USAG Dedicates International Women’s Day To The Achievement Of MDG 5
If there is any single group of people who have touched all levels of the global development aspirations and agenda, then undoubtedly it is the female homo sapien species; women.
Whiles some have argued that they are the weaker sex; women have proved their worth in extending the boundaries of making this world a better place for all humanity. Starting from their families through their communities and to the national level women have made significant contributions: in the corporate world, civil society front, politics, entrepreneurship, leadership and governance, arts and culture, the media among many other aspects of our society.
On this day of International Women’s Day and Women’s Right and International Peace, USAG is of the opinion that the day should be rededicated to the issue of reducing maternal mortality in the country, and indeed in the larger sub-saharan Africa.
Even as Ghana is still not firmly on track to achieve MDG 5, it is pertinent that no effort be spared in addressing this issue.
It is always a very sad event when a woman should loose her life through child birth; the process which ensures the perpetuation and continuous survival of the human race in the universe.
The success stories and lessons from districts and hospitals such as Ahafo Ano South district, Tano South district, St. Martin De Porres Hospital (Agomanya), St Patrick’s Hospital (Offinso) and Trust Hospital (Osu, Accra) all of which recorded very low and in some cases zero maternal deaths in the recent past, must be adapted and replicated all ove the country; more CHPS compound must be built and perhaps it is about time their quality standard is raised as a national policy; more midwives and traditional birth attendants must be trained and deployed into every community; health workers must be more responsive and professional in their work and must be made more accountable; global assistance and resources for such activities must be judiciously applied; civil society groups and coalitions must play a more active, forward and pioneering role; more ambulances must be deployed; husbands, fathers and sons must be included in efforts at reducing maternal mortality; innovations such as health must be introduced; private sector must find it necessary and important to get involved; the campaigns, advocacy, awareness creation, workshops, trainings and other such capacity building events must not stop and government, including the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service, must continue to show its unflinching commitment to thoroughly addressing this issue.
All that needs to be done to ensure that maternal mortality is reduced to the barest minimum, if not eradicated, in the country must be done. In a country where many women are solely responsible for raising families, as a people and nation we cannot fail this task, no matter how herculean it may seem.
In this regard, the University Students’ Association of Ghana (USAG) will undertake its Project its “Project 5 and 6” (focused on MDG 5 and 6), to also contribute its quota to addressing the issues and achieving goals 5 and 6.
Not only because is it an important matter or a deeply sorrowful event if maternal mortality occurs and for which reason we need to address it. But also very importantly, the very occurrence of maternal mortality shows a basic and fundamental flaw in our development and progress as a nation and for which reason we ought to tackle it as a matter of national emergency.
Whiles dedicating the 2013 International Women’s Day to improving maternal health, USAG is calling on all direct stakeholders and indirect ones, especially corporate bodies, to get involved in the task to save our women and mothers and indeed our communities and the nation at large.
Ayekoo!!! to all women and mothers.
Signed
Laud K. Addo (USAG President)