MP asks Government to roll back maternal deaths

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA - Dr Matthew Prempreh, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia, on Wednesday urged government to roll back the high maternal mortality rate in the Greater Accra, Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions.

He said the three regions carried the maternal mortality burden with a total of 71 per cent deaths. Dr Prempreh said Ashanti Region alone registered 30 per cent of the deaths.

The MP was contributing to a statement on maternal mortality, made on the floor of the House by Dr Mustapha Ahmed, National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Ayawaso East.

Dr Prempeh said specific interventions needed to be stated in the budget to address the problem to ensure that Ghana met the Millennium Development Goals. He called for the completion of the maternal and child health blocks at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to help address the issue in the Ashanti Region.

Mrs Elizabeth Amoah-Tetteh, Deputy Minister of Education, said the root cause of the issue could be placed at the door steps of irresponsible men who impregnate and abandoned young women to their fate. Mr Fritz Baffour NDC MP for Ablekuma South, expressed the need for men to be involved in the education on reproductive health. He said majority of men were not well informed about women's sexuality and were therefore not in a position to assist them on matters of maternal health and safe delivery.

Dr Mustapha said the lack of access to health facilities and skilled birth attendants exposed lots of women to maternal deaths. He said records from the Ghana Health Service indicated that in 2008, some 953 women died in pregnancy and child birth-related deaths. He called for more efforts to help save the lives of women through family planning and other interventions. Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho who presided, informed the House of a communication received from the presidency, nominating Nii Oakley Quaye-Kumah, NDC MP for Krowor as Deputy Minister of Health. The communication was then forwarded to the Appointments Committee for consideration.

Meanwhile, Dr Joe Oteng-Agyei, Minister of Energy, has been directed to find time to appear before the House to explain why the country has been experiencing power fluctuations. The Business Committee has therefore been directed to schedule a date for the Minister to come before the House. The directive was given when the Minister appeared before the House to respond to some questions. The Minister told the House that the interruption in power supply to the Atiwa District and other surrounding areas was due to the activities of people felling timber in the forest areas. He said an 18-month contract had been awarded to establish a switching station at Bunso to facilitate power supply to customers in the district. "The switching station at Bunso is to be linked to the Nkawkaw Bulk supply station to enable operation flexibility and reliable supply to customers in the Atiwa district," the Minister said.