Health Ministry Holds First Midwives’ Innovation Hackathon, Showcasing Bold Frontline Solutions

The Ministry of Health has held its maiden Midwives’ Innovation Hackathon Exhibition on Friday in Accra, spotlighting the creativity and problem-solving power of Ghana’s midwives as innovators, frontline leaders and agents of change.

The exhibition, which was on the theme “Innovation as the Catalyst for Maternal and Neonatal Health Excellence.”

The Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Mr Desmond Boateng, speaking on the theme, said Midwives remain central to the delivery of essential maternal and newborn care and are key to advancing Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage Agenda.

He stated that the Hackathon aligns with the Ministry’s commitment to improving maternal and newborn outcomes, noting that midwives play a crucial role in achieving Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage goals.

The Ministry, he said, will continue to support innovation-driven initiatives that enhance efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and ensure safe and quality care for mothers and newborns.

According to the Chief Director, recent data from the Ghana Health Service highlight persistent challenges. The 2024 report recorded a marginal increase in institutional maternal mortality, neonatal mortality standing at 5.17 per 1,000 live births, and a decline in skilled delivery coverage from 60.6% in 2023 to 55%.

Adding that these indicators call for innovative and scalable solutions that address the practical realities faced by midwives every day.

He said the innovation hackathon was both timely and strategic, noting that the platform empowers midwives to generate, design, and prototype solutions that can enhance efficiency, improve clinical decision-making, and strengthen service delivery.

Mr Boateng encouraged all participants to engage fully, collaborate openly, and think boldly, adding that the Ministry remains committed to supporting initiatives that elevate midwifery practice and contribute to achieving Ghana’s national and global health targets.

President of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), Mad. Netta Ackon-Forson said the event proved that innovation was not about advanced technology, but about everyday problem-solving rooted in the realities midwives face on the frontline.

She stressed that midwives are not just part of the health system; for many women, midwives are the entire system, delivering lifesaving care even in the toughest conditions.

The Head of the Midwifery Unit at the Ministry, Madam Estel Ruth Opoku, announced that winners of the Hackathon will receive cash prizes, mentorship, and opportunities to scale their ideas, revealing that partners, including Google, Microsoft and the UNFPA, are already committing support to help midwives develop prototypes, digital tools and community-based solutions.

The exhibition featured midwife-led projects judged by a selected jury, celebrating practical innovations designed from the realities of frontline care.

Grace Acheampong, ISD