Accra, March 30, GNA - This year's World Health Day would focus on mothers and children to reverse the high mortality rate among mothers and children from preventable causes.

The theme for this year is: "Healthy Mothers and Children" and the slogan is "Make Every Mother and Child Count."

A statement signed in Accra on Wednesday by Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the theme calls for action against the current situation where more than 500,000 women die annually from pregnancy related causes and about 10.6 million children also die from causes that are both preventable and curable worldwide.

He said World Health Day 2005, therefore, sought to raise awareness of the extent of illness, suffering and death among mothers and children and to generate a movement that would stimulate collective responsibility and action at all levels of society.

It also seeks to increase understanding that solutions for reversing illness, suffering and death of mothers and children exist and all that is needed to be done is to translate knowledge into action. Prof. Akosa urged the Media to contribute their quota to reduce the illness, suffering and death of women and children.