Breman Asikuma (C/R), May 7, GNA - The Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Directorate of the Ghana Health Service in collaboration with the District Assembly, has honoured two taxi drivers for conveying four pregnant women who were in labour to hospital free of charged. The drivers were Mr James Buabeng, aged 38, based in Breman Ato Dawuda and Mr Simon Ewusi, 32 from Breman Anhwiam.

The drivers' gesture followed a memorandum of understanding was signed between the various transport unions in the Central Regional and the Central Regional Health Directorate for drivers to send pregnant women in labour to the health facilities without demanding payment. Mr Buabeng received a 20-inch colour television set whilst Mr Ewusi had a sound system as his award at a ceremony under the theme: "Transport Unions at the Service of Pregnant Women". Mr Buabeng on behalf of his colleague thanked the organisers for the honour and hoped that other drivers would share in the plight of pregnant women by emulating their example.

Mr Emmanuel Adjei Domson, District Chief Executive for the Area, who presented the award to the drivers, expressed his gratitude to them for exhibiting patriotism in discharging their duties. Mr Adjei Domson was not happy that, despite the education and tuitions given to the drivers on the memorandum of understanding initialled, some have remained insensitive to the call. He urged the executives of the various driving unions to periodically organised sanitization programmes for their members on current motor traffic regulations.

Dr Luiz Gohungo Amoussou, AOB Director of Ghana Health Service said the purpose of the agreement was to save pregnant women and their children from dieing mainly because of lack of funds. He appealed to drivers in the region to abide by the agreement to help reduce maternal mortality rate and also save the lives of women.