THE new constitution must protect women's maternal health, reproductive health and their rights.
It should also prioritise maternal health in government budgetary allocations for improved infrastructure and services.
While making a submission to the Constitution Commission at Nabouwalu in Vanua Levu on Monday, Bua Provincial Council youth co-ordinator Veresa Ceguadrau said pregnant women who were in labour would spend more than $400 to hire a van or carrier because they travelled long distances.
"These women travel from outer islands and the interior villages in Bua and spend a substantial amount of money to get to Savusavu, Nabouwalu or Labasa to deliver their babies," he said.
"The women can at least spend $400 for one way and sometimes, they are denied the services at Nabouwalu or Savusavu making them fork out extra money to travel to Labasa Hospital for medical treatment."
Mr Ceguadrau also said, the constitution should ensure that the government would maintain and service all roads including feeder roads which were used by pregnant women, schoolchildren, the elderly and the sick.
"Feeder roads are not recognised as government property, thus are not maintained.
"The constitution must include all roads as essential services for maintenance and servicing.
"Sometimes, schoolchildren, the sick and elderly people and pregnant women usually walk for long distances in bad weather because the routes are not serviced by trucks and buses because of the poor road conditions," said Mr Ceguadrau.