USAID Commences Construction of Maternal and Child Health Center in Kumasi
Kumasi – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has initiated the construction of a new maternal and child health center at the HopeXchange Medical Centre in Kumasi. This development is a significant step towards addressing the rising maternal and child mortality rates in the Ashanti and surrounding regions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the US Ambassador to Ghana, the state-of-the-art facility, expected to be completed within 18 months, will encompass a labour suite, neonatal and paediatric intensive care units, in-patient and out-patient wards, and an adolescent clinic. She emphasized the importance of a healthy start as the foundation for lifelong good health, underlining why USAID continues to invest in health facilities.
The Ambassador highlighted that USAID has already invested about $3.5 million in the HopeXchange Medical Centre, Ghana. She added that the United States annually invests over $12 million to enhance the health and lives of mothers, babies, and children throughout Ghana. In 2019, the United States launched a Women’s Cancer Centre at HopeXchange Ghana, serving as a regional hub for medical training, research, and patient care to tackle public health priorities in sub-Saharan Africa.
Ms. Palmer also noted that the US is Ghana’s largest bilateral development partner, with bilateral assistance in 2023 amounting to over $150 million. This funding supports various sectors, including health, economic growth, agriculture, education, governance, and security.
Dr. Rita Larsen-Reindorf, the Ashanti Regional Deputy Director of Health Services in charge of Clinical Care, expressed her gratitude to the US Government for its continuous support and investment in Ghana’s healthcare. She stressed that maternal and newborn mortality remains a critical concern in the region. The region’s maternal mortality rate was 134 per 100,000 live births, and the stillbirth rate was 11 per 1,000 in 2022. The new facility is expected to contribute significantly to reducing these numbers.