Techiman, April 23, GNA - About 529,000 women die from complications of pregnancy and child birth in the world every year whilst four million newborn babies die and another four million babies still-born, Dr Robert H. Mensah, National Programme Officer of the United Nation Food Programme Agency (UNFPA), has said.

Dr Mensah said this at the launch of the International Day of Midwife at Techiman.

He said the situation showed that pregnant women still lacked access to skilled care at childbirth and the consequences were very devastating.

Ten million women also suffered debilitating injuries such as infertility, uterine prolapse or obstetric fistula. Dr Mensah said skilled assistance was very critical in such cases to lower the number of women killed and injured while giving birth to ensure that adequate number of pregnant women had access to safe delivery.

He said the UNFPA recognized the challenges that midwives faced in the country and was working hand in hand with the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service and some NGOs to address the problems to improve the health of women and newborn babies.

Dr Mensah appealed to the government to address the shortage of midwives in the country and improve incentives and equipment to enable them to carry out their duties reflectively.

"There is the need to increase investment in reproductive health as an urgent priority to make pregnancy safer and ensure that no woman dies giving life", he added.

Dr Mensah expressed appreciation to midwives for their professional care and dedication to vulnerable women, noting that midwives made tremendous contributions to the health of mothers and babies worldwide. Alhaj Dr Mohammed Bin Ibrahim, Regional Director of Health Services, said members of the registered Midwives Association would continue to champion the cause of improved maternal and child health in the country and even reach out beyond the confines of maternity homes into the communities.