Ho, May 10, GNA - Mr Henry Alifo, the Volta Regional Population Officer, on Tuesday advised government to review some benefits under the free Maternal Health Programme and step up the drive towards contraceptive use.

He expressed optimism that the country could further reduce maternal mortality ratio by three quarters by the 2015 deadline if it scraps some benefits under the programme. Mr Alifo gave the advice in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in= Ho. He contended that this bold initiative would help control the country's population growth rate, which he described as 93galloping" a= t a rate of 2.5 per cent.

"A population growth rate of 2.5 is a major concern for the National Population Council so we believe it is time something is done to control our birth rate," he stated. "Our economic growth rate is around five per cent so until something is done about our population growth rate, we will forever have to contend with inadequate and limited resources in all sectors of the economy," Mr Alifo said. He suggested that people, especially women, be encouraged to use family planning services.

Mr Alifo said though the total fertility rate had reduced from seven to 4.5 per cent it could be reduced further to 2.5. "Our contraceptive prevalence rate has come down from 19 per cent to 17 per cent. If we are able to raise it a little above 19 percent, we will be reducing our total fertility rate further to 2.5."