Ghanaian broadcaster MzGee has lamented how the high cost of Caesarean sections continues to fuel fear, misinformation, and needless loss of life.
Speaking on her Gee O’clock show, she questioned why a procedure that saves lives remains so costly for the average Ghanaian woman.
“CS is expensive. If we want to talk about that, then let’s talk about it. Let’s look at what can be done to make it more affordable. But don’t call it demonic or shame women for doing it,” she stressed.
MzGee recalled the days of the free maternal healthcare initiative introduced in the late 2000s, which helped countless women deliver safely without financial strain.
She believes that was one of the most life-saving policy decisions in recent memory and that it needs reexamination today as the cost of care continues to rise.
According to her, Caesarean delivery in hospitals across the country can cost several thousand cedis, depending on the facility, medication, and any complications. For many families, that figure is beyond reach, especially when insurance or subsidies don’t fully cover the procedure.
The result, MzGee observed, is that women delay seeking medical help or resist doctors’ advice for surgery, risking their own lives in the process.
“When a doctor says a CS is the safest option, some families start arguing about money before thinking about safety. That’s how we lose mothers and babies, not because the procedure failed, but because we couldn’t afford it or were misled about what it means,” she said.
Beyond cost, she also highlighted the cultural pressures that make women feel less accomplished if they deliver surgically.
“Some men even call their wives lazy,” she said with disbelief. “Others say a woman hasn’t given birth properly unless she pushes. It’s heartbreaking.”
To MzGee, the real conversation should be about the value of a mother’s life and her child’s. If making CS affordable and accessible saves more lives, she argued, then the country should see it as an investment, not a luxury.
“Women are dying because of ignorance and cost. We need stronger education, and we need policies that make safe delivery, in whatever form it takes, possible for everyone.
“Let women breathe. Caesarean section is not diabolic. It’s medicine doing what prayer also asks for, saving lives. But for that to happen, it must be within reach,” she concluded.
Watch the video below:
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