Kumasi metropolis records 100 maternal deaths in 2007

Kumasi, Jan 18, GNA- The Kumasi Directorate of Health Services recorded 100 maternal deaths in 2007 as against 109 in 2006. The Manhyia, Suntreso and Kumasi South Hospitals recorded three deaths each with the rest coming from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Dr. Joseph Oduro, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services disclosed this at a day's performance review meeting for 2007 organized by the Directorate in Kumasi on Thursday.

The meeting attended by over 50 health personnel including Doctors, Nurses Pharmacists and others aimed, among others at adopting effective strategies to improve on health delivery in the metropolis. He said uncomplicated malaria continued to be on top among the diseases and that 313,000 cases were recorded in 2007 as against 242,773 in 2006, while 72,975 cases of cold or cough were recorded the same year as against 59,442 in 2006.

Dr Oduro said in the year under review, 32,562 cases of hypertension were recorded as against 17,698 cases in 2006 while 1,034 cases of HIV/AIDS were also recorded in the same year as against 960 cases in 2006, The Metropolitan Health Director noted that the way forward was to improve staff attitude towards work, facilitate Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) as well as effective information management to enhance health delivery.

Dr.Kwabena Opoku Adusei, Medical Superintendent in-charge of Suntreso Hospital in Kumasi expressed concern about lack of infrastructural facilities in the Government hospitals and appealed to the government to improve on the situation.

He also urged the government to ensure that means of transport and other logistics were provided to the hospitals to enable them to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently. Dr Robert Sagoe, Senior Medical Officer at the Kumasi South Hospital called on health personnel to complement government efforts by working harder to improve health delivery at all times. 19 Jan. 08