Accra, June 26, GNA - Performance of caesarean operations at the Maternity Ward of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital is experiencing delays because only one of the three theatres at the Ward is functional. The other two are not functional due to lack of equipment and personnel, Dr John Wilson, Team Leader of the Ghana Prevention of Maternal Mortality (GPMM), has said.

Dr Wilson was answering questions on institutional delays that led to maternal mortality in the country's health institutions, at a day's workshop on reducing high maternal and child mortality, in Accra, attended by the Women Caucus in Parliament on Monday.

The result of the non-performance of the two other theatres was that more than four women in labour were seen lying down as they waited for more than six hours to undergo a caesarean that would have taken 45 minutes if the theatres were functional.

Some women had died, while others had developed ruptured uterus and still others had had stillbirths, Dr Wilson said, and added that the situation could be improved if the two other theatres were provided with equipment and personnel to make then functional.

Aside the lack of a firm decision to seek prenatal and postnatal care due to poverty, poor education and cultural factors; and poor transportation factors, Dr Wilson identified poor institutional and health service factors as major contributory factors to the high incidence of maternal mortality.

National figures of the sad phenomenon are rather varied. While the national figures are put at 214 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, Dr Wilson stated that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisations put the rate at 740 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Among the leading causes of maternal deaths are haemorrhage (bleeding); high blood pressure and other hypertensive diseases of pregnancy; infections, complications of induced abortion; obstructed labour and ruptured uterus.

Dr Wilson called for an increase in both formal and health education in maternal and childcare, and called for logistical support to make the new Focus Antenatal Care programme being introduced by the Ministry of Health effective.

Dr Gyikua Plange-Rhule, Paediatrician Specialist and Senior Lecturer of the School of Medical Sciences, in a presentation on child mortality, said 21,500 babies died every year in Ghana. She identified some causes of the high rates of newborn deaths as premature births; infections; neonatal tetanus; jaundice and birth injuries.

Dr Plange-Rhule stressed exclusive breastfeeding for babies in the first six months.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, called on fellow women Members of Parliament to collaborate and form networks in all the constituencies, starting with the most deprived district, to identify and work on areas that would enhance safe pregnancy, child delivery and survival. 26 June 06