The Ministry of Health has launched the Midwifery Innovation Hackathon, a maiden edition aimed at reducing maternal and newborn mortality in Ghana.

The event, led by Estel Ruth Opoku, the Head of Midwifery at the Ministry of Health, brought together midwives, clinicians, academics, researchers, and students to share innovative ideas and solutions.

According to her, Ghana has not achieved the World Health Organisation's (WHO) target of 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, with around 900 women dying between January and November this year.

Midwives play a crucial role in addressing maternal mortality, newborn health, and sexual reproductive health issues, and equipping them with the necessary skills and competencies can significantly reduce these deaths.

The hackathon provides a platform for midwives to share their ideas and concepts, which can be developed into scalable, sustainable, and implementable solutions.

Miss Opoku emphasised that the event is a starting point, and the Ministry of Health plans to roll out more initiatives to address these critical health issues.

The Minister of Health is expected to announce more plans soon, but for now, the focus is on encouraging innovation and collaboration among midwives and stakeholders to drive positive change in Ghana's healthcare system