Gomoa Obuasi (C/R), Feb. 17, GNA - Malaria cases recorded in health facilities in the Gomoa District have dropped from 24,319 in 2004 to 11,977 in 2007. Ms. Patricia Antwi, District Director of Health, disclosed this in a speech read for her at an Open Day organized by the Gomoa Obuasi Clinic to showcase the activities of the health facility to the public. The Day is an innovation of the District Health Directorate to infuse democracy and transparency into the Health Service. Gomoa District boasts of 14 health facilities, including six Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) zones and the Apam Catholic Hospital, which serves as the District Hospital.

Ms. Antwi noted that the drastic drop in malaria cases could be attributed to increased use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN), proper case management and increased health education in the communities. The District Director of Health expressed concern about the preference of pregnant women to deliver at the homes of traditional birth attendants instead of the available health facilities; saying, only 34 per cent of them delivered at health facilities in 2007. She urged them to take advantage of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the health administration and drivers unions to convey women in labour to health facilities without demanding instant payment for their services.

Ms Antwi said 17 taxi drivers were awarded in 2007 for services they had rendered under the MOU.

She said four maternal deaths were recorded last year and appealed to pregnant women to attend ante-natal clinics, to ensure that any complications were detected early and treated. Ms Antwi announced that the District Health Directorate had introduced a register in which all pregnant women would be listed by Community based Surveillance Volunteers (CBSV) for health personnel to attend to them in their communities.

'She advised the people to register with the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme. Mrs Theresa Essel, Senior Staff Midwife said the clinic serves 16 communities with a population of about 29,739. She said the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme card bearers who received treatment at the facility increased from 207 in 2006 to 1,552 in 2007. Chiefs and opinion leaders who attended the function commended the staff of the clinic for their dedication and good work.