The Safe Delivery Project, an initiative led by the Second Lady, Her Excellency Hajia Samira Bawumia, through the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Projects (SEHP), has recorded a historic milestone in the Saboba District of the Northern Region, with zero institutional maternal and neonatal deaths reported during the project’s implementation period.
This feat was celebrated at a grand durbar held in Saboba to mark the official closure of the project in the district.
The event brought together government officials, health professionals, religious leaders, beneficiaries of the project, as well as expectant mothers in the district.
The project, launched in May 2018 by the founder and Chair of the Africa Women and Children Conference (AFRIWOCC), Mrs. Bawumia, in the East Gonja Municipality, seeks to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and promote safe delivery practices in underserved communities across Ghana.
As part of the project, birth kits containing essential supplies needed for safe deliveries are distributed to expectant mothers in their third trimester.
The contents of the kits include medicated soap for handwashing and cleaning the mother’s perineum, a clean delivery mat to provide a hygienic surface for childbirth, methylated spirit for disinfection, a sterile blade for cutting the umbilical cord, cord clamps to safely tie the umbilical cord, a pair of sterile gloves for the birth attendant, gauze swabs for cleaning, and combined dressing.
Other supplies include a baby hat for warmth, cot sheet, and nametag for the baby, anti-haemorrhage prophylaxis to prevent excessive bleeding after birth, as well as prenatal and postnatal vitamins and mineral supplements for the mother.
The project also focuses on resourcing local health facilities, as well as providing training for health workers, volunteers, and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) on safe delivery practices.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of Mrs. Bawumia, a celebrated maternal and child health advocate, Dominic Nitiwul, the former Minister for Defence and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, lauded the achievements of the project and reaffirmed the commitment of Mrs. Bawumia and SEHP to the welfare of mothers and children across Ghana.
He noted that the Safe Delivery Project was birthed out of the former Second Lady’s vision to ensure that no woman dies while giving life, particularly in underserved areas where access to healthcare remains a challenge.
“The statistics that informed this initiative were worrying, with Saboba being one of the districts with the highest maternal mortality rates in the country.
The Safe Delivery Project has turned that story around, and today, we are celebrating life and progress,” he said.
The project, which provided over 4,000 expectant mothers with birth kits and supported 22 health facilities across the district, also led to a 79 percent increase in antenatal and postnatal care attendance.
The Paramount Chief for the Saboba Traditional Area, Ubor Bowan John Mateer Sakojim IV, commended Mrs. Bawumia for her advocacy and support for women and children over the years.
He noted that the project has been dear to his heart because of its transformational effect on the lives of women.
He was happy to announce that the district had not recorded any institutional deaths since the start of this intervention in April 2023.
The District Director of Health Services for Saboba, Mr. Zaid Arimiyaw, in his remarks, also commended SEHP and its partners for the significant strides made in maternal and newborn health.
He revealed that, prior to the intervention, many women gave birth under unsafe conditions, contributing to the district’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.
“With the support of SEHP, our healthcare system was strengthened, birth kits were distributed, and our health staff were retooled and retrained. Today, we can proudly say that not a single mother or newborn was lost during this period,” he said.
The project in Saboba builds on the success of similar interventions in the East Gonja Municipality and North East Gonja District, which also recorded significant reductions in maternal mortality after SEHP’s intervention.
“The Safe Delivery Project has shown that public-private partnerships are key in addressing maternal and neonatal health challenges.
These are not just numbers—we are talking about lives saved and communities transformed,” he stated.
Other speakers at the event urged for sustained training for health workers, community engagement, and the integration of such initiatives into national policy frameworks.
Her Excellency Hajia Samira Bawumia, through the former Defence Minister, expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders including the Ghana Health Service, KGL Foundation, and MedShare USA, local health workers, community leaders, and all who played a role in making the project a success.
“This is not the end, but the beginning of a broader commitment to make maternal and neonatal healthcare accessible, safe, and sustainable across Ghana,” he conveyed.
She reiterated her unwavering commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian mother, regardless of her location, has access to safe and dignified childbirth.
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