Chiefs urged to investigate maternal related deaths in communities

Koro (U/W), Dec. 11, GNA - Dr. Alexis Nang-Beifubah, the Upper West Regional Director of Health Service, has appealed to traditional rulers to investigate all maternal related deaths in their communities and punish husbands whose negligence resulted in the death of their pregnant wives. He said 34 pregnant women had died from January to June and said about 40 per cent of the women who arrived at the hospital stayed less than 24 hours before they passed away.

Dr. Nang-Beifubah said this during the inauguration of a Community Health Planning Service (CHPS) Compound at Koro in the Lambussie/Karni District on Wednesday.

The CHPS Compound would provide health services to about 400 people in the community, who hitherto were far away from any health facility. Dr. Nang-Beifubah said it had come to the notice of the health authorities that many of the maternal deaths recorded in the region were either as result of neglect on the part of husbands or the consequences of some traditional and cultural beliefs. He appealed to married men to take active interest in the health of their wives, especially pregnant women to ensure that they deliver successfully.

He called on the Lambussie/Karni District Assembly to commit more resources into the provision of CHPS Compounds and the sponsorship of nursing trainees to help make health delivery accessible to the people. Dr. Nang-Beifubah appealed to the people to patronise the National Health Insurance Scheme and also levy members of the communities to raise funds to establish the "Community Emergency Transport System" to help transport referral cases to the hospitals.

Mr. Clement Bening, Lambussie/Karni District Chief Executive, said the assembly had asked the district health directorate to submit a list of all potential communities in the area that needed to be provided with CHPS Compounds for consideration.

He said the assembly had drawn up an "ambitious" budget for 2012 which would cater for the construction of a polyclinic at Lambussie to provide quality health services to the people.

The assembly would also provide electricity to many of the health facilities for the storage of essential drugs and sterilization of medical tools as well as the purchase of mini solar lamps and mobile chargers for the CHPS Compounds in deprived communities.

Madam Francisca Bagni, District Director of Health Services, told the people that the Community Health Officer (CHO) was supposed to refer cases above her management to hospitals for further attention. She therefore urged the people not see the referral of patients as a punishment or hatred on the part of the CHO but that she has the welfare of all patients at heart.

The Chief of the Village, Kouro Naabee Sagulo, appealed to the regional health authorities to upgrade the CHPS Compound to a clinic. 11 Dec 09