Concerns expressed about maltreatment of pregnant adolescents

Cape Coast, 28 June, GNA- Mrs. Anna Agbotui, an official of the Western Regional Health Services, expressed concern at the way some health officials, especially midwives and traditional birth attendants, treated pregnant adolescents.

She called on health workers to refrain from such behaviour since it could result in unsafe abortions and deter pregnant girls from accessing antenatal care.

Mrs. Agbotui, was speaking as a resource person at a two-day life saving skills training workshop, organised by CENCOSAD, working in partnership with the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights Project (ARHRP), on Monday in Cape Coast It was attended by Project Officers of ARHRP southern zone partner organizations and those of CENCOSAD, and nurses working with the Project.

The workshop was aimed at updating the knowledge of the nurses and staff of implementing partners on basic life saving skills for pregnant women and their infants and to reinforce the roles of community level structures in saving lives of expectant mothers and their infants. Dr. Linda Vanotoo, the Acting Western Regional Director of Ghana Health Service, also a resource person, called on health workers and pregnant women to work together to ensure the safety and wellbeing of infants.

She advised expectant mothers to be vigilant and report any unusual signs during pregnancy and delivery to health centres for early treatment.

Dr. Linda Vanotoo, observed that attendance of pregnant women to antenatal clinics in the country was high, but a significant number of them did not go there for delivery. She explained that the situation was partly due to negative attitude of some health workers, phobia for the hospital and financial difficulties among other issues. Dr. Linda Vanotoo, called on health workers to treat their clients with dignity and to educate expectant mothers on how to conduct themselves during pregnancy to help reduce maternal and infant mortality.

She advised men to be involved in sexual and reproductive health issues and expressed joy that males were involved in the workshop. Dr. Vanotoo said in the past such subjects were often relegated to women and advocated education of the public to dispel myths about male involvement in sexual reproductive issues. The partner organizations included, Muslim Relief Association of Ghana (MURAG), Central and Western Region Fishmongers Association (CEWEFIA) Ghana Organization for Volunteer Assistance, (GOVA), Pro-Link organization, Ashiedu Keteke Community Based Organizations, Rural Water and Sanitation Promotional Services and Life Relief Foundation. Participants were sensitised on pregnancy signs and symptoms, risky signs associated with pregnancy, importance of antenatal and postnatal services, anaemia, safe delivery, skill attendance and birth preparedness.

They were also schooled in family planning, infant care, importance of child welfare clinics, malaria prevention during pregnancy and control of vitamin A deficiency in infants, Others issues discussed were infant growth monitoring and promotion, importance of immunization, community participation and male involvement in sexual and reproductive health matters. 29 June 08

Attention recipients, item 02 ends first cast.