CRS donates motorcycles to boost maternal health emergency response in northern Ghana

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has handed over 10 motorcycles to the National Ambulance Service (NAS) to strengthen maternal and child health emergency response in northern Ghana.

The handover ceremony, held at the CRS office in Tamale, forms part of the Holistic Opportunities for Positive Engagement in Maternal and Child Health (HOPE-MCH) Project, funded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The motorcycles are expected to enhance community-level outreach, improve emergency referral coordination and support ongoing maternal and child health initiatives in 10 project districts across the Northern, North East, Savannah and Upper East Regions.

Ghana continues to face significant maternal and neonatal health challenges, particularly in remote areas. Studies show that delays in accessing emergency care – often due to inadequate transport and weak referral systems – remain a leading cause of maternal deaths in rural communities, with some evidence suggesting that over 70 percent of emergency referrals are not completed.

Speaking on behalf of the CRS Ghana Country Representative, Daniel Yakuba – Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator at CRS – said the donation will help NAS extend its reach beyond health facilities, ensuring that life-saving care reaches mothers and children when and where it is needed most.

This donation follows several key investments under the HOPE-MCH Project, including delivery of 20 modified motor-tricycle ambulances to NAS and the Ghana Health Service, as well as renovation of 29 health facilities. These interventions form part of a comprehensive strategy to address the ‘three delays’ in maternal care – delays in seeking, reaching and receiving quality care.

“Through our collaboration with NAS, we have established two new Emergency Dispatch Centres in Tamale and Walewale, bringing the total number of CRS-supported centres to seven since 2017,” Mr. Yakuba added.

Receiving the motorcycles on behalf of NAS, Dr. Patrick Inkoom – Deputy Chief Executive Officer-National Ambulance Service – expressed appreciation for CRS’s continued partnership.

“This donation is a testament to what meaningful partnerships can achieve. With these motorcycles, our teams can better respond to emergencies in hard-to-reach communities, train local responders and coordinate life-saving interventions at the grassroots level. We thank CRS Ghana for their vision and remain committed to maximising the impact of these resources,” Dr. Inkoom said.

The HOPE-MCH Project integrates infrastructure development, emergency transport solutions, health worker capacity building and community engagement which improve access to quality maternal and child health services. Through these initiatives, CRS continues supporting government commitment to achieving universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3 – ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.

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