Ghana Health Service and CHAI Hold Stakeholder Meeting to Validate Guidelines on Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy

The Service, in collaboration with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), this week held a stakeholder meeting to review and validate the draft national guidelines on Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy (HDP). The meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review the existing draft, share feedback, identify gaps and validate the recommendations. It also focused on ensuring that the guidelines are inclusive and accessible to all levels of healthcare delivery and diverse populations. In addition, the meeting sought to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and encourage networking, including discussions on the formation of a task force to support the implementation of the HDP guidelines. In a welcome address delivered on his behalf by Mrs Vivian Ofori-Dankwah, the Director of the Family Health Division of the Service, Dr Kennedy Brightson, commended CHAI for its support towards the development of the guidelines and its commitment to their future implementation. He stressed the importance of ensuring that mothers survive pregnancy and childbirth and return home safely with their babies, rather than losing their lives to complications associated with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Dr Brightson encouraged stakeholders to take the guidelines to their respective institutions and communities and advocate for their adoption and use. He also urged them to engage other health workers and promote the consistent application of the recommendations in their daily practice. The guidelines are intended to provide a single national standard for the prevention and management of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy at all levels of healthcare delivery. It is intended to be used at every level of care, from the community level to teaching hospitals, covering antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. This will help promote consistent, timely and appropriate care for women throughout pregnancy, childbirth and after delivery. The meeting brought together representatives from various health institutions and partner organisations, including JHPIEGO, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the 37 Military Hospital and Ridge Hospital, as well as other health professionals and stakeholders. The validation process marks an important step towards establishing a national approach to preventing and managing hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and improving the health and survival of mothers and their babies.