Ofosu Asamoa commends Hunger Project

New Abirem (E/R), July 3, GNA - Mr. Ofosu Asamoa, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister has reiterated that the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibility of developing the country to acceptable standard without the assistance of development partners. Mr. Ofosu Asamoah, who is also the Acting Birim North District Chief Executive has therefore, commended Hunger Project- Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and other collaborators for their immense help in ensuring Ghana's positive growth over the years. The Deputy Regional Minister stated these at New Abirem in a statement issued on his behalf by Mr. John Mensin Mframa, Deputy District Co-ordinating Director at the end of a five-day training workshop for 17 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) drawn from Atiwa, Akyemansa, Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar, Birim North, Central and South Districts all in the Eastern Region.

The topics treated aimed at equipping the TBAs with the requisite knowledge and skills in safe delivery methods. They included signs and symptoms of onset of labour, importance of early defection of abnormal presentation, infection prevention, physical examination of pregnant women and personal hygiene. Mr Ofosu Asamoah expressed the hope that the complementary role of TBAs to trained midwives would help reduce maternal mortality which is a

problem in the region. The Country Director, Hunger Project- Ghana and Dr Naana Agyemang Mensah said NGOs strive for development and since they do not stay forever people are taught to be sustainable. Dr. Agyemang Mensah expressed worry that even though about 88 per cent of pregnant women attend antenatal clinics, about 53 per cent deliver at home with its attendant risks. The Country Director said research has revealed that the poor attitude of nurses towards pregnant women was a factor, which deter them from delivering at health facilities and urged them to be proactive by changing.

Dr. Agyemang Mensah said realising that poverty was a major factor which militates against maternal health, Hunger Project also focused on women empowerment and capacity building. She said for example 6,333 women farmers have been assisted with loans to the tune of 347,987 dollars whilst, as at the end of 2006, 6,769 had been taken through adult literacy classes.

The District Director of Health Services, Mr Tei Djangmah stressed that even though the Community-based Health and Planning Services (CHPS) a strategy by the Ghana Health Service has ensured the posting of Community Health Officers (CHOs) to deprived communities to deliver healthcare to the doorsteps of the people, about 50 per cent of these CHOs are not midwives.

Mr. Tei Djangmah said it was for that reason that Hunger Project linked up with the District Health Directorate to train TBAs on the "dos and don'ts" in delivery even though the Ghana Health Service would have wished that all deliveries were undertaken by trained midwives. Mr. Tei Djangmah said even though the Ghana Health Service no longer recognised deliveries performed by TBAs, a survey by Hunger Project revealed that a few deliveries were being handled by them hence the collaboration between the District Health Directorate and the NGO to train them.

The Director expressed the hope that with the introduction of free medical care for pregnant women recently introduced by the government and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), supervised deliveries would increase to reduce maternal mortality. The Abiremhene Nana Amo Kyeretwie I, who chaired the function, appealed to spiritualists, herbalists and prayer camps to desist from restraining pregnant women from attending antenatal clinics where they could be could deliver safely. All the TBAs were later presented with delivery kits.