A Principal Midwifery Officer (PMO) at the Representative and Child Health Unit (RCH) of the Upper East Regional Hospital, in Bolgatanga, Beatrice Akefo, has called on expectant mothers to avoid contracting malaria.

She stressed that “Malaria is one of the killer diseases,” and urged pregnant women not to relent on the use of the Intermittent Preventive Treatment of malaria in pregnancy with Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (IPTp-SP).

Madam Akefo, who spoke in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the need for pregnant women to take Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine (SP) and sleep under insecticide treated mosquito nets, indicated that the SP decreases placental parasitaemia and improved birth outcomes.

She insisted that “If pregnant women continue to take the SP, sleep under insecticide treated nets and feed very well, they will be protected from contracting malaria.

“It is also good for them to report early to the facility if they suspect they have malaria, so that we can test and refer for early treatment and prevention of complications,” the PMO said.

She added that malaria in pregnancy could affect the unborn baby if there were complications, “the baby could either be aborted or delivered preterm, or the baby may be delivered at term but also have malaria, therefore need for SP.

Some pregnant women told the GNA that they felt uncomfortable anytime they took the SP.

“As for that SP, I feel very uncomfortable the whole day when I take it, sometimes I even vomit after taking it. With the mosquito net, the weather is hot this time, so I don’t use it, but try to keep my room free from mosquitoes,” an expectant mother told the GNA.

“I don’t like to eat in the morning, and so I find it difficult taking the drug when they give me. I am sometimes compelled to get some snacks around and eat before taking it,” another pregnant woman said.