The Country Innovation Platform (CIP) Ghana Pilot project geared towards supporting local innovations in maternal and newborn health in six priority Regions of Ghana has been launched in the Western Region.
The CIP project, a partnership between the Ghana Health Service, USAID’s Centre for Innovation and Impact (CII), Grand Challenges Canada and AMP Health sought to empower 10 selected innovators to implement impactful health innovations across the selected Regions, so that each would contribute towards the broader goal of improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
Dr. Nana Yaw Ofori, the Western Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, said the innovative solutions were being introduced at a time the Regional Health Directorate was also about to operationalise a Maternal and Newborn Resource Centre.
The Centre would build the capacity of relevant health professionals to respond effectively to maternal and newborn health challenges to mitigate maternal and newborn deaths.
The project had selected three innovators to pilot their solutions in eight districts of the Western Region for between 12 and 18 months.
These innovators include the Society of Family Physicians of Ghana, Duapa Werkspace and Digital Foundation Africa and their solutions would be implemented in Effia-Kwesimintsim, Shama, Wassa East, Mpohor, Ahanta West, Jomoro, Ellembelle and Amenfi Central.
The Regional Health Directorate would leverage the innovations and adopt shared learning through the innovations to enhance the capacity of the health systems in the Region to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
“As we eagerly look forward to the positive impact of these innovations, we cannot hide our excitement over the prospects of the innovations.
I urge the innovators to consult the relevant stakeholders towards achieving the desired buy-in and smooth implementation of their proposed solutions.”
He assured the Innovators of the Regional Health Directorate to support throughout the lifespan of the innovations.
Nana Kofi Abuna V, Chief of Essipun and Regional Health Committee Chairman Person, prayed that the innovations produced sustainable ways tracking services to ensure that no woman died from childbirth.
Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, encouraged the innovators to get it right to help improve health outcomes in the Region.
He said, “The President is committed to healthy lives of the Ghanaian and thus the many investments in the sector…let monitor to improve upon the innovations.”
The three Innovators hoped to increase access, improve referrals system, deploy community-based scan centres and employ Artificial Intelligence in the care of expectant mothers in ending maternal and newborn deaths.
