Ghana Steps Up Fight Against Maternal Deaths with SUPREME Project
By Maame Efua Kwaduah
Government has intensified efforts to reduce preventable maternal and newborn deaths by bringing together state agencies and international partners to strengthen the response to pre-eclampsia and maternal anaemia, two leading causes of pregnancy-related complications.
Ghana Health Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, held a two-day workshop in Accra to plan the implementation of the Sustained Uptake of Products for Pre-Eclampsia and Maternal Anaemia (SUPREME) Project, a programme supported by a consortium including Unitaid, Amref Health Africa, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, Jhpiego and Market Access Africa.
The project will be officially launched at the International Maternal Health Conference scheduled for March 23–26, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya.
The workshop sought to align stakeholders on a clear implementation framework, improve collaboration, and address gaps in detecting and managing pre-eclampsia and anaemia across Ghana’s health system.
Dr. Kennedy Brightson, Director of the Family Health Division, speaking on behalf of the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, described the meeting as critical. He noted that while antenatal care coverage has remained above 70% from 2016 to 2025, more women are now beginning care later than recommended.
Early antenatal attendance dropped from 84.4% in 2016 to 72.7% in 2025. Meanwhile, the proportion of pregnant women diagnosed with anaemia rose from 28.8% to 33.6% during the same period, and anaemia at 36 weeks gestation remains high at 27.9%. Maternal deaths also increased from 779 in 2016 to 955 in 2025, with hypertensive disorders, including pre-eclampsia, remaining major contributors.
Dr. Brightson emphasised that access alone is insufficient. The timing and quality of care, he said, determine whether complications are detected early and treated effectively. He highlighted gaps in policy implementation, inconsistent adherence to guidelines and supply chain bottlenecks.
Late antenatal care initiation, referral delays, especially in rural areas, and shortages of essential commodities continue to undermine progress.
He described the SUPREME Project as an opportunity to strengthen existing systems, with a focus on early detection, standardised screening during antenatal visits, better tracking of high-risk pregnancies, improved commodity availability, and enhanced provider capacity. The aim is to ensure every pregnant woman receives timely, life-saving care.
Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, Deputy Minister of Health who oversees maternal and newborn mortality, described the current situation as urgent and unacceptable. She noted that Ghana’s 2025 maternal mortality rate remains above the World Health Organization benchmark of 70 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Dr. Ayensu-Danquah announced plans to visit the 20 hospitals with the highest maternal deaths to understand the system failures. Her goal is to halve maternal mortality by the end of 2026. She welcomed partner collaboration and signalled readiness for open dialogue to improve outcomes nationwide.
Dr. Samuel Boakye-Boateng, Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Ghana Health Service, stressed the importance of community engagement in project success. He noted that the Community Scorecard would help gather feedback, increase antenatal care use, and strengthen referral systems.
Representatives from partner organisations pledged technical and financial support. They commended the Ministry and Ghana Health Service for their leadership and urged building on existing systems rather than creating parallel structures. The SUPREME Project is a multi-country initiative operating in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Senegal, and Malawi. It aims to expand the availability and proper use of critical products for preventing and managing pre-eclampsia and maternal anaemia, ultimately reducing preventable maternal and newborn
