Expectant mothers have been advised against refusing the intake of the compulsory malaria prevention drug Sulfadoxide/Pyrimethamine (SP).
The medicine which hitherto was taken thrice during pregnancy had now been increased to between five to seven doses. Some pregnant women have resorted to dodging the intake of the drug as they complained of discomfort after swallowing the three SP tablets.
Madam Anna Asamoah, Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate’s acting Pharmacist, has however urged expectant mothers to religiously take the medication to prevent the contraction of the malaria parasite.
Madam Asamoah noted that malaria in pregnancy was a major contributing factor to maternal and infant mortality therefore the need to protect the mother and baby during the expectant period.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, she explained that even though a mother may feel well, the malaria parasite could be in the placenta leading to a disruption in the flow of the needed oxygen and nutrients to the growing baby.
She indicated that malaria in the placenta also causes bleeding and anaemia during child birth which could result in the death of mother and baby adding that “people are dying from it constantly”.
The acting Metropolitan Pharmacist further said in cases were the child survives, it could affect their growth as they did not get enough oxygen into the brain when in the womb due to the presence of the malaria parasite.
She therefore asked relatives especially husbands to encourage their wives and relatives to take the SP to help reduce maternal mortality while calling on midwives and health officials to ensure that expectant mothers take the medicine when they attend antenatal.
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