Bolgatanga, May 6, GNA - A Gynaecologist at the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital, Dr Peter Baffoe, has stated that anti-malaria drugs did not cause abortion as it was often speculated. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the hospital, he explained that a research conducted worldwide by Medical Experts indicated that anti-malaria drugs did not cause abortion. He however said a research conducted on animal offspring indicated that malaria had effects on them and it was therefore assumed that certain anti-malaria drugs might have side effects on babies but that was not always the case.

Dr. Baffoe noted that it was rather malaria which caused abortion and not anti-malaria drugs. He appealed to pregnant women to take the treatment of malaria seriously since it was the fastest killer disease adding that it was important to use treated bed nets at night. Dr Baffoe explained that the anopheles mosquito that caused malaria usually bit in the night and urged members of the public, especially pregnant women to use bed nets at night to avoid getting malaria. He entreated all pregnant women to constantly visit health posts and clinics to check their health status to prevent them from encountering any complications during childbirth adding that it was free of charge.

Dr. Baffoe expressed worry about some of the traditional practices that prevented women from delivering at the hospital as that could be dangerous for those who encountered difficulties. He noted that the situation where family heads insisted that they would consult soothsayers instead of allowing pregnant women to receive medical treatment at the hospital was not the best. He suggested that they could consult their soothsayers but should allow the women to go to the hospital as well. 06 May 09