Baptist Union of Wales Appeal Transforming maternal health in Ghana

Partners

Maternal health in Ghana Improving maternal health was one of the Millennium Development Goals

Ghana

Striking statistics SDG for maternal deaths per 100,000 live births = 70 760 380 8 SDG 3 – by 2030. MDG was set to 150. Ghana 1990 Ghana 2013 Wales 2013

The project Giving mothers a voice

SEND Ghana A SEND Ghana workshop for journalists

Education Good practice in maternal health services Taxation and spending policies by government Expected levels of professionalism

Good practice Julius of Savelugu Nanton, northern Ghana Community Champion Julius is a Community Chamption in Savelugu Nanton, northern Ghana. He has been trained to provide community sensitisation on maternal health, covering topics such as breastfeeding and nutrition, family planning, accessing free healthcare and ante natal care. Talking about some of the positive changes he has seen, he says: "Before there were people who gave traditional medicines to pregnant women in the final months before delivery, which could harm the baby. Now this is no longer happening." On family planning, he adds, "Now most people are interested." Savelugu community, a small, rural farming community in northern Ghana, the poorest part of the country with the worst outcomes for maternal health. The community is one of many across 30 districts in northern Ghana being supported by our community outreach work to improve maternal health outcomes.

Augustina Apuri, Community Champion "Many more people are using family planning methods now, and the men understand that it's a good thing. Before, they hated it. Now the women are empowered and much stronger. They have money to send their children to school and to clothe and feed them. Before, all the children wore torn clothes that were too small. Now, no child is at home - they all go to school." "Now we can give the children advice on any problem. We are like small doctors in our community - we save people's lives. It [the project] has reduced children's deaths. " Kazigo community is a small, rural farming community in northern Ghana, the poorest part of the country with the worst outcomes for maternal health.

Financial details £40,000 by end of 2016 Total match funding of €500,000 BUW HQ