Published: July 9, 2025
ZWEDRU, Grand Gedeh County — With a renewed call to action and unity, the Grand Gedeh County Health Team on Monday launched Safe Motherhood Week under the national theme: “Every Birth Counts: Strengthening Care for Mother and Newborn.”
The week-long campaign, organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), aims to raise awareness about maternal and newborn health while rallying community leaders, health professionals, and youth advocates to reduce preventable deaths among mothers and infants.
At the launch ceremony held in Zwedru, County Health Officer Dr. Daanue P. Zwuogbae emphasized the need to prioritize maternal and newborn health in Grand Gedeh and across Liberia.
“Every birth is significant. Behind every statistic is a mother, a family, and a future,” Zwuogbae said. “Safe motherhood is not just a health issue—it’s a development issue. We must ensure that no woman dies giving life and no baby dies before being given a chance to live.”
Zwuogbae highlighted ongoing efforts to improve maternal outcomes, including the expansion of maternity waiting homes, training of traditional birth attendants, recruitment of skilled midwives, and deployment of community health assistants to underserved areas.
He also announced that a formal signing ceremony would be held this weekend in Zwedru, during which stakeholders and partners will commit to supporting the campaign.
Representing UNFPA, Josephine Wachekwa, program analyst for maternal and reproductive health, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening maternal health systems in Liberia.
“Every birth should be a celebration—not a tragedy,” Wachekwa said. “UNFPA continues to provide life-saving medical supplies, support midwife training, and promote community outreach to ensure that women receive the care they need at every stage—from pregnancy to delivery and beyond.”
She urged the government and partners to increase investment in maternal health, especially in rural communities where services remain limited or inaccessible.
Religious leaders in the county also voiced support for the initiative. Pastor Ruth Kollie of the Zwedru Christian Fellowship called on churches and mosques to support pregnant women.
“It is both a spiritual and social responsibility to protect mothers and babies,” Kollie said. “We are encouraging our members to accompany expectant mothers to clinics and to discourage home births.”
Delivering the keynote address, Eric A. Bagguer, dean of students and instructor at Deana Kay Isaacson College, encouraged young people—especially men—to take a more active role in preventing maternal and newborn deaths.
“Our generation must rise to protect mothers and newborns,” Bagguer said.
He noted that he is part of a team raising awareness among men and women about the importance of respectful care during labor and proper support for newborns. “We are educating our peers about early prenatal care, spacing pregnancies, and supporting adolescent mothers,” he added.
Bagguer also outlined youth-led activities scheduled for the week, including school debates, radio talk shows, street theater, and door-to-door awareness campaigns.
According to the World Health Organization, 94% of maternal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries—most of them preventable with access to skilled health services and timely care. Safe Motherhood Week is expected to serve as a catalyst for policy action and community-driven solutions aimed at saving lives and ensuring that every birth in Grand Gedeh—and across Liberia—counts.
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