Bolgatanga (UE) Nov. 5, GNA - Dr Koku Awoornor Williams, Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, on Thursday expressed the need for health personnel in the region to scale up awareness creation to reduce maternal and child mortality.

Dr Awoonor-Williams who was delivering a public lecture in commemoration of Upper East @ 50, revealed that hypertension caused about 19 per cent of maternal deaths, whilst unsafe abortion accounted for 11 per cent in the area.

He called for peer education among the people on the cultural barriers that impedes access to quality health care and the essence of patronising the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Dr Awoonor-Williams lauded Sakote community in the Talensi Nabdam District for instituting bye laws to ensure that no expectant woman deliver at home.

He noted that the region managed a modest increase in Family Planning patronage from 12.6 per cent in 2000 to 31.7 per cent in 2009. Dr Awoonor-Williams said the directorate is discussing the possibility of absorbing family planning services under the NHIS benefit package.

He called on especially chiefs and opinion leaders to collaborate with his outfit to ensure that the people patronise health care services.

The Regional Director said to effectively deal with obstetric cases, the directorate has intensified the upgrading of the knowledge of health professionals, safe motherhood standards and practice as well as improvement of the numbers and quality of essential obstetric equipment in medical facilities in the region. 5 Nov. 10