The Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Barimah Baba Abubakari, has disclosed that sickle cell disease accounted for the deaths of 11 pregnant women in the region in 2025, out of a total of 60 recorded maternal deaths. The revelation has raised serious concerns about the maternal health risks associated with the condition.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Dr. Abubakari explained that 2025 marked a notable shift in the pattern of maternal deaths in the region, with hypertension-related complications and sickle cell disease emerging as leading causes. According to him, sickle cell disease alone contributed nearly one-fifth of all maternal deaths recorded during the year.
“Out of the 60 maternal deaths, about 11 women died from sickle cell disease. This condition is extremely dangerous in pregnancy,” he stated.
Dr. Abubakari emphasized that sickle cell disease poses a grave threat to pregnant women, regardless of the level of medical expertise available. He noted that the condition can lead to sudden death during pregnancy, labour, or shortly after delivery, sometimes without warning.
“You can be talking to a woman with sickle cell disease, smiling with her, and before you even leave the ward, she is gone. It is like a wind has blown her away,” he said.
He stressed that while women with sickle cell disease are not prohibited from having children, pregnancy places them at very high risk. Using a vivid analogy, Dr. Abubakari likened repeated pregnancies in sickle cell patients to repeatedly jumping over a deep, bottomless gutter, where one small mistake could be fatal.
Based on both professional experience and personal conviction, the Regional Director revealed that he often advises women with sickle cell disease who have successfully delivered one or two children to consider permanent family planning options.
“If you have been lucky enough to deliver one or two children, stay alive to take care of them. Continuing to risk your life in the hope of having more children may leave those children as orphans,” he cautioned.
Dr. Abubakari further noted that sickle cell disease ranked among the top three causes of maternal deaths in the region in 2025, alongside hypertensive disorders and infections. He added that infections also contributed to several maternal deaths, underscoring the complex and multifaceted nature of maternal health challenges in the region.
The GHS Director called for intensified public education, early screening, and stronger counselling services for women with sickle cell disease, particularly those of reproductive age.
He also emphasized the need for families and communities to support informed reproductive health decisions.
Source: A1 Radio | 101.1 Mhz | Moses Apiah | Bolgatanga
