Most of them lacked requisite skills on current antenatal, post natal practice, nutrition, referrals, family planning and transmitted diseases.

AfricaNews’ reporter Daniel Aforo travelled from Accra to Gowrie Kunkua, a community in the Bongo District in the Upper East Region to dig more into TBA’s operations. With a total population of 400 inhabitants, 12 TBAs were identified but only one is trained.

All the TBAs provide health education on midwifery and hygiene to patrons as an integral part of their practice. He said intriguingly about 25 percent of them have knowledge on HIV/AIDS.

Essentially, most women folks perceived HIV/AIDS as a dreaded disease which kills, and is acquired from sex. Most of them have the notion AIDS is acquired through sharing of drinking cups, plates and through evil spirits.

The only woman to have gone through training as a TBA is Madam Gabriela Awine (46) with 24 years of dedicated service at the community. She obtained her training from the Presbyterian Missionary at Bolgatanga, the capital of Upper East region in her teens.

“I have assisted about 120 women to give birth safely without any problem. Even with my age I was employed by the National Youth Employment Programme to work with a community nurse at maternal ward for two years,” she said.

According to her she has referred only six pregnant women to the District Hospital due to complications and four survived after delivery.

“Most of the children I delivered are now matured and schooling while others are working. Even just two-three weeks ago I helped a pregnant mother to deliver twins,” she said while pointing at the mother.


Daniel Aforo interacting with Gabriela Awine

Awine disclosed that her work is service to God and mankind since most of her patience cannot afford to pay for services rendered. She added: “They are supposed to bring their own blade, water and give us soap and eggs as a reward yet they cannot afford that”.

Touching on the challenges related to her profession, the 46-year-old said some of the expectant mothers fail to report for checkups at hospitals and rather hide their pregnancy until delivery which becomes a major obstacle.

She appealed to the Ghana Health Service and stakeholders to assist them to upgrade their knowledge through antenatal, post natal, delivery process, referrals, nutrition, HIV/AIDS and family planning courses.

Awine has a certificate of honour from the Presbyterian Health Care at Bolgatanga.