Nsawam, Feb. 16, GNA - Under five mortality rates reduced to 12 per 1,000 admissions in 2008 from 24 per 1,000 admissions in 2007 at the Nsawam Government Hospital.

Maternal mortality rate also reduced to 129 per 100,000 births last year from 156 per 100,000 births in 2007.

Dr Kofi Ablorh, Medical Director in charge of the hospital who spoke at the hospital's 2008 staff excellence awards ceremony on Monday, said reduction of maternal mortality and under-five mortality rates were key objective of the Millennium Development Goals. The occasion coincided with the inauguration of an Antenatal clinic for the hospital, which was exclusively funded by management at the cost of GH C39, 815.23.

Dr Ablorh said even though last year was successful, it was equally a challenging one adding that the hospital, which started the year with three doctors later had that number reduced to two by August. He said in the face of inadequate staff, hospital attendance rose to 81,392 for the first time in the life of the 135-bed hospital as against 66,293 cases in 2007.

"Deliveries and major surgeries in 2008 also reached 2,332 and 636 as against 1,927 and 378 in 2007 respectively".

He said the hospital this year would pursue good governance with prudent use of resources, improve quality of care, promotion of regenerative health and safe work environment, improving inter-sector collaboration and strengthen health care system.

Dr Ablorh said the hospital would focus on meeting the needs of its clients and motivating the staff for superior performance. He mentioned poor power supply and low plant (generator) capacity, slow pace of theatre completion, poor and inadequate residential facilities among others as some of the challenges facing the hospital. Dr Erasmus Abongo, Eastern Regional Director of Health Services, in an address read on his behalf commended management and staff on their efforts to make the place a Centre of Excellence. A number of staff was later honoured for their hard work last year. Earlier in the day, the management of Nsawam branch of the Ghana Commercial Bank donated a 21-inch television to the ante-natal clinic.