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Prof. Mrs. Esi Awuah has advice women to quit smoking and drinking of
alcohol when they are pregnant.
Prof Esi-Awuah, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Energy and
Natural Resources (UENR) was speaking on the Topic; “Women Right,
Supporting Children and Building Capacity for Women” at a Women’s Day
Ceremony which was part of the 2014 National Festival of Arts and
Culture (NAFAC) in Sunyani, capital of the Brong Ahafo Region.
She said smoking while pregnant exposes a woman and her unborn child
to an increased risk of health problems.
News Hunter Magazine has learnt that, A woman who smokes while
pregnant is at increased risk of a wide range of problems including
ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and premature labour. Women who smoke
are twice as likely to give birth to a low birth weight baby compared
to non-smokers. Low birth weight babies are at greater risk of death
and are more vulnerable to infection, other health problems such as
breathing difficulties and long-term health problems in adulthood.
The more cigarettes smoked during pregnancy, the greater the risk of
complications.
She added that, it’s an offense to deny their children right to
education: “they should have access to education up to the senior high
school level”.
Women were advised against descrimination and also spendings on
unnecessary things, She adivised them to use such budget to sponsor
their childrens education.
Mrs Sarah Adams, Head of the Psychiatric Unit of the Sunyani Municipal
Hospital, disclosed that female adolecents nowadays, reach their
menstruational periods as early at age ten (10), due to the kind of
foods they consume (e.g sugery foods and also the side effects of
applying fertilizers on our food crops.)
She also advice women to control their birth by heeding to family
planning measures.
Compiled By: Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku (MR. KOK)
