The district health director in Prestea-Huni Valley in the Western region, Mrs. Caroline Otu has bemoaned the extent at which the Prestea government hospital is experiencing maternal deaths coupled with increased Tuberculosis and HIV infections.

According to her, six pregnant women have so far died at the hospital this year as a result of inadequate key staff and infrastructure.

Additionally, the district health director noted that HIV infections recorded in the district rose from 377 in 2012 to 454 as at October 2013.

Meanwhile, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) clients' attendance in the district declined from 74% in 2009 to 66% in 2012, Mrs. Otu noted.

JOY NEWS’ Kwaku Owusu Peprah reported that health officers in the Prestea-Huni Valley continued to contend with the increasing rate of TB infections caused by the polluted and congested conditions in illegal small scale mines.

The district has recorded over 166 cases of  Tuberculosis as at October this year with 77 persons diagnosed as HIV positive this year alone as they hope the Golden Star Resources Limited and Giz (German Society for International Cooperation) partnership for health stewardship in the district will reduce the numbers significantly.

"Malaria continue to take the lead on the top ten diseases table followed by acute respiratory infections and diarrhea diseases... Domiciliary  midwifery was introduced in 2011 to support disadvantaged women in remote communities piloted in Bogoso area. This initiative is supposed to be scaled up to Prestea in 2014 but it may be difficult due to dwindling resources in the health sector", the district health director indicated.

Mrs. Otu further explained that the project will establish a rural clinic within the Bogoso-Prestea mining area and lauded the efforts of Golden Star Resources for their commitment towards improving the health needs of the residents in the communities.