Akropong-Akwapim (Eastern Region) 29 July ?99

Despite efforts of government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to promote reproductive health in the Akwapim North District, family planning coverage in the district is still below 50 per cent.

Records available indicate that, in 1998, only 39.8 per cent of total births in the district occurred at recognised health institutions.

Mr Anthony Gyampoh, Akwapim North District Chief Executive, disclosed this at the opening of a five-day reproductive health advocacy skills workshop for new networks in the Eastern Region at Akropong on Monday.

The workshop, being attended by 25 participants from Akwapim North, Yilo Krobo and Manya Krobo Districts, was organised by the Policy Project, Ghana, an NGO on reproductive health issues, under the theme "Women's health, Nation's health".

Since 1996, the Policy Project, in collaboration with the National Population Council (NPC), district assemblies, NGOs and public institutions, had established four networks on reproductive health in the New Juaben Municipality, Akwapim South, Suhum/Kraboa/Coaltar and Kwaebibirem Districts in the Eastern Region.

To help bridge the gap between awareness and actual implementation, Mr Gyampoh said the Akwapim North District Assembly has tasked the district population officer to liaise with the District Planning Co-ordinating Unit and the NGO Desk Office to devise strategies that would help promote sustainable reproductive health programmes..

Dr (Mrs) Sophia Winful, Akwapim North District Director of Medical Services, said many women have become silent sufferers in what should have been a pleasant and satisfying relationship.

She said loneliness and neglect have made them to take solace in alcohol and hard drugs while others who could not cope with the situation had gone mad.

Many women do not have access to information that would enable them to make valid risk benefit assessment regarding their own health and treatment and called for the establishment of structures to support women.