High maternal deaths needs to be reversed - Akyempimhene

Kumasi, July 11, GNA – The Akyempimhene, Oheneba Adusei Poku, has expressed worry about the high incidence of maternal in the area and called for the situation to change.

He said it was unacceptable to see women die in the cause of childbirth, given the advances in technology and modern health care.

He advised couples to take reproductive health issues seriously and to plan the size of their families.

This, he said, would not only help to reduce the pressure on family budgets but give protection to the health of women and children.

Oheneba Adusei Poku was speaking at the national launch of the 2012 world population day celebration in Kumasi.

The day, which is observed annually on July 11, has been instituted by the United Nations (UN) to draw attention to global issues affecting population dynamics, reproductive health and sustainable development.

This year's event was under the theme “Universal access to reproductive health services.”

Oheneba Adusei Poku said it was curious that in spite of awareness about family planning services many people continue to refuse to space childbirth.

There was therefore the need for a sustained education to promote universal access to reproductive health services at all levels.

Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister, said even though Ghana had made progress in reducing maternal deaths, improving access to reproductive health services including family planning remained a big challenge.

He attributed the inability of most women to accept and use modern family planning methods to fear of side effects, unfounded rumours, myths and misconceptions.

The Regional Minister said government was committed to improving access to quality health care and the promotion of maternal health in order to achieve the fifth target of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG).

He said emphasis was being placed on bringing population growth rate to a level that would support and help to sustain economic growth and social development.

Professor Stephen O. Kwankye, Executive Director of National Population Council (NPC), said the Council was working with all partners to reposition family planning as a development priority in Ghana.

GNA