A group calling itself Zango Mother's Hope Foundation has called on Zongo women, especially those who are pregnant to desist from taking paracetamol without a doctor’s advice.

The group says the abuse of the drug within the community is alarming and therefore there is the need for leadership to step in to address the situation.

According to a research conducted by the foundation, majority of pregnant women in the Zongo communities resort to the drug anytime they feel uneasy without the consent of a medical practitioner.

This, they say, has contributed to maternal complications.

"Most women in the Zongo communities self-prescribe drugs for themselves especially 'para' without doctor's advice," a community nurse with the foundation, Aisha Ahmed noted.

She attributed the situation to lack of adequate knowledge about pre and post-natal care.

"lack of knowledge on the need for prenatal and postnatal care has contributed to this canker.”

At the launch of the foundation in Kumasi, they caution health practitioners working within the Zongo settlements to help find a lasting solution to this menace.

According to the foundation’s president, they are ready to stand up for Zongo women who experience negligence from health practitioners.

"We have designed consent forms for pregnant women to register with us so we can stand up for them in case of any negligence or malpractice from the health practitioners," Rumaisa Mohammed El-Khamis mentioned.

The Zongo Mothers' Hope Foundation is a non-governmental organization that intends to support pregnant women through the provision of proper prenatal and postnatal care, healthcare facilities referral and educate them on their rights as health clients.

The organization aims to financially support 100 less privileged pregnant women from the first, to the last stage of their pregnancy annually.