She also advised them to keep their environments clean to avoid creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes to thrive and spread malaria.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday in Sunyani, Mrs. Tuffour said severe malaria could cause pre-term birth and contribute to infant mortalities.

She explained that malaria remained the highest causes of clinical attendance by pregnant women, and advised that disease prevention and control was the best method of maintaining good health.

Mrs. Tuffour urged the public to undergo testing before treatment of any suspected malaria, and warned especially pregnant women to avoid the use of herbal medicine for the cure of malaria and its related diseases.

Instead, pregnant women must endeavour to attend regular antenatal clinics to protect themselves from diseases.

Mrs. Tuffour entreated pregnant women not to hesitate to report any abnormal signs and feelings they experienced in their bodies for medical check-up.

In a related development, Madam Abigail Adusei, a midwife at the Owusu Memorial Hospital in Sunyani, has warned pregnant women against the consumption of starchy foods and recommended that they must also reduce the intake of meat and rather eat more fruits and vegetables to balance their diets.