Anaemia responsible for 44 per cent of deaths among women

Nnuaso (Ash), Aug. 11, GNA - Anaemia is said to be responsible for 44 per cent of deaths among women and 13.8 per cent among children in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District of Ashanti.

To reduce these figures to the barest minimum therefore, the District Health Directorate has trained 79 midwives, community health nurses and traditional birth attendants (TBAs) to prevent, control and manage anaemia in pregnant women in the district.

The directorate in collaboration with the Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) is also developing comprehensive and integrated strategies to bring the death rate among children from anaemia to the barest minimum.

Mr Reuben Bedzrah, the District Nutrition Officer, made these known at an anaemia control and prevention durbar at Nnuaso near Kuntanase on Tuesday.

He entreated parents to ensure that their children slept under insecticide treated bed nets in order not to be bitten by mosquitoes and stressed that malaria was the leading cause of anaemia in the country and that the fight against the disease should be the responsibility of all.

Nana Abena Akuamoa-Boateng, Ashanti Regional Nutrition Officer, reiterated the need for pregnant women to visit the hospital regularly so as to detect early signs of anaemia and seek treatment. She also asked women to take well balanced diets always and stay healthy all the time.

Nana Obeng Gyasi, Nnuasohene, called for the reduction in the price of anti-anaemia drugs to make it affordable for women to be able to buy them to help reduce the high rate of the disease in the country.