Kumasi, Aug. 9, GNA - Fifty cases of maternal deaths were recorded in various health facilities in the Kumasi Metropolis between January and June this year, Dr Joseph Oduro, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Health Services, has announced.

The figure indicated a decrease in reported cases of maternal deaths in the first half of the year as compared to figures recorded within the same periods in 2005 and 2004, which stood at 74 and 57 respectively.

Dr Oduro, who was speaking to the GNA in Kumasi on Tuesday cited severe anaemia, pneumonia, renal failure, haemorrhagic shock, chronic liver abscess and sickle crisis, all related to pregnancy and delivery, as the main causes of such deaths.

He stressed the need for a concerted effort by stakeholders in the health sector to bring maternal deaths to the barest minimum so as to ensure safe motherhood in the country. The Metro Health Director called on expectant mothers to pay regular visits to the hospital to stay healthy throughout pregnancy and at delivery.

Dr Oduro further charged food vendors to always use iodated salt to cook commercial foods to help in efforts to eradicate iodine-deficiency diseases since quite a number of city-dwellers took their meals from the roadside.

Citing a recent iodated salt market survey conducted by his outfit, he said out of the 346 food vendors sampled across the metropolis, 39 were found not to be using iodated salt in the preparation of food. He disclosed that a total of 105,689 children between six months and five years were also given vitamin A supplement between January and June this year to boost their immunity to certain common childhood diseases.

Dr Oduro urged parents to cut down on their expenses on material things and be committed to giving their children nutritious and balanced diets to ensure their good health. 9 Aug. 06