Northern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) is unhappy about expectant and nursing mothers’ apathy towards antenatal attendance.
[contextly_sidebar id=”rh714s9IHinAHmGzQaBGsRkgSfQAEDnx”]The Acting Regional Health Director, Dr. Jacob Mahama raised this concern at a media briefing in Tamale.
He attributed the deaths of newly born babies to unhygienic environment, congenital, tetanus and Asphyxia.
He emphasized the need for expectant mothers to avoid Traditional Birth Attendants and visit health facilities for safe delivery.
He also passionately appealed to nursing mothers to always wash their hands with medicated soap before breastfeeding.
According to Dr. Jacob Mahama, his administration will continue to engage the services of community volunteers to strengthen advocacy on the significance of antenatal.
He said the region had adequate health personnel to overturn the situation.
“The directorate has built capacity of health personnel, trained midwives, volunteers and mother-mother support groups in the communities to help curb the situation.”
He extolled health workers in the region for their commitment but complained about logistical constraints.
Dr. Jacob Mahama called for motivation packages for hardworking work staff especially those serving in remote areas.
“Unlike Accra where health personnel travel short distance and also attend to fewer patients: health personnel in the north travel long distance to attend to patients.”
He pleaded with the general public to respect health personnel who go on outreach services.
Dr. Jacob Mahama commended donor agencies including the United Nation’s International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and JICA for supporting the Ghana Health Service in diverse ways.
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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana