Available statistics from management of the Eastern Regional Hospital has revealed that the hospital in 2013 recorded a shocking 1,157 abortion cases.

Out of the number, 574 cases were through comprehensive abortion, with 373 and 210 being spontaneous and induced abortions respectively.

The high number of abortion cases recorded notwithstanding, the Hospital Director, Dr Kwame Anim Boamah, described 2013 as a good year for the hospital.

Addressing a cross-section of media practitioners in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region, last week, he said the hospital had been adjudged the Best Regional Hospital in 2013 by the Ministry of Health.

He showered praises on his hardworking and dedicated staff for the feat but charged them to discharge their duties even better this year.

A daily average of 586 Out Patient Department (OPD) attendances was recorded in the year under review with malaria cases forming about 6.4 per cent of the total OPD attendance.

Dr Boamah said strokes and HIV and AIDS were the leading causes of death.

The hospital recorded 51 maternal deaths with about 71.5 per cent being referral cases in the past year. He said post-delivery bleeding was the major contributing factor for maternal deaths.

On behalf of his colleagues, the director of the hospital pledged their resolution to ensure that the hospital would not record any maternal death in 2014 and beyond.