Kumasi, Dec. 9, GNA - Kumasi last year recorded a total of 222 maternal deaths, an increase over the previous year's figure, Dr Kwesi Yeboah Awud= zi, the Metropolitan Health Director, announced on Wednesday.

The statistics shows that the year 2007 also saw an increase from 175 in 2006 to 179.

Dr Awudzi blamed the situation on unsafe abortion, lack of health personnel, and inadequate facilities. Dr Awudzi was addressing a day's health forum organized jointly by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Kumasi.

Participants included representatives of NGOs' health workers and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

The theme of the forum was "Going beyond policy to action to reach the un-reached - The Role of CSOs in collaborating with Ministry of Health". Dr Awudzi said the GHS had put in place a number of interventions to hel= p Ghana to significantly reduce maternal deaths by 2015 in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs'). These include intensive public education on the need to patronize the health facilities for ante-natal care and upgrading of health infrastructure. He asked that the implementation of health policies should not be l= eft to health personnel alone and urged NGOs and CSOs to play advocacy role a= nd join in efforts at educating the people. Dr Joseph Obeng-Baah, a Medical Officer at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospita= l (KATH), noted that treatment of HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis at the hospital=

had improved as a result of the introduction of anti-retroviral therapy, availability of drugs and other vaccines. The participants urged government to improve facilities at the hospitals= , and to help train more health personnel. They also advised health personnel to treat patients with respect and civility. Mr Samuel Oracca Tetteh, Chairman of the Coalition, spoke of the need to=

focus on preventive health.