Kokrobite (GAR), 17 April, GNA - A combined celebration of World Heath and International Women's Day was held at Kokrobite in the Ga West District of the Greater Accra Region at the weekend. It was organised by the Women's Health and Advocacy International (WHAI) and the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in Accra. The theme for the public education forum attended mostly by women was "The Role of Women and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) in Society".

Addressing the participants, Miss Joanna Sackeyfio, a Midwife of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), advised future couples to seek certain health information before marriage.

She said they should know their blood groups and ailments, which could be a source of worry in future for treatment. Miss Sackeyfio counselled the youth against early pregnancies and urged pregnant women to attend antenatal clinic for screening to detect diseases especially anaemia, which could lead to bleeding for early treatment before delivery.

The midwife urged couples to practice family planning and to bring forth the number of children they could afford to support, adding that, "Many births weaken women".

She also asked women to undertake income-generating ventures to support their husbands to care for their children and household.

Mrs Naa Dedei Adjei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of WHAI, noted that even though women played key roles in the nation's struggle for independence, their sacrifices had never received the necessary appreciation and recognition.

She stated that in spite of their important role in society, women had been relegated to the background but said they could get better treatment by being productive in all spheres of life. CEO WHAI stressed the need to promote the rights and dignity of women and called on the participants to sensitise especially members of their family and people they interacted with including church members on their role in society.

Mrs Adjei commended United Nations for promoting international efforts for women's rights and participation in the social, political and economic development.

She stressed important role of advocacy groups in ensuring justice and equality for women and encouraging an appreciation for their specific feminine gifts.

Mr Abraham Kweku Nunoo, National Information Officer of UNIC, stated that since its establishment the United Nations (UN) had been instrumental in improving the status of women by creating awareness about their situation worldwide.

He noted that even though the equal rights of men and women have been enshrined in the Charter of the organisation as fundamental human right discrimination against females had been entrenched in deep-rooted cultural beliefs and traditional practices.

UNIC National Information Officer, said appreciating the global importance of women's issues the UN proclaimed 1976 - 85 as the UN Decade for Women leading to the establishment two world bodies for women. Mr Nunoo explained the Domestic Violence Law to the participants. 17 April 07