Ho, July 31, GNA- Reported institutional maternal deaths have declined in the Volta Region for the first half of this year. Only a total of 32 maternal deaths were recorded with a ratio of 2.04 per 1000 live births, Mr Dennis Gbeddy, Volta Regional Nutrition Officer disclosed on Tuesday. Mr Gbeddy who gave a presentation on Public Health in the Region during the 2007 half year review meeting of Health Services stated that as usual, the highest deaths occurred between the 20 to 34 years age group.

He said the North Tongu District recorded the highest maternal deaths of six.

Mr Gbeddy attributed the decline to the monitoring of district level activities and surveillance. He mentioned unsafe abortion, shock, retained second twin, severe anaemia, ruptured uterus and hepatitis as some of the causes of maternal deaths in the Region.

Mr Gbeddy said though stillbirth coverage remained stagnant for the past three years, macerated stillbirth remained the highest with about 262 cases as against 218 fresh cases. Dr. Andrew Arde-Acquah, Volta Regional Director of Health Services in an address said the review was to enable the Service find solutions to issues confronting it in rendering quality and efficient health care delivery services to people in the Region. He urged participants to cooperate to make the meeting a success by offering suggestions to the weaker districts to lift health care delivery high in the Region.

The Participants would discuss issues concerning Clinical Care, Training Institutions and Health Facilities among others during the three-day meeting.