Ajumako (Central Region), GNA- Records from out-patient departments of the nine health facilities in Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam District of the Central Region, indicated that 39,810 patients visited the facilities in 2007 as against 35,000 in 2006.
Mrs Adrina de-Heer, District Director of Health Services, who said this at the annual district health review conference at Ajumako, observed that only few of those who visited the health centres had health insurance identification cards.
She, therefore, appealed to officials of the National Health Insurance Scheme in the district to intensify their educational campaign so that more people could register with the Scheme to enable them access quality health delivery.
Mrs de-Heer said malaria cases recorded in the district increased from 17,118 in 2006 to 19,487 in 2007 and pregnant women who received anti-malaria drugs went up by 69.9 percent in 2007 as against 44.9 percent in 2006.
She said deliveries at the health facilities declined from 39.6 percent in 2006 to 37.5 percent in 2007 while number of people practicing family planning went down from 25.9 percent in 2006 to 20 percent in 2007.
Mrs de-Heer said maternal mortality cases in the district were due to failure by some expectant mothers to attend antenatal clinic and also failed to take anti-malaria drugs to protect them and their babies from diseases.
She appealed to pregnant women to visit the clinics and health centres regularly to avoid any complications during delivery and after delivery.
Mrs de-Heer commended individuals and organisations that helped in the immunization exercise and other health programmes in the district.
GNA