A principal community health nurse at Bonkro in the Afram Plains South district, Eastern Region, Yunbow Michael Jordan, went above and beyond when he assisted in delivering a pregnant woman in a tricycle due to the absence of a delivery bed at the CHPs compound facility.
On December 29, 2023, Justina Kwame, 32, arrived at the health facility with the intention of delivering her child. However, the lack of a delivery bed necessitated a decision to transport her to Maame Krobo clinic. Unexpectedly, labor commenced around 10:00 am during their journey.
Undeterred by the challenging circumstances, Nurse Yunbow Michael Jordan displayed exceptional dedication and skill, successfully delivering the baby boy in the tricycle. Following the delivery, both mother and newborn were promptly transferred to Maame Krobo clinic for further medical attention.
Nurse Jordan recounted the challenging situation, stating, “they came to Bonkro to deliver, but we don’t have a delivery bed, so we were taking her to Krobo when labor set in, and I had to deliver her in the tricycle. We didn’t have water and other delivery items with us, but we managed. When we reached the next community, we requested water to keep both mother and baby clean.”
The incident highlights the healthcare challenges faced by communities in the Afram Plains South Area, characterized by poor road conditions and inadequate access to health facilities and midwives.
Nurse Yunbow Michael Jordan, who is also a BSc. Public Health student nurse at Wisconsin International University College, has a history of intervening in such delivery situations. In 2018, he assisted a pregnant woman in labor while en route to Dome, a remote community in the area, underscoring the persistent challenges in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
The healthcare challenges are further underscored by statistics from the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, revealing alarming figures of maternal deaths. In 2021, 89 institutional maternal mortalities were recorded, and between January and September 2022, 62 cases were reported.
Expressing deep concern over the high number of maternal mortality in the region, Dr. Winfred Ofosu, the Eastern Regional Health Director, emphasized the significant social implications of every maternal death on families and communities. He highlighted the ripple effect on orphaned children, husbands losing their wives, and the broader societal impact.
Dr. Ofosu stressed the link between maternal deaths and high disability rates among women. Each maternal death, he noted, is associated with approximately 15 more women experiencing various forms of disabilities resulting from pregnancy or childbirth complications.
To address this pressing concern, the Eastern Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service launched the “Zero Tolerance for Maternal Deaths” initiative in 2022 under the theme “Stop Preventable Maternal Deaths and Disability.”
Dr. Ofosu emphasized that many maternal deaths are preventable, pointing to issues such as blood shortages in health facilities, delays in transporting and referring pregnant women due to poor road networks, and inadequate ambulances. The initiatives seek to address these issues and contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality in the region.
