Kumasi, Aug 27, GNA - Dr Benjamin Kunbour, Minister of Health, has invited stakeholders to be supportive of the government's programmes and interventions designed to bring down maternal and infant deaths.

This, he said, was necessary to help the nation to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health by the 2015 deadline.

According to the recent Ghana Demographic Survey, (GDS) there has been an improvement in all the health targets except for maternal and infant mortality, which have been on the increase.

The country's present maternal mortality ratio is put at 560 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Dr Kunbour was addressing the opening session of the third annual Scientific Conference on Reproductive and Child Health at the Anita Hotel, at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.

The two-day conference is on the theme: "Reproductive and Child Health - Current Trends and Challenges." It is being organized by the College of Health Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

It is evaluating the performances and reports on the research work of scientists of the College. They would also present their research findings for adoption by policy-makers and stakeholders to strengthen reproductive health.

The Minister said the MDGs on Health had targeted to reduce infant and maternal mortality to an appreciable level but expressed worry about the prevailing circumstances on poor family planning, antenatal, postnatal and neonatal care, and others.

Additionally, the lack of access to trained birth attendants, emergency obstetric care and surgical interventions, are making it difficult for government to achieve its objectives.

Dr Kunbour said the World Health Report (WHR) of 2005 identified midwives and other health workers with midwifery skills as the essential human resource in health systems required for attaining the MDGs as their services were crucial in reducing maternal and infant deaths.

He, therefore, called for intensified education and capacity building of maternal health personnel as well as the continued strengthening of health systems to improve the safety of pregnant and nursing mothers.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, in a message delivered for him, entreated health scientists to spearhead efforts at developing innovative ways to accelerate the implementation of time-tested interventions to reduce the incidence of maternal and infant mortality.

Professor Sir Wireko Brobby, President of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, called for effective family planning and a well-orchestrated adolescent reproductive health to help promote good maternal health.