The Community Health Services Director of Margibi County, James Varney has alarmed over the high rate of maternal and child death in the County.
Mr. Varney speaking at program marking District #3 Sitting over the weekend at the 26th gate Community stated that within the period of four months about twenty-eight children and seven women have died in childbirth at the only government referral Hospital in the County (C.H. Rennie Hospital).
According to him, Margibi comes second on the list of the Ministry of Health when it comes to the maternal and child death rate adding that at the Ministry the County is on a red flag.
Mr. Varney stated that the 28 children that have died at the facility are between the ages of one day to five days old. He noted that the increase in the death rate is due to the environment and the lack of medicine.
He further revealed that the maternal and child death is also occurring in the various communities base on community delivery because most of the pregnant women are afraid to go to the health center to give birth for fear of being asked to purchase materials for delivery.
Meanwhile, the Community Health Services Director is calling on the Representative of electoral district #3 Ellen A. Attoh to come to the aid of the Hospital and its workers.
Mr. Varney said the provision of drugs is paramount on their agenda because it is the issue of the day. He also added that the Hospital has five Doctors, four physician Assistants and more than hundred Nurses but 46% of them are not on incentive or salary.
He disclosed that some of the Health workers work for six months and the Hospital Authority at time beg them to forgo the four months only to pay for two months.
He then called on the Lawmaker to push the interest of the Margibi County Health Team in order to enable it provide the needed health services to the people.
