Collins Arku, North-Tongu District Chief Executive (DCE) has cautioned men against the habit of detaching emotionally from their wives when they are pregnant.

He said rather bonding between men and their pregnant wives should be tighter in every respect.

Mr. Arku was addressing a durbar to commission a four-unit CHPs Compound with ancillary facilities and an apartment for the resident nurse at Deve, a farming village in the District.

The beneficiary communities besides Deve are, Aglubakpo, Lokokpo, Agbesukpedu, Akuta, Zomayi and Ayigokope.

The DCE, whose appeal drew loud and teasing cheers from the women present, noted that a husband’s affection for his pregnant wife contributed to her sound health and even of the unborn baby.

He said proliferation of facilities and improved access to care alone do not make women in such conditions healthy, and that men have roles such as following their wives to the delivery wards, drew extra cheers from the crowd.

Mr. Arku, reiterating the importance of health of the people to a nation's development, lamented the neglect of the health needs of Deve area for a long time, forcing them to travel long kilometres for such services.

He appealed to the people to assist the facility to run well, promising it will be upgraded to a health centre status if operated successfully.

Mr. Arku, promised to facilitate the repair of the about 15-kilometre road network connecting the area, which was in a deplorable state.

He also said a poly tank will be supplied to aid rain water harvesting at the facility, while efforts were made to trace the contractual history of a borehole at Deve to have it completed for the people or a new one sank for them.

Ms Delali Annie Ofori, District Director, Ghana Health Service (GHS), lamented the shortfall of health facilities and poor access to care in the District and expressed joy for the CHPs Compound for Deve.

She announced that staff, equipment and medicine will soon be dispatched to make the facility fully functional to reduce the headache of the people travelling 15 kilometres or more to Adidome or Battor for care.

"Accessing care here has been difficult as GHS staff visit here only once a month to run child welfare clinics and it is good this facility has come," she said.

She said the facility will help improve counselling of nursing mothers, expectant mothers and the general public.

Ms Ofori said her unit will educate the people on their roles, including voluntary provision of security, to complement the running of the facility.