Agona Swedru (C/R), May 5, GNA- Mr Abeiku Appiah, a pharmacist with the Kina Pharma Limited has stated that medical research has shown pregnant women who take low folic acid tablets give birth to abnormal babies.

He therefore, urged pregnant women to take more folic acid to help them give birth to healthy babies.

Mr Appiah was giving a lecture at a workshop organized by the Kina Pharma Limited for members of Swedru zone of the Chemical Sellers Association at Agona Swedru.

The 350 participants were from Agona, Gomoa, Awutu-Effutu-Senya, Ajumako and Asikuma, Odoben-Brakwa districts of the Central region. He said it is not good for pregnant woman to have less folic acid in their system and called on the health authorities to intensify the campaign since most of the women are not aware of the problem.

Mr Appiah advised the patients not to misuse drugs since it could cause serious harm to their bodies, adding that it is important for patients to go by doctor's prescription.

He advised chemical sellers not to sell restricted drugs in their shops because they do not have the "capacity and knowledge to dispense them except pharmacists".

Mr Kwame Abban, Vice Chairman of Swedru Zone of the Association urged members to patronize the made in Ghana products especially manufactured drugs, to help resuscitate the economy.

He said it is unfortunate that most of the Ghanaian chemical sellers patronize drugs from outside the country instead of locally manufactured ones.

Mr Abban said when this was done the local pharmaceutical companies would suffer and could not create more jobs and wealth for the youth. The Vice Chairman appealed to other drug companies to organize similar workshops and seminars for members to help update their knowledge on the sale of some drugs. 5 May 04