By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Deputy Minister for Health, Prof. Dr Grace Ayensu-Danquah, has raised concerns over the high rates of maternal mortality and anaemia among pregnant women in Ghana, warning that unusual cravings, such as eating white clay known locally as “ayilo” or “shile” and chewing ice, may be signs of severe anaemia, which contributes to maternal deaths.
The Deputy Minister explained during a Public Accounts Committee hearing that anaemia, which is often overlooked at the primary healthcare level, leaves pregnant women highly vulnerable during childbirth, especially when they experience bleeding.
According to her, haemorrhage remains the leading cause of maternal mortality in the country.
“…they are bleeding to death, basically. So, if we know that the woman is anaemic at the time, at the primary care level, there are lots of things we can do before she even gets to where she needs blood,” she stated.
She noted that one of the common but often ignored signs of anaemia is pica, the craving for and consumption of non-food substances. She stressed that pica is not a normal pregnancy craving but may be a clinical sign of anaemia that requires prompt medical attention.
Prof. Ayensu-Danquah further argued that many maternal deaths could be prevented if anaemia were detected and treated early at CHPS compounds, health centres and district hospitals, long before delivery.
She highlighted the global challenge of blood availability, noting that blood cannot be manufactured or bought off the shelf, making the prevention of anaemia even more critical.
She expressed hope that the government’s Free Primary Health Care programme would strengthen the early screening and management of pregnant women.
“Hopefully, with the free primary healthcare programmes, we will really do an assessment of pregnant women at the basic level,” she added.
Health experts have long warned that anaemia during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, preterm delivery, stillbirth and maternal death, particularly when significant blood loss occurs during labour.
