The Ministry of Health has held its first Midwives’ Innovation Hackathon Exhibition, highlighting the creativity and problem-solving capacity of midwives as frontline leaders and drivers of change in maternal and newborn care.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Director of the Ministry, Mr Desmond Boateng, said the Hackathon reflects the Ministry’s commitment to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
He noted that midwives play a central role in achieving Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage goals and assured participants of continued support for innovation-driven initiatives that improve efficiency, strengthen decision-making, and ensure safe, quality care for mothers and newborns.
President of the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA), Madam Netta Ackon-Forson, said the event demonstrated that innovation does not always require advanced technology. Rather, it grows from practical problem-solving shaped by the daily realities midwives face on the frontline.
She stressed that for many women, especially in underserved areas, midwives are not just part of the health system but the entire system, providing lifesaving care under challenging conditions.
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 up their ideas.
She disclosed that partners including Google, Microsoft, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have committed support to help midwives develop prototypes, digital tools, and community-based solutions.
The exhibition featured midwife-led projects assessed by a selected jury, celebrating practical innovations grounded in the realities of frontline maternal and newborn care.