AFPRC Hospital: Maternal mortality ratio reduced by 50.8% within one year

The meeting aimed at sharing the findings with stakeholders and communities on the achievement and challenges in the reduction of maternal mortality by 50.8 per cent.

The meeting was funded by WHO country office.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr Mamadi Cham, Chief Executive Officer of the AFPRC General Hospital in Farafenni, expressed satisfaction on the reduction of maternal mortality ratio by 50.8 per cent within one year.

He said that in 2013, the numbers of maternal deaths and live births were 15 and 1542 respectively, compared to 2014 maternal deaths and live births, which were only 7 and 1460.

“The proportion of live births has increased from 90.5 per cent (2013) to 92 per cent (2014). Overall stillbirths reduced from 9.5 per cent (2013) to 8 per cent (2014) and caesarean section increased from 8.9 per cent (2013) to 16.9 per cent (2014),” he said.

Dr Cham noted that the intervention includes a functional Blood Bank System marked by “proactive transfusion blood harvesting” with a replacement of transfusion blood policy where emergencies received urgent transfusion from the hospital’s blood stock, but shall be replaced later by the patient’s relatives.

The hospital management endeavours at all times to purchase them when supplies run out, he said, adding that “this makes life easy” for care providers, patients and their relatives as they are assured of services at all times.

Effective and efficient communication between and among staff was noted to have played an important role in this success, as roles and functions have been made clear, he said.

He revealed that there was clear chain of command and, importantly, the hospital management instituted a “Close-User-Group” telephone service among all senior staff of the hospital at no cost to the staff with the aim to enhance communication at all times.

“With this, it is easy to access any staff should the need arise and having a ‘dedicated and committed staff’ that are willing to give their best at all times,” he further stated.

He said even with the most sophisticated equipment and uninterrupted supplies, without a committed and dedicated staff no meaningful impact could be attained.

The staff were and continue to be critical and central to their gains registered over the years, he added.

Wandifa Samateh, hospital administrator, disclosed that blood is available to respond to emergencies and availability of essential medical supplies.

He said regular conduct of audit/review meetings at the hospital dating back to 2001 aimed at promoting learning and averting recurrence.

He said the cause of common death is as result of post-partum haemorrhage (bleeding after delivery).

The hospital management expresses concern for men to escort their wives to hospital to avoid delay of services.

Bakary Jargo, National Programme Officer - Reproductive and Child Health at the World Health Organisation country office, hailed the hospital on the steps taken in providing quality health service.

He said such review meetings are important as they help health workers to have the approach of working together in attaining the reduction of maternal death.

He spoke of the WHO country office’s “support at all times”.