Health Director speaks against home deliveries

Mampong (Ash), July 16, GNA - Madam Rebecca Dokurugu, Acting Municipal Health Director of Asante-Mampong, on Tuesday expressed concern about unsupervised deliveries, saying this was counter productive to safe motherhood.

Addressing a meeting of health workers at Mampong, she said it was important that expectant mothers delivered at health facilities to help prevent maternal and child deaths. She drew attention to the dangers and risks that go with home deliveries and advised pregnant women to visit the hospital regularly for their own safety.

"Reproductive and child health services are free of charge at the health facilities," she said, adding that, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) was making efforts to improve maternal health and reduce maternal deaths.

Madam Dokurugu said GHS had made health facilities more maternal and baby-friendly and this should attract women to utilize them to avoid preventable deaths.

She also mentioned the Intermitted Preventive Treatment (IPT), administered to pregnant women in their 16th week to prevent malaria infections.

She called on health personnel to desist from collecting unauthorized fees from mothers so as to encourage them to seek anti-natal and post-natal care.

Madam Dokurugu said the Municipality recorded encouraging performance on school services, immunization coverage, Tuberculosis and malaria control, Diabetes and Hypertension cases and out-patients attendants. 16 July 09 .