Accra, April 21, GNA - The First Lady, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills on Wednesday stressed that sexual reproductive health rights need to be made a central theme of the national development agenda. She consequently praised midwives and other maternal health personnel for their care of expectant women and appealed to them to accept postings to deprived communities.

The First Lady made the appeal in Accra, at the inauguration of Government Registered Midwives Group.

The inauguration was held on the theme: 'Strengthening the Role of Midwives toward the Achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5."

Mrs Mills said there was an intricate connection between socio-economic development and the need to reduce the unacceptable high disease burden.

She advised against unsafe abortion, unwanted pregnancies and noted that the death of a mother during pregnancy and childbirth brought along with it the loss of investments and family income and negative consequences on surviving children.

The First Lady called on health service providers to re-dedicate themselves to the achievement of the MDGs Four and Five.

She observed that many professional groups after their inauguration detracted themselves from the very basic principles for which they were exposed to and urged the Group to commit themselves to the basic reasons of their profession.