Ghana health official urges media to help change negative perceptions about pregnancy

Sep 14 2011

Speaking at a workshop on maternal morbidity and mortality in Korofidua, Ghana, on Thursday that was organized for journalists in the region, acting Eastern Regional Director of Health Services Larbi Addo challenged the media to help change negative perceptions about pregnancy and child-bearing in an effort to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the country, GhanaWeb reports. "He said the campaign to reduce maternal mortality was a shared responsibility and asked the media to support the health sector in educating the public on the subject," the news service reports.

According to GhanaWeb, "He expressed worry that despite awareness created about safe motherhood, pregnancy, child-bearing and caring, society still held wrong perceptions about pregnant women" and "stressed that the media should spend less time on political issues and focus more on pregnancy and child-bearing matters to ensure human survival" (9/10).