The Volta Regional Births and Deaths Registry has urged residents in the region to register birth and death of relatives, to help compile accurate data for planning and policy making.
According to Mr John Yalmon Badengbanoya, it was worrying that the important exercise was not given due attention despite its importance to the socio-economic development of the country.
In an interview with the Ghanaian Times here yesterday, he said the offices of the registry across the region, was opened to persons, who for some reasons, could not register their babies at birth as well as deceased persons.
This year, Mr Badengbanoya said the region’s registration target was at least 50,000 births and possibly all deaths that would occur in the region.
To achieve the target, he said the regional registry would train community health nurses at health centres in the various districts as well as embark on public education and media engagements.
“With this, they can also educate others on the importance of birth registration,”he added.
According to Mr Badengbanoya, registration of children less than a year old was free while a token, being penalty for late registration, was charged for other people.
Mr Badengbanoya said deaths, which were yet to be buried were also registered, explaining that a permit would be issued first before the burial after which the actual registration would be done.
He appealed to the government for motorcycles and additional personnel to expand the work of the registry, especially in rural areas, revealing that offices in the region were being manned by volunteers.
The Deputy Regional Registration Officer, Mr Christpher Tsemiyoh Ayertey, encouraged the public to register their children at birth and also register the deceased before burial, to avoid cost as well as save time.
FROM GRACE SENAM KLAY, HO
