Population Council wants more funding

Accra, July 27, GNA - Mrs Esther Apewokin, Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC) on Friday urged the Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Development to increase the budget on population for expanded services in the provision of health. Mrs. Apewokin, who made the call at the end of a five-day study tour of Canadian and European Union Members of Parliament on Sexually Reproductive Health (SRH) said the budget provided was too low that much could not be done in the areas of reproductive health The team, which was in Ghana to learn of Ghana's success story in SRH services, rendered in Africa despite some challenges, interacted with Ghana's Parliamentary Caucus on Population and Development, other stakeholders in SRH and visited sexually reproductive service points in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions.

The tour, which was also to increase awareness and support for SRH activities among parliamentarians was organised by the NPC in collaboration with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG). She commended Ghana's Parliamentarians for their numerous support and contribution in promoting the population agenda and urged the Canadian and EU Parliamentarians to be key advocators in mobilising resources to address SRH issues in Ghana.

Mr Wolfgang Wodarg on behalf of the delegation commended Ghana for the great success but said there was more room for improvement. He said though the Ghana Health Service had policies on SRH, it lacked the resources for effective implementation and pledged the delegation's support in providing the needed resources to implement the policies.

Mr Wodarg commenting on Ghanaian midwives said it was noticed that about 95 per cent of the midwives were above 55 years and needed replacement in the next 10 to 15 years. He described the situation as an urgency that government should address by training more midwives assistants and pledged to assist in that direction.

Ms Thersa Amerley Tagoe, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus who chaired the programme said her colleagues would work with the District Chief Executives not only to improve on the health of the people but ensure that the feeder roads were in good shape to carry the sick and the pregnant women to health centers.