Winneba (C/R), Feb. 26, GNA - Records from the Winneba Government Hospital indicates that the rate of maternal mortality continue to rise in the Effutu Municipality for the past three years. The Effutu Municipal Director of the Ghana Health Services, Dr Godfred Morrison said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Winneba on Monday. According to him the number of pregnant women who died in labour, rose from 13 in 2006, to 15 in 2007, and increased to 17 in 2008.

Dr Morrison attributed the increases to delay in sending them to the health facilities even though a memorandum of understanding had been reached with driver's unions to send expectant mothers to hospital free of charge. He said delivery was also free and wondered why pregnant women were refusing to attend hospital for safe delivery.

Dr Morrison said inadequate staff coupled with heavy workload and poor attitude of some hospital staff towards pregnant women was also a contributory factor to the deaths. He said as part of efforts to reverse the situation, refresher training courses will be organised for midwives and doctors on skill delivery. Dr Morrison stressed that the hospital would strengthen systems at the ante-natal care unit to ensure safe delivery of mothers.