42% Pregnant Women in Upper East Region are Anaemic- Nutritionist
Upper East Regional Nutritionist, Madam Gloria Kobati says 40% of pregnant women who visited the health facilities at their early stages of pregnancy in 2020 were anaemic
Joseph Marfo 
The Upper East Regional Nutritionist of the Ghana Health Service, Madam Gloria Kobati has lamented over the increasing number of anaemia in pregnant women and children in the Region.
According to her 40% of pregnant women who visited the health facilities at their early stages of pregnancy in 2020 were anaemic.
She added that their numbers escalated to 42.4% when they were 36 weeks pregnant.
Madam Gloria Kobati made the claim in an exclusive interview with SN24 News, at the official launch of the “start right, feed right campaign” that came off last week.
The Nutritionist revealed that they were able to detect the disease in pregnant via testing whenever a pregnant woman visited the health centers.
Mrs. Kobati put on record that the percentages given are not a survey but from women who visited the health facilities for health care during pregnancy from the first week to week 36.
She said anaemia in pregnant women in the Upper East Region is a concern for all health personnel.
Madam Gloria Kobati estimated that more than 70% of pregnant women in the Upper East Region do not regularly visit the health facilities for checkups, the reason why they contract several diseases like anaemia among others
She said the anaemia disease could be controlled if pregnant women embark on regular checkups in the various clinics, CHPS compounds, and hospitals.
She added that, breastfeeding mothers should also make it a responsibility to visit the health centers for checkups on themselves and their babies, a step she said could eliminate anaemia, among other killer diseases in the region.
“Our pregnant women and those that have little babies can be better taken care of and help handle anaemia when they visit the hospital or the health facilities that are closer to them regularly”
WHAT’S ANAEMIA IN PREGNANCY?
Anaemia in pregnancy is defined as a hemoglobin concentration of less than 110 g/L (less than 11 g/dL) in venous blood.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), Anaemia is a serious global public health problem that particularly affects young children and pregnant women. WHO estimates that 42% of children less than 5 years of age and 40% of pregnant women worldwide are anaemic.
James Adombire, Upper East Region
