Ashanti Region records 174 maternal deaths in a year

Statistics available at the Ghana Health Service in Ashanti Region indicate the region lost 174 lives through pregnancy including 11 unsafe abortions in the past one year prompting the directorate to adopt effective strategies to curb the menace.

The Regional Director of the service, Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang disclosed this during the launch of maternal mortality and unsafe abortion campaign code-named, “Zero Tolerance for Maternal Death and Unsafe Abortion”, held at the Directorate in Kumasi, the Regional capital.

He stated the situation has become a great source of worry to health authorities and wondered why any woman should lose her life through pregnancy with the availability of modern facilities in our various health institutions, describing it as injustice to women

Dr Tinkorang pointed out it is the prime objective and responsibility of health authorities to ensure fatal mortality is virtually non-existent in the country. He bemoaned the trauma some women pass through in the hands of quack doctors which most times leads to premature death.

The Director urged women in such situation to visit government hospitals for the required services.He, however, explained there are rules of law guiding unintended pregnancy before abortion could be carried out.

Dr Tinkorang,in his last statement, advised mothers to be sympathetic to their daughters who are caught in unwarranted pregnancies and offer them the needed support to avoid stigmatization.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/ Agya Sam, Kumasi