Women Cross Rivers to Give Birth as Ghana MP Raises Alarm Over Rural Healthcare Crisis
Speaking during parliamentary proceedings, the lawmaker expressed concern over the plight of pregnant women in remote areas who are forced to travel long distances under hazardous conditions to access skilled medical care during labour.
Drawing attention to the situation in parts of her constituency, Hajia Ibrahimah revealed that expectant mothers in communities such as Sofe must cross the White Volta River by canoe to reach the nearest hospital in Yeji.
"If someone goes into labour at Sofe, they have to cross the White Volta on a canoe, regardless of the time of day or night, to Yeji, which is the nearest hospital where they can receive professional care," she said.
The legislator acknowledged ongoing efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure through the District Assembly Common Fund, which requires the construction of at least two healthcare facilities in every district annually. However, she argued that building health centres alone would not adequately address the healthcare challenges facing rural populations.
According to her, the shortage of doctors, specialists, nurses, and other skilled healthcare professionals in deprived communities continues to expose women to avoidable maternal health complications and poor health outcomes.
Hajia Ibrahimah specifically highlighted the prevalence of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF), commonly known as Obstetric Fistula, which she said remains a major concern in many rural areas due to inadequate access to professional obstetric care.
She noted that many women continue to rely on Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) during childbirth because qualified healthcare workers are unavailable in their communities.
While recognising the important role played by Traditional Birth Attendants, she stressed that many lack the specialised medical training required to identify and respond to life-threatening complications during pregnancy and delivery.
The lawmaker warned that delayed referrals and prolonged labour management by untrained attendants could significantly increase the risk of severe birth injuries, maternal complications, and other preventable health conditions.
She explained that many of these complications could be avoided through timely Caesarean sections, emergency obstetric interventions, and access to skilled healthcare professionals.
Hajia Ibrahimah further expressed concern that some traditional practices employed during difficult deliveries may inadvertently worsen outcomes for both mothers and newborns where expert medical supervision is absent.
The Salaga South lawmaker therefore called for a comprehensive approach to strengthening rural healthcare delivery, urging government to complement infrastructure development with targeted incentives aimed at attracting and retaining doctors, nurses, specialists, and other healthcare professionals in deprived communities.
She maintained that equitable access to quality healthcare remains critical to reducing maternal mortality and ensuring that women in rural Ghana receive the same standard of healthcare available in urban centres.
The MP concluded by urging policymakers to prioritise investments in healthcare infrastructure and human resources as part of broader efforts to improve maternal health outcomes and strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
Tags: #MaternalHealth #RuralHealthcare #GhanaParliament #WomenHealth #SalagaSouth #HealthcareAccess #ObstetricFistula #PublicHealth
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