programme in place under which pregnant women are entitled to: exemption from paying NHIS premium; exemption of payment of registration fees; waiving the period between registration and accessing the services; free medical care and medicines during delivery; and free medical services and care for the newborn baby on the mother’s ticket.

But a recent study by SEND-Ghana has revealed that a lot of women who go into labour, especially in the northern regions, avoid health facilities due to illegal fees - a situation that contributes to the rise in maternal mortality.

According to the study, there are a number of hidden or unapproved charges at the various facilities that prevent poor pregnant women from fully enjoying the benefits offered by the policy.

Pregnant women who report to the hospitals are compelled to provide a list of items before being admitted to the health facilities for delivery, but many cannot afford these, thereby forcing them to avoid the hospitals and sometimes unfortunately losing their lives.

Stated one woman who was forced to deliver at home. “It’s not all of us who can get the items demanded by the facilities, and when you do not provide them you are mishandled. In fact, this small girl was delivered at home because my husband could not afford the items requested.”

Most Pretty Gender Minister Oye Lithur

The SEND study shows that at some facilities in the four regions targeted - the Upper West, Upper East, Northern and the Greater Accra Regions -- clients are charged between GHC3 and GHC4 for items such as specimen bottles for laboratory tests, and they also pay for pregnancy test kits.

In Greater Accra, the report noted, facilities charge even higher amounts that range between GHC30 and GHC100 without receipts.

“Clients are often compelled to provide a list of items before being admitted for supervised delivery. This list is displayed at the facility for all pregnant women to provide. A rough estimate of the items runs into hundreds of Ghana cedis,” the report said.

“The disturbing question is how many pregnant women will be able to afford these items considering the level of poverty in the three regions of the north. This is enough to prevent many pregnant women from going to the facility,” Siapha Kamara, CEO of SEND-Ghana, said at the report’s launch in Accra.

“Clients are often compelled to provide a list of items before being admitted for supervised delivery. This list is displayed at the facility for all pregnant women to provide. A rough estimate of the items runs into hundreds of Ghana cedis,” the report said.

“The disturbing question is how many pregnant women will be able to afford these items considering the level of poverty in the three regions of the north. This is enough to prevent many pregnant women from going to the facility,” Siapha Kamara, CEO of SEND-Ghana, said at the report’s launch in Accra.

The SEND’s findings make for uncomfortable reading, but it offers a needed peep into what is happening behind clear good policies. They are unfortunately not the only ones and authorities will do well to explore whatever additional measures would be needed to ensure that access to health is available to all regardless of wealth status.

Editorial

Erdogan’s Visit

The visit of President Erdogan of Turkey to Ghana at this time must be very interesting for different reasons.

First, just before he enplaned for Ghana, he was engaged in a bitter struggle with Journalists in his own country over his refusal, to release a Turkish Journalist from jail on court orders.

Tayyip Erdogan, a vendor of terrorism

Erdogan has publicly stated that he is involved in the illegal act of overthrowing the legitimate government of Syria.

Reports from all credible human rights institutions from around the world, say that his government is systematically abusing the rights of Kurds and his political opponents.

Even the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been very reluctant to grant Turkey under Erdogan membership.

The United States of America and other western powers have also openly disagreed with Erdogan and his government on their policies in the Middle East and in the Persian Gulf.

It is indeed strange that in spite of all these facts the Government of Ghana has embraced Erdogan and his regime.

It is our hope that during his stay in Accra, President Mahama will advise his Turkish counterpart to abide by international law and refrain from his subversive activities in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.

That may be the only useful outcome of this visit.