They noted that the work of anaesthetists was very crucial for quality health care delivery, especially in the area of maternal and child care, yet not much attention had been given to them in terms of adequate equipment.

Madam Francisca Haizel-Commey, National President of the Ghana Association of Physician Assistants Anaethesia (GAPAA), made the call at the opening of their ninth annual general conference and scientific session in Takoradi on Thursday.

The three-day nationwide conference being attended by 250 anaesthetists, is taking place on the theme: "Achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGS), the role of the Anaesthetists".

The National President noted that MDGs four and five on Maternal and Child mortality, could be attained when the role of anaesthetists was recognised and adequate provision was made to them to work efficiently.

Madam Haizel-Commey said unfortunately, in Ghana, efforts at addressing the child and maternal mortality had not been adequate and the role anaesthetists could play to improve the situation had also not been recognised.

She said it was imperative that the potential contributions of anaesthetists were fully acknowledged, harnessed and incorporated into the various interventions being instituted to address the problem.

MDG four is specifically aimed at reductin child mortality rate by two-thirds and MDG five is targetting a reduction in maternal mortality by three quarters by the year 2015.

To this end, she called on the MOH to initiate moves towards the manpower development and the capacity building of anaesthetists to strenghten their roles in the reduction of child and maternal morbidity and mortality.

In order to broaden their knowledge, she called for urgent need to expand and upgrade the training of anaesthetists to graduate and post graduate levels so that practitioners could specialise in areas such as Obstetric Anaesthesia and Paediatric Intensive Care.

"This would further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of anaesthetists in making greater contribution to the reduction of maternal and child mortality in the country."

In a welcome address read on her behalf, Dr (Mrs) Linda Vanotoo, Western Regional Director of Health, said the Region had made efforts to reduce maternal deaths, stillbirths and childhood deaths. She noted that skilled delivery improved by 39.1 per cent in 2008, 42.8 per cent in 2009 and 44 per cent in 2010.

The Region has also introduced the "Promote Maternal and Infant Survival Excellence" (PROMISE) and other interventions to address sexual and reproductive health issues.

Nana Kobina Nketisia V, Omanhene of Essikado, who chaired the programme, called on all to contribute their quotas for the nation's growth and development.

GNA