Apam (C/R), Jan. 11, GNA - The Apam Catholic Mission Hospital recorded 139 AIDS and 644 typhoid fever cases respectively, between January 2001 and December 2003.

During the same period, 813 diarrhoea cases were also handled at the health institution.

Dr Charles Ntiamoah Takyi, Medical Superintendent in-charge of the hospital, who made this known, said in 2001 the hospital handled 22 HIV/AIDS cases, in 2002 the figure went up to 62 while last year it decreased to 55 cases.

He was speaking in an interview with GNA before an end of year party organised by the management of the hospital for doctors, nurses and other health workers of the institution in recognition of their credible performance last year, at Apam on Friday.

Dr Takyi said the hospital handled 367 cases of typhoid fever in 2001, 136 cases in 2002 and 141 cases in 2003, while 404 diarrhoea cases were registered in 2001 and 249 cases in 2002 and the figure went down to 160 last year.

Dr Takyi said the workers would continue to provide excellent services in the years ahead, and called on the public to co-operation with the health officials to enable them achieve their objectives.

Miss Hall Baidoo, Gomoa District Director of the Health Services, expressed her appreciation to the management and workers of the Apam Mission Hospital for their notable performance over the years and asked them to maintain the spirit.

Cash and other awards were given to the workers in appreciation of their individual and collective contributions towards the promotion of health delivery service in the area.

In another development, Dr Nii Adjei Adjetey, District Director of Health Service for Awutu-Effutu-Senya, told the GNA that some 427 pregnant women in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District were given free delivery service at the Winneba Government Hospital between October 12 and November 30, last year.

He said the exercise was under the government's free medical care scheme instituted recently for expectant mothers in some selected deprived districts in the Central Region.

According to Dr Adjetey the exercise cost 40 million cedis adding that it was an indication of government's commitment to ensuring health care for the people.

Captain Kwamena Armah (Rtd), District Chief Executive for the area, said the government would continue to support pregnant women in the area.

The Presiding Member for the assembly, Mr Kwesi Esseku said the assembly would intensify its health educational campaign to keep the people in good health to enable them work harder.