Saltpond (C/R), June 27, GNA - The Administrator of Saltpond Government Hospital, Mr J. B. Abaaidoo-Abbam says people in Regions, where delivery of babies in government health institutions is free should not to see the policy as a licence to produce more children. "The policy is meant to reduce maternal and child mortality but not to encourage the giving birth to more children, Mr Abaidoo-Abbam said. He explained that the government realised that the maternal mortality rate was very high in the Central, Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions because pregnant women were not patronising health facilities due to poverty and decided to introduce the free delivery at health institutions in the four Regions.

Mr Abaidoo-Abbam made the appeal at a ceremony to mark the adoption of the Children's Ward at the Hospital by the local Catholic Community and naming it after Pope John Paul II.

The Administrator commended the Catholic community for relieving the Hospital of some of the problems of maintaining the ward. He said the administration and the District Assembly alone could not provide all the needs of the Hospital and appealed to other churches and organisations to adopt some of the wards.

Rev. Fr. Henry Egyir, Parish Priest of Saltpond St. John's Catholic Church in a sermon said the decision of the Catholic Community to adopt the ward and name it after the Pope stemmed from the Pope's good work and his love for children.

Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, the Mfantseman District Chief Executive, said the Assembly had plans to sponsor the training of 10 doctors within the next 10 years starting from 2006. The Assembly would bond the beneficiaries to work in the District for five years.