Death in pregnant women with sickle cell reduce drastically – Doctor

Gynaecologist at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Antwi Oppong has hinted that there is a drastic reduction in death among pregnant sickle cell women due to measures Korle Bu has put in place.
Speaking with Afia Amankwaa Tamakloe on Adom FM’s reality show for pregnant women, ‘Nyinsen Ne Awuor’, the doctor said pregnant sickle cell women used to account for the highest mortality in expectant mothers but that has changed.
According Korle Bu set up a specialist clinic headed by Gynecologists and Obstetricians to give pregnant women with sickle cell special attention and that reduced mortality among them by 90 per cent between 2011 and 2016.
Dr. Antwi Oppong noted that persons with sickle cell are at a higher risk of hypertension, chest infection and other complications during pregnancy so it became necessary to set up a unit to provide them with special care.
“Indeed the records show that the leading cause of death among pregnant women with sickle cell is chest infection and that is because of the difficulty in blood circulation and breathing,” he said.
The doctor said such conditions also make it difficult for the women to supply oxygen to the feotus, thus risking the life of the unborn child as well.
He said so far, lots of pregnant women in that condition in the southern sector of the country continue to avail themselves of the specialist clinic at Korle Bu and that has helped a whole lot to reduce mortality and complications.
“Our target is to completely eradicate death among pregnant women with sickle cell,” he said.
Dr. Oppong is therefore urging pregnant women who have sickle cell to start visiting the specialist unit immediately they discover they are pregnant so that they can start getting the special care to ensure their safety.
He also urged them to stick to the medication prescribed for them religiously because their survival depends on it.