Apowa (Western Region), 16 Oct. Miss Cecilia Blankson, a family planning nurse, today advised women to take good care of their health so that they can contribute to national development. She said the contribution of women to national development would be minimal if they neglect their health, especially reproductive health. Miss Blankson gave the advice at a one-day seminar organised by the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG) and World Vision International for 41 women church leaders from eight communities in the Ahanta West District. She said infant mortality in some cases are caused by diseases brought about by large unplanned families which also lower standard of living. Miss Blankson said more than 4,000 women in Ghana die each year during childbirth and as many as 40,000 children do not rpt not survive their first year of life. Factors which have contributed to this appalling state of affairs are poorly spaced birth and early pregnancy. Miss Mary Jonfiah, a Public Health Nurse, spoke about immunization, nutrition and breast feeding. She advised nursing mothers to breast-feed their babies for at least nine months and to have them immunized against the six chuild- killer diseases.
