The people of Piina in the Laambussie Karni District in the Upper West Region have not recorded any deaths related to childbirth since June 2013.
This followed the shift from carrying women experiencing labour complications on motorbikes and donkey carts to hospitals to the use of an ambulance in the area.
The ambulance, which was donated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), picks emergency labour cases from homes to the Piina Health Centre and also transports referred cases to the Nandom, Lawra and Jirapa hospitals.
Latest statistics indicate that 42 pregnancy-related cases, including prolonged labour, previous cesarian session, threat of abortion and malaria in pregnancy were referred from the Piina Health Centre to hospitals from January to October, 2014.
The nurse in-charge of the Piina Health Centre, Ms Dery Florence, gave the statistics in a speech read on her behalf during an assessment visit by the UNDP team to the area.
Besides, she said, the ambulance also attended to other emergency cases, including accidents.
"The ambulance has been saving lives from the Sissala West District, Nandom District and many others," she said.
Regent of Piina
The Regent of Piina, Gerbulee Simon, said before the arrival of the ambulance in the area in June, 2013, the people had no option but to send women experiencing complications in pregnancy to health facilities on donkey carts and motorbikes.
As a result, he said, many women died before they got to the Nandom Hospital, which is about nine kilometres from Piina.
The Assembly Member of the Piina Electoral Area, Mr Christopher Aagelle, said a management team had been set up to man the operations of the ambulance.
