UN urges adequate resources to fight maternal mortality, mental health in Ghana

[News_Editor]

UN urges adequate resources to fight maternal mortality, mental health in Ghana

2011-05-31 06:57:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Monday commended the Government of Ghana on its commitment to carrying out the right to health while underscoring key challenges regarding maternal mortality, mental health and adequate funding.

With maternal mortality being declared a national emergency in Ghana, Anand Grover, UN's Special Rapporteur on the right to health, urged authorities to ensure that adequate funding and resources are devoted to health in the African nation.

Grover also noted that as Ghana transforms into a middle-income country, its eligibility for international funding in critical areas, such as HIV/AIDS, will diminish.

"In order to ensure that current gains related to the right to health are sustained, the Government must develop a strategy to address possible deficits in future funding," said Grover in Accra, Ghana at the end of his first visit to the country.

The UN expert also stressed the need for further concerted efforts, including a range of mechanisms for monitoring and redressing this issue.

In addition, Grover lamented the fact that the Mental Health Bill of 2006, which he said would be a significant step toward ensuring the mental health of all Ghanaians, has stalled in Parliament.

"I urge the Government to accelerate deliberation on the Bill and guide its passage through Parliament because there is an urgent need to improve mental health services in Ghana," Grover underlined, citing the need to tackle the substantial human resource constraints that exist within the mental health sector, particularly in nursing.

Grover wrapped up his eight-day mission, during which he met with Government officials and civil society representatives, including non-governmental organizations and academics.

In June 2012, Grover will present a report on his mission to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.

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