Tema, Jan 03, GNA - A total of 63 births was recorded at the Tema General Hospital between December 25 and 31, 2005, as against 61 in 2004 for the same period.

It recorded 13 deliveries on 2005 Christmas day with four through caesarean sections, whiles 22 deliveries were recorded on New Year's Day with one through caesarean.

The Medical Superintendent of the Hospital, Dr Mrs Charity Sarpong, in an interview with GNA said the staff was all at post during the yuletide to give the needed medical attention and everything went on smoothly for the hospital throughout the year 2005.

She, however, mentioned the refusal of pregnant women to attend anti-natal care and reporting late for delivery, as a major problem of the Maternity Block and added that, most of them report at a last hour with labour complications.

She, however, advised expectant mothers to adhere to the advise of the medical experts and report as soon as labour starts to ensure that they have a save delivery.

According to the Medical Superintendent, an Intermittent Preventive Therapy (IPT), system has been introduced by the Hospital to ensure that pregnant women are protected from malaria.

Under the system she explained that, Sulphur Dioxide Brimethamine is administered to the mother every month starting from the fourth month of the pregnancy to the sixth month.

This, she said was also done under direct observation of a trained health professional.

She advised expectant mothers on the need to sleep in an insecticide treated mosquito net to prevent getting malaria and not to keep it till the baby is born before they use it. Jan 03, 06