Koforidua, Nov 25, GNA- The First lady, Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills, has called for eradication of myths and rumours linked to family planning methods to reduce maternal mortality in Ghana.

Family planning had been identified to reduce 30 percent of maternal deaths and therefore consistent efforts must be made in addressing such an important strategy of achieving the 2015 goals of maternal health. Mrs. Naadu Mills who was launching the National Safe Motherhood campaign in Koforidua, on Thursday described as unacceptable the fact that most of maternal deaths were preventable and solutions were also available. The current maternal mortality figure for the country stands at about 451 per every 100,000 live births and the launching was to emphasize the campaign for accelerated reduction of maternal and newborn deaths in Ghana to achieve 75 percent reduction by the year 2015 under the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

The first lady noted that the figures of maternal death rate presented a greater development challenge in the country's bid to gain middle income status and that called for effort to contain it. She observed that certain harmful cultural practices and lack of access to timely professional care put women in the reproductive years at a disadvantage and urged traditional authorities to critically look at those negative practices and strengthen the good ones for the benefit of maternal health.

The First lady deplored the practice where pregnant women visited prayer camps instead of attending ante-natal care and called for ways of ensuring that all those people were re-directed to health facilities. She called on civil society fight for the cause of pregnant woman as well as reduction of maternal deaths.

Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Minister of Health, said in keeping with the call of African Union (AU), the launching was part of a sustained campaign to increase awareness of maternal mortality and to advocate for increased resources to address the persistent high maternal and new born deaths. He said excessive bleeding contributed to a quarter of all maternal deaths and called for an aligned programme with blood donation campaigns so that the various blood banks would be adequately resourced for maternal emergencies.

Dr. Kumbour appealed to health workers, especially midwives to do their best even in the face of work load challenges to save Ghanaian motherhood. He called on development partners to increase their support to address the health system challenges such as inadequate equipment and supplies. Mr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, added that maternal and child mortality had become a crisis issue in Ghana.

It is due to a combination of factors including inadequate facilities and personnel, irregular attendance to ante-natal and inadequate advocacy on the need for early medical care.

He said it was regrettable that the eastern region had recorded the highest maternal mortality cases for three consecutive years. In view of that queens in some traditional areas had formed the safe motherhood initiative to be active in the campaign to reduce maternal mortality, he said.

Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo asked all pregnant women to go in for Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) on HIV/AIDS to further reduce child mortality through the disease.

Daasebre Oti Boateng, the Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, who chaired the function, said appealed to government to commit more funds for maternal and child health. He also called for intensive education on pregnancy and the essence of medical care since most people were ignorant of maternal health issues. 25 Nov. 09