Speakers at this year’s Maltiti Care International Maternal Health Summit have said that limited access to specialist maternal care, especially in rural and underserved communities, continues to fuel preventable fistula cases and maternal deaths.
They explained that although progress had been made in expanding access to primary health care, the persistent shortage of skilled professionals and facilities undermined efforts to safeguard women’s health and dignity.
The Speakers — the Member of Parliament (MP) for Nanton, Dr Mohammed Khaliq; Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Naa Gandau Barnabas, and the Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, Shamima Muslim — also stressed that eliminating preventable maternal injuries required coordinated interventions at both policy and community levels.
The summit, held on Thursday, October 29, was on the theme, “Promoting Better Motherhood Outcomes, Ending Obstetric Fistula.”
It brought together healthcare professionals, policymakers, development partners and advocates to discuss practical solutions to improve maternal healthcare delivery and support women affected by obstetric fistula.
Contributors
Dr Khaliq explained that many rural women were unable to access qualified obstetricians or gynaecologists, leading to delays and complications during childbirth, a challenge underpinned by the uneven distribution of medical specialists.
The participants
“If every pregnant woman had at least one consultation with a specialist during pregnancy, most fistula cases could be prevented,” he averred.
The Nanton lawmaker, therefore, proposed that each constituency should have at least one resident gynaecologist and paediatrician to ensure access to expert care for mothers and newborns.
“Bridging this gap is not just a medical necessity; it is a moral and national obligation,” Dr Khaliq, who is also an obstetrician-gynaecologist, said.
Investment
Bringing a policy perspective, Dr Barnabas called for stronger investment in primary health care and community-level systems to complement specialist interventions.
The senior lecturer at the University of Development Studies argued that while assigning a gynaecologist to every district may not be immediately feasible, increasing the number of midwives, community health nurses and emergency transport systems could help prevent delays in seeking and receiving care.
“Most cases of obstetric fistula are preventable if women are attended to promptly by trained personnel,” Dr Barnabas said.
Reaffirmation
For her part, Ms Muslim reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making maternal health a national development priority.
She said that under the Resetting Ghana Agenda, several interventions had been introduced to strengthen maternal healthcare delivery and restore dignity to women affected by fistula.
"These include the National Campaign to Eliminate Obstetric Fistula by 2030, which provides free surgical repairs in designated hospitals across the country, and the construction of a new Obstetric Fistula Centre at the Yendi Government Hospital," she said.
She added that the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP), captured in the 2025 Budget, seeks to decentralise specialist services and expand access to life-saving care for women.
Nurture box
The summit also featured the launch of the Nurture Box, an initiative by Maltiti Care International that provides expectant mothers with essential items for themselves and their babies.
Founder and Executive Director of Maltiti Care International said, the Nurture Box was more than just a package; it’s a symbol of care and dignity for mothers.
“Every item inside is chosen with love to remind women, especially those in deprived areas, that they are not forgotten.
Safe motherhood begins with the small gestures that make women feel supported, valued, and seen," she said.
Maltiti Care International is an advocacy foundation on women's health, maternal health (obstetric fistula).
