The Central Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service is to institute an annual best driver award to reward drivers who convey expectant mothers to health facilities. Mrs Esther Dina Oyinka, Coordinator, European Commission/United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)/Government of Ghana Project, who announced this at the presentation of awards to 17 taxi drives in the Gomoa District for conveying women in labour to health facilities without insisting on payment before offering their services at Apam. The awards, which came in the form of suitcases and certificates, were to show appreciation to the drivers and to fulfill a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between the Health Directorate and drivers' unions to assist in conveying women in labour to health facilities promptly. Mrs Oyinkame expressed the hope that the best driver award would encourage drivers to do more to save lives of women in labour. She said the MoU, which the Regional Directorate initiated had been highly successful and was now being replicated in other regions. The MoU she said formed part of the Safe-Motherhood programme the Ghana Health Service has embarked upon in the Region. Ms Patricia Antwi, Gomoa District Director of Health Service in a message enumerated problems created when a woman died through childbirth. She advised pregnant women to prepare adequately towards delivery; they should not wait to be taken unaware. Mr Kenneth Labu-Amissah, Vice Chairman of Apam Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) appealed to the health authorities to give prompt attention to drivers when they reported at the health facilities for treatment as part of the MoU. Mr Francis Yawson, Administrator of the Apam Catholic Hospital said pregnancy was not a disease to scare pregnant women of losing their lives. He appealed to all to help to make child delivery a happy and a memorable event. Source: GNA