WA, Dec. 2, GNA - A one day sensitization forum aimed at involving men in reproductive health practices was held on Wednesday at Wa in the Upper West Region.

Reproductive health issues have over the years been ignored by men, thereby, putting the burden on women who are mostly economically vulnerable. Dr. Kofi Issah, Deputy Regional Director of Public Health Services, said in order to achieve some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), there was the need to make a significant improvement in reproductive health services.

He said the region for the past few years had recorded a significant achievement in the area of child health care delivery, adding that it was important to scale up efforts to improve reproductive health delivery too. He noted that this could not be achieved without the active involvement of men in reproductive health related issues. Dr. Issah said men could be more effective and contribute better during decision making on reproductive health issues if they were properly informed. According to him, men must be encouraged to accompany their wives to access antenatal health care at the hospital or health centre. By this, they would be able to know any important information needed to keep their unborn baby safe from any future complications, he added. Dr. Issah said statistics showed that about 13,142 pregnancies were registered this year and only 8,394 representing 17.9 per cent went through skilled delivery at the hospitals. He said about 13.2 per cent of them were delivered by Traditional Birth Attendant (TBS) and the remaining 68.9 per cent delivered at home, stressing that the figures were unacceptable.

Out of a total number of 8,394 deliveries, he said only 2,126 representing 25 per cent were accompanied by their husbands. The Deputy Regional Public Health Director noted that infant mortality which stood at 208 per every 1000 live births in 2003 was reduced to 142 per 1000 live births in 2008, adding that it was a commendable achievement. At the forum, participants suggested that religious leaders, chiefs and traditional leaders must be involved in the sensitization processes. They also recommended among other things that Ghana Health Service, National Youth Council (NYC) and the media should intensify their advocacy on the need to involve men in reproductive health issues. 2 Dec.09