Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - The Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has released 27 billion cedis from the HIPC Fund to the Ministry of Health to fund the 2004 maternal delivery exemption. A statement issued in Accra on Thursday said the package would cover all normal deliveries, management of all assisted deliveries, including caesarean section and management of medical and surgical complications arising out of deliveries, including the repair of viseco-vaginal fistulae.

The statement said this policy, initially implemented in the four deprived regions namely the Central, Northern, Upper West and Upper East regions was being extended to cover the rest of the country. It noted that the objective was to increase coverage of supervised deliveries to reduce maternal mortality rates.

The exemption was not only limited to services in the public health institutions but also covers services provided in maternity and private hospitals.