The first lady Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills has called for the re-examination and abolishing of socio-cultural practices that frustrates the fight against maternal mortality in the country. She bemoaned the unfortunate cases where expectant mothers fail to return home safely after delivery due to cultural practices that forbids them from receiving proper ante-natal and delivery care.

The first lady made this call when she took her nation-wide campaign against maternal mortality to the Upper West regional capital, Wa. The campaign known as Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality In Africa(CARMMA) was initiated by the African Union Commission with the aim of curbing the continent's high pregnancy-related deaths.

Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu MIlls stressed that it is unfortunate to see that some women are forbidden from going to the hospital because perhaps in the past all women have delivered in the home in a family. This situation she said exposed the pregnant woman to high risks of facing complications which might further cause them their lives.

The first lady reminded that gathering of the need for all to work hard in ensuring that no woman should die whiles giving life and added that it should become the the duty of all and sundry to see to it that pregnancy is monitored right from conception through to delivery. And the monitoring must involve constant proper ante-natal care.

Dr. Mrs. Mills noted that traditional rulers and authorities in particular have a very critical role to play to encourage women attend ante-natal care and help remove cultural norms that impede on the rights of women in the country. By so doing she said will facilitate the dream of achieving success in the fight against maternal mortality.

The first lady also expressed deep worry about the rate at which very young girls engage the services of nonprofessionals to commit abortion. Most of them do not use proper medical equipment and rather depend on some very dangerous and sharp objects to perform such abortions. She remarked that this development accounted largely to the high pregnancy related deaths.

Dr. Mrs. Ernestina Naadu Mills urged the political policy makers to also lead the process of the district efforts towards supporting the district health management teams to put in place efficient systems to ensure improved maternal and child health and reduction of maternal mortality.

PETER BAMFO MEDIA COORDINATOR OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT CASTLE-OSU

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