YAOUNDE, Cameroon 

Cameroon's health minister has called on pregnant women and new mothers to visit hospitals for health checks despite the coronavirus pandemic.

’I recently called on moms and future moms to go back to the hospital, especially for prenatal and postnatal consultations […] for those who no longer respected their appointments,’’ Dr. Manaouda Malachie told a press briefing late Wednesday.

‘’Maternal and child health remains a priority,’’ he said, adding that hospitals nationwide have adopted measures against the virus.

The Central African country has recorded 15,173 coronavirus cases so far, with 357 deaths and 11,928 recoveries, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We must keep on going, especially as the third phase of our response which has just started aims at controlling, slowing down and at best stopping the spread of the virus in our country,’’ the health minister added.