50% of maternal mothers at risk of mental health – GHS Director

About 50% of maternal mothers are at risk of mental health conditions, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, Ashanti Regional Health Director has quoted Statistics in mental health.

Dr. Tenkorang has therefore, entreated nurses to have passion of saving women in labour and after delivery to stop or prevent maternal mortality.

The occasion was a sensitization Workshop organized by the Regional Mental Directorate to mark Maternal Mental Health week and to educate public health workers and nurses on how to handle and treat patients with mental illness devoid discrimination or stigmatization.

He said the number maternal maternity has increased in the Ashanti region which recorded about 216 maternal mortality which he said can be prevented and managed.

According to him, mental health condition is not a chronic disease, and for that matter, one can manage it yet we pay lip service to it.

He advised nurses to have a mother figure when the patients have a problem.

Mrs. Faustina Nuako, Ashanti Regional Mental Health Coordinator, disclosed that about 216 Midwives and Public Health Nurses were drawn across the region to sensitized on the Mental Health Education.

She advised men to support their pregnant wives psychologically, because pregnant women experience a lot of changes in their bodies and stress.

She entreated husbands to take good care of their pregnant wives because it takes two people to be pregnant.

According to her, pregnant women go through some mental problems during pregnancy and after delivery yet some husbands and their family members do not take good care of them.