The Member of Parliament (MP) for Titus Kofi Beyuo has called on government and health authorities to intensify efforts to tackle preeclampsia and reduce maternal deaths in Ghana.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament to commemorate World Preeclampsia Day, Prof. Beyuo described preeclampsia as one of the most dangerous yet often overlooked complications of pregnancy, warning that it continues to claim the lives of thousands of women globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Ghana.
World Preeclampsia Day, observed annually on May 22, is being marked this year under the theme, “Know Her Symptoms,” aimed at raising awareness about the condition and encouraging early medical intervention.
Prof. Beyuo disclosed that he recently participated in the maiden Global Preeclampsia Summit organised by the World Health Organization in Kigali, where global health experts and policymakers discussed strategies to end preventable maternal deaths associated with the condition.
He explained that preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder during pregnancy characterised by high blood pressure and protein in urine, often accompanied by complications affecting vital organs including the liver, kidneys, and brain.
According to him, the condition can progress into eclampsia, a life-threatening stage marked by convulsions and severe complications that may necessitate premature delivery.
“Preeclampsia has overtaken haemorrhage as the leading reason why mothers die in Teaching Hospitals in Ghana,” Prof. Beyuo stated.
Citing figures from the World Health Organization, he noted that preeclampsia affects nearly 10 million pregnancies globally each year and contributes to between 50,000 and 76,000 maternal deaths annually, with more than 70 percent of cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
He further noted that although the exact cause of preeclampsia remains unknown, experts generally associate it with abnormal placenta formation.
He identified obesity, diabetes, kidney disease, previous experiences with preeclampsia, and pregnancies at very young or advanced maternal ages as major risk factors.
The lawmaker warned that the condition often develops silently in its early stages, making regular antenatal care critical for early detection and treatment.
He therefore called on the Ministry of Health and related agencies to strengthen maternal healthcare delivery by ensuring the availability of blood pressure monitoring equipment, essential medicines, diagnostics, and magnesium sulfate in all health facilities managing pregnancy-related cases.
Prof. Beyuo also commended government efforts under the Free Primary Health Care Programme and urged authorities to leverage the initiative to improve maternal healthcare services, especially for women at risk of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy.
He further appealed to families, particularly men, to actively support pregnant women throughout pregnancy, stressing that women who receive family support often experience better health outcomes.
Source: Felix NYAABA//expressnewsghana.com