KHRC hosts officials of the Oxytocin project

The Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) played host to a number of visitors from PATH and Bill and Melinda Gates in connection with the Oxytocin project from the 21st – 24th June, 2011. They included Ms Alice Levisay of PATH Washington DC, Becky Ferguson of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ms. Patricia Boison, the financial officer responsible for the Oxytocin project in Washington DC Ghana , the Finance officer Ms. Maureen Quansah from PATH Office in Accra and Ms Pat Cofie also from the head office of PATH.

The Oxytocin study is an intervention which impacts on maternal deaths. The drug Oxytocin is an injection given to a woman who has just delivered to reduce blood loss during delivery. It is given routinely but limited to health facilities. The aim of the study is to find out if an injection of 10 IU of a drug called oxytocin which has been formulated in a device known as Uniject™ during the third stage of labour by a Community Health Officer (CHO) will reduce the risk of excessive bleeding which is defined as blood loss of 500ml or more within two hours after delivery compared to deliveries during which an injection of oxytocin is not given.

The visit was therefore to assess the progress being made in the Oxytocin trial since its commencement. The officials embarked on a field visit to six CHPS compounds in the Kintampo North and South and Nkoranza North and South districts where the project is being carried out. They interacted with the CHOs and the field workers on aspects of the project and the challenges being faced by these people in the project and how to overcome them.

Although Oxytocin is available for the treatment of post partum haemorrhage in health facilities in most countries, it has not been licensed for use in Ghana at the community level because it is an injectable drug. This means, Oxytocin would only be of benefit to women who deliver at health facilities. In many developing countries, a lot of women prefer to deliver at homes for various reasons – perhaps for cultural reasons; but there is the need for a change in this attitude where most women would prefer to deliver at health facilities but this cannot happen soon. The Oxytocin study therefore seeks to establish whether it is possible and safe for a CHO to give Oxytocin in Uniject to reduce blood loss during delivery at the community level.

In an interaction with Ms Alice Levisay, she had this to say “I greatly appreciate the collaboration with the Kintampo Health Research Centre and I look forward to the results of the trial and working together to inform policy”. On her part, Becky Ferguson said “Thanks to KHRC for hosting us to this visit and the honour given us. It is good to see the work KHRC is undertaking and it is really a special place. The research you do here is wonderful”.  

For more info contact:

Kabio Casimir Donlebo (Communications Officer).
Kintampo Health Research Centre
P.O.Box 200
Kintampo.B/A.
Tel: +233 246 391916

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