Effutu municipal directorate of health held annual review meeting

The Effutu Municipal Directorate of Health Services has initiated measures to reverse the increasing trend in maternal mortality, its director, Dr Godfred Morrison has said.

He said a technical committee would be set up to critically examine the problems confronting mothers to ensure safe delivery.

Dr Morrison said this in a keynote address at a meeting assess the health sector under 2008.

The theme for this year's meeting is, “Strengthening District Health Systems as a Means of Achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.

Dr Morrison said the effort of the Health Service in reducing maternal mortality during the year under review was 'abysmal which is a serious indictment on the Municipal Health Care Delivery System.'

He said the number of maternal deaths rose from 13 in 2006 to 15 in 2007 and increased to 17 in 2008.

Dr Morrison said in a bid achieve the Millennium Development Goals, health workers must show great commitment and dedication to duty.

Dr Morrison explained that there was poor quality of care in both private and public health institutions and inadequate emergency preparedness and response systems.

According to him, a new staff performance appraisal system has been introduced to continuously monitor staff performance and provide the impetus for attaining their overall objectives.

GNA