Political parties blamed for lacklustre towards maternal mortality issues

Bolgatanga, Oct. 24, GNA – Participants at a forum organised in Bolgatanga on Tuesday to create a platform for citizens to engage the political parties on maternal mortality issues noted that Ghana lacks the political commitment to deal with the matter.   The forum, which was organised by the Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternative (PARDA) a non-governmental organisation and OXFAM Maternal Project attracted traditional authorities, assembly members, women groups and opinion leaders.   The representatives of the political parties were National Democratic Congress, New Patriotic Party, People’s National Convention, Convention People’s Party and Progressive People Party.   The forum stressed the need for the political parties to make the issue of maternal mortality one of the cardinal principles in their manifestoes and to make sure they implement their policies and programmes effectively if they are elected to power.   The participants expressed concern about the spate of maternal mortality in the country and called on government and other stakeholders to pay special attention to the subject by providing the necessary logistics and human resources in health facilities especially those in the deprived areas to reverse the scourge.   Mr Sebastian Tiah, Country Director of Oxfam, said the main focus of his outfit is to work towards the elimination of the structural causes of poverty, making economic and social justice a top global priority and playing an active role in the global movement for a just world.   He said health is a human right issue and expressed wonder why women in an attempt to exercise their reproductive rights are made to die.   Mr Tiah stressed that it is unacceptable in the 21st century for a pregnant women to die when giving birth.   The first phase of the OXFAM Maternal Project, which begun in March, 2011, in the region, ended in March whilst the second phase would run till March 2013.   The core objective of the project is to reverse the spate of maternal and infant mortality in its areas of operation which spans Bolgatanga Municipality, Bawku West and the Kassena-Nankana Districts. GNA  ... Read Full Story