Pregnant women to provide blood before delivery

Expectant mothers are to get their relatives to provide two pints of blood for them as reserve before the day of their delivery as part of measures to reduce maternal mortality in the country.

This is to solve the problem of pregnant women losing the lives during delivery due to excessive loss of blood.

Madam Cecilia Arthur, a Senior Nursing Officer with the School of Public Health, University of Ghana- Legon, made this known at the weekend at a day’s health fair for women in Tema in commemoration with the 2013 International Women’s Day.

The workshop was organised by OJeane Clothing, in partnership with Sinel Specialist Hospital. Madam Arthur said the provision of blood for expectant women is a life saving policy.

She said studies over the years have shown that most women die during child delivery as they lose lots of blood either through caesarean section or spontaneous vaginal delivery. She added that in most cases, getting blood immediately for the mother becomes a problem during such emergencies leading to death.

Madam Arthur encouraged pregnant women and their relations to take the life saving policy seriously and provide the two pints of blood in advance.

On other pregnancy related issues, she indicated that every pregnant woman was required to at least attend ante-natal four times before delivery.

She noted that to prevent any complications and ensure that both the mother and the feotus are in good health, it was advisable that women immediately report to the hospital the moment they found out that they were pregnant.

Dr Michael McCartey, Gynaecologist at Sinel Specialist Hospital who spoke on fibroids encouraged women to report to the hospital early for treatment.

Dr McCartey said some of the symptoms of fibroid include heavy bleeding during menstruation, prolonged menstruation, protruding stomach, abdominal pains and movements in the stomach even though the woman is not pregnant.

He gave the assurance that not all fibroids require operations nor lead to infertility in women and therefore encouraged women not to be afraid to take steps in getting medical attention.

Mrs Jeanne O. Iddisah, Programme Director for the fair, said the programme was under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

She said the fair which was on the theme: “Pregnancy and its aftermath: the modern day conscious woman,” was to give women the platform to learn about reproductive health issues, raise and gain more awareness about the increasing rate of maternal mortality among matters.