NHIS to reduce maternal and infant mortality

Koforidua, Oct. 22, GNA - The Eastern Regional Director of the National Population Council (NPC), Mr. Kofi Abinah, has said maternal and infant mortality could be reduced if the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) becomes operational.

He said most pregnant women die because they find it difficult to secure funds to attend antenatal care and access health facilities for their infants.

Mr Abinah described the rate at which maternal and infant mortality is occurring as "alarming" and called for conscious efforts by all government agencies, departments and non-governmental organisations to find a solution to the "social canker."

He was addressing an inter-sector collaboration forum on Tuesday to discuss ways of reducing maternal and under-five mortality rates in the Region.

The forum on the theme "Inter-sector Collaboration in the Reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality" was organised by the NPC and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

The Regional Director of GHS, Dr Emmanuel Appiah-Denkyirah, said the maternal and child mortality rate is a grave issue countrywide and called for efforts to tackle it with all the "seriousness that it deserves."