GOVERNMENT'S FREE HEALTH CARE IS LAUDABLE (PAGE 11)

A number of pregnant women who patronise the St. Elizabeth Hospital at Hwediem in the Asutifi District in the Brong Ahafo Region have expressed satisfaction at the government’s policy of allowing expectant mothers to attend ante-natal clinics (ANC) free of charge.
They explained that the policy had greatly relieved them of the difficulties they encountered in paying their hospital bills when they accessed medical care during pregnancy and in getting post-natal care.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic in separate interviews at Hwidiem, the women, therefore commended the government for soliciting funds from the British Government to fund the scheme, describing the initiative as a show of concern to pregnant women to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
Madam Dora Kankam, a hairdresser at Mim, who is eight months pregnant, said, the free anti-natal care had encouraged her to visit the hospital regularly to access medical care.
Ms Rosina Berchie, a nurse at the St. Elizabeth Hospital, who is carrying her second pregnancy, lauded the government’s initiative and said it would improve the health of expectant mothers and infants .
A seven-month-old pregnant woman,Madam Abena Animah, a farmer at Wamahinso, who is expecting her first child indicated that apart from looking for money to pay for her transport fare to attend hospital, “I don’t pay a pesewa for whatever drugs are supplied to me any time I come here”.
She, however, advised parents not to take undue advantage of the programme but plan for their family and ensure that they empowered themselves economically.
Mr Wilberforce Mfum, an Accra-based businessman, who accompanied his wife, Madam Fatima Adams, to the hospital, said the government’s assistance had indeed lessened the burden of husbands and their pregnant wives, adding that pregnant women in rural communities who had to raise money to pay their bills when they needed to undergo emergency surgical operation would benefit most.
Madam Adwoa Pinamang, a trader from Mim, who is expecting her fourth child indicated that in time past, she paid so much on drugs supplied to her at the hospital.
“I commend the government for the gesture but that does not mean I should continue to give birth to more children” she said.
Madam Hawa Karim, a farmer from Kwaku Nyumah village, who is carrying her sixth pregnancy, also noted that, for the previous pregnancies she went through, she used to pay so much for drugs whenever she visited the Kukuom, Nobeko, Dadiesoaba and Hwideim health facilities but now she did not pay for drugs and other services.
A farmer from Acherensua, who was seeking anti-natal care said she paid GH¢12.00 in respect of laboratory tests since she had not as yet registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). She, however, gave the assurance that she would do so very soon in order to benefit from the policy.
Later in an interview, a Midwife, Mrs Cecilia Newman, said the policy had resulted in increased hospital attendance by pregnant women, adding that, before the commencement of the policy, the staff of Hwidiem St. Elizabeth Hosiptal closed between 3.00 and 5:00p.m. but now, they could stay till about 7:30p.m.
She appealed for more hands at the clinic to help relieve the pressure on the staff .
Before the implementation of the policy in July this year, anti-natal clinic attendance at the hospital in January was 731; February, 737, March, 692; April, 420; May, 741; June, 615; July, 712, with 1,050 recorded in August.
Mr Kofi Baffour Asare, the Asutifi District Manager of the NHIS, expressed concern about what he termed as the increase in the rate of teenage pregnancy in the area, and attributed the situation to immoral practices perpetrated by some immigrants who engaged in illegal mining in the area.
He advised pregnant women not to wait until they fell sick before registering with the scheme .
In another development, the management of the Asutifi NHIS has presented bicycles valued at GH¢900.00 to 15 agents of the scheme who are registering people to join the scheme .