In recent times, figures from health organisations worldwide have established a stagnated mortality decline among women as well as adolescents.

Mrs. Anna Agbotui, an official of the Western Regional Health Services, has expressed concern at the way some health officials, especially midwives and traditional birth attendants, treat pregnant adolescents.

She said this could increase the country's mortality rate figures.

She said health workers must refrain from such behaviour since it could result in unsafe abortions and deter pregnant girls from accessing antenatal care.

Mrs. Agbotui was speaking as a resource person at a two-day life saving skills training workshop, organised by CENCOSAD, a non-governmental organisation working in partnership with the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights Project (ARHRP)., in Cape Coast

It was attended by Project Officers of ARHRP southern zone partner organizations and those of CENCOSAD, and nurses working with the Project.

The workshop was aimed at updating the knowledge of the nurses and staff of implementing partners on basic life saving skills for pregnant women and their infants and to reinforce the roles of community level structures in saving lives of expectant mothers and their infants.

Dr. Linda Vanotoo, the Acting Western Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, also a resource person, called on health workers and pregnant women to work together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of infants.

She advised expectant mothers to be vigilant and report any unusual signs during pregnancy and delivery to health centres for early treatment.

Dr. Linda Vanotoo, observed that attendance of pregnant women at antenatal clinics in the country was high, but a significant number of them did not go there for delivery.

She explained that the situation was partly due to negative attitude of some health workers, phobia for the hospital and financial difficulties among other issues.

Dr. Linda Vanotoo, called on health workers to treat their clients with dignity and to educate expectant mothers on how to conduct themselves during pregnancy to help reduce maternal and infant mortality.

She advised men to be involved in sexual and reproductive health issues and expressed joy that males were involved in the workshop.

Dr. Vanotoo said in the past such subjects were often relegated to women and advocated education of the public to dispel myths about male involvement in sexual reproductive issues.

The partner organizations included, Muslim Relief Association of Ghana (MURAG), Central and Western Region Fishmongers Association (CEWEFIA) Ghana Organization for Volunteer Assistance, (GOVA), Pro-Link organization, Ashiedu Keteke Community Based Organizations, Rural Water and Sanitation Promotional Services and Life Relief Foundation.

Participants were sensitised on pregnancy signs and symptoms, risky signs associated with pregnancy, importance of antenatal and postnatal services, anaemia, safe delivery, skill attendance and birth preparedness.


Source: GNA