Public Health Nurses have been called upon to use the health technology and cost-effective interventions available to them to reduce the high maternal morbidity and mortality in the country. Dr Elias Sory, Director General of Health Services, made the call in a speech read for him by Dr Joseph Amankwah, Director of Public Health at the 22nd Annual General Conference (AGC) of Public Health Nurses held in Bolgatanga. The three days conference under the theme; “Promoting Community Involvement in Reducing Maternal Morbidity and Mortality – The Role of the Public Health Nurse,” was aimed at strategizing effective ways of involving the community to curb maternal morbidity and mortality in the country. Dr Sory explained that with commitment, Public Health Nurses could help reduce the rate of maternal and infant mortality with the current technology and the knowledge and skills they acquired. This is because almost all the causes of maternal deaths were preventable and could be addressed. He appealed to all stakeholders including the health workforce, community leaders, and civil society organizations to support public health nurses in the discharge of their duties. Dr Sory said there was the need to institutionalize community maternal death audit to complement the current institutional audits. He said this would not only ensure continuum of care but a surest way of engaging and understanding why communities delayed in seeking care from health facilities. “Findings from these audits would serve as the basis for re-formulating policies and strategies to effectively and comprehensively address maternal health care delivery,” he added. He proposed the setting up of a Presidential Commission on Maternal Health to give maternal health issues the recognition it deserved. Ms Beatrice Appah, Chairperson of the Public Health Nurses, said it was estimated that about 585,000 women died every year globally as a result of complications from pregnancy and child birth, 99 per cent of which occurred in the developing countries. “The situation may even be more alarming when we think of and picture what is happening in our villages. More women are dying unnoticed,” she added. Ms Appah said the Public Health Nurses Group had realized that the involvement of the community was one of the cheapest and effective methods of reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. She cited countries including Bolivia, Vietnam and Peru as those that had chalked greater successes by involving the communities. Dr Koku Awoonor–Williams, Upper East Regional Director of Health Services urged nurses to closely monitor all pregnant women in their respective districts, facilities and communities to ensure safe delivery at all times. Mrs Agnes Chigatia, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister commended the Public Health Nurses Group for their immense contribution in the delivery of health services to the people. She urged them to continue to work hard to contribute to the growth of the country. Source: GNA