Men’s involvement in family health up in Volta

Male involvement in family health issues in the Volta Region did see great improvement last year, Dr. Joseph Nuertey, Volta Regional Director of Health Services, has said.

“Gradually, our men are warming up and getting interested in the health of their partners...they should keep it up,” he urged.

Dr Nuertey was addressing the 2014 Regional Performance Review Meeting of the Ghana Health Service, in Ho, on Wednesday. It was on the theme, “Achieving Excellence and Improved Service Delivery Outcomes through Effective Linkage between Public health and Clinical Service”.

He said the participation of men, especially in skilled delivery, postnatal care and child welfare clinics in the region was very encouraging and noted, “It is a good thing to do.”

Statistics available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) showed that 19,372 men visited health facilities with their partners for anti-natal care services in 2014, as against 19,098 in 2013.

The data also indicated that in 2014; 17,190 men in the Region played significant roles in having their partners go through skilled deliveries as against 15,768 in 2013. In 2014, 7,373 men helped their partners through post natal care services against 6,488 men in 2013.

Again, last year, 9, 180 men participated in family planning activities as against 8,362 men in the previous year, 21,889 men took their partners and children to child welfare clinics as against 16,941 men in 2013.

Dr. Nuertey said the situation accounted for increase in post natal registrations, family planning coverage and 'couples' year of protection' - spacing of births.