Category: Health Maintenance

Parents, especially nursing mothers, have been advised to ensure the completion of their children’s immunisation packages and child welfare services by age five.

Dr Naziru Tanko, the Deputy Programme Manager, Ghana’s Expanded Programmes on Immunization, made the call during a two-day training workshop to equip media professionals with the tools and knowledge to effectively communicate the importance of vaccination.

It was organised by the African Media and Malaria (AMMREN) in partnership with Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organization, on vaccines uptake in Ghana for selected journalists across the country.

He said it was unfortunate that some nursing mothers stopped attending postnatal services when their babies were about nine to 10 months old.

It was imperative to send babies to be weighed regularly from birth and continue till age five to enable them to receive all the recommended vaccines.

Dr Tanko noted that the risk in unvaccinated children, particularly in urban areas, posed a signifi
cant threat to the health and well-being of the population.

He said parents played a crucial role in ensuring their children received all the recommended vaccinations by age five to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect children from serious illnesses.

Dr Tanko urged parents to put in place measures in safeguarding their children’s health by adhering to vaccination schedules recommended by healthcare givers.

Vaccination not only protected individuals but also contributed to the overall health of the community by preventing outbreaks of vaccine- preventable diseases, he noted.

Ghana, like many African countries, faced the challenge in achieving optimal vaccination coverage, partly because of fear, myths, misinformation and misconception about vaccines and stressed the need for continuous education and awareness campaigns to address those issues and encourage vaccine uptake, the Deputy Programme Manager said.

‘Vaccines are safe, effective and crucial for the health and wellbeing of children
. By vaccinating our children, we are investing in a healthier future for our nation,’ he said.

He reminded parents and healthcare givers to ensure children received the recommended vaccination not only to protect their health but also strengthen the resilience of the entire country against preventable diseases.

Touching on the country’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Dr Tanko said the EPI had significantly evolved over the past 20 years after its launch in 1978.

He said with its main mandate of contributing to poverty reduction by reducing the magnitude of vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization as an essential component of Primary Health Care, the programme had seen an increase in number of vaccines it delivered routinely to children and pregnant women.

From an initial six antigens against the six childhood killer diseases, the number has increased to 11-vaccines, including malaria vaccine that is being piloted in seven regions.

The programme now vaccinates against 14 vaccine -preventabl
e diseases, Dr Tanko said, and that plans were afoot to include the COVID-19 in the routine vaccines.

The journalists were taken through topics like Immunisation as a Global Tool for Public Health Intervention, and Ghana’s Expanded Programme on Immunisation: The journey so far.

Others were the development of Vaccines and How Vaccines Work in Disease Prevention, Vaccine Financing, The COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Hesitancy: The Ghana Experience, and Media as Partners in Vaccine Uptake in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Major General Raymond Ewusi, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Medical Services), Ghana Armed Forces, has challenged the staff of the 37 Military Hospital to deliver on their mandate to spur on benevolent groups and individuals to offer more to support the hospital.

He said quality healthcare required the highest level of professionalism, compassion, and positive attitude to complete the ‘healthcare equation.’

Maj. Gen. Ewusi was speaking at the commissioning of a GHC700,000 refurbished Simango Ward at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, by Women Empowerment Foundation International (WEFI), a non-governmental organization.

The WEFI, led by its founder Lady Sonia Agyei Kyem, mobilised funds for the renovation of the Simango Ward, one of the oldest wards at the hospital.

Apart from the structural refurbishment, the WEFI provided 20 beds, 36 mattresses and 72 bed sheets, 17 Television sets, 17 air conditioners, 16 water heaters, three office tables and four chairs, two fridges and two microwaves.

The WEFI has adopt
ed the ward and pledges to assist it whenever the need arises.

Maj. Gen. Ewusi appealed to philanthropic individuals to appreciate the need to be the driving force in lifting the image of healthcare facilities to the desired standards.

‘What we witness today is a testament of what we can all contribute as stakeholders to serve Mother Ghana,’ he said, and that the renovation had brought relief and smiles to many people.

‘Like warriors that you are, your resilience and dedication manifested when some challenges threatened the completion of the project. You have proven to us that you face your battles to the end, and this is exemplary and inspiring to us all,’ he told the WEFI.

Maj. Gen. Ewusi said the refurbished ward had been configured and expanded to cater for the in-patient requirements of the Internal Medicine Division and the Genitourinary Department.

‘The relief this brings to the Ghana Armed Forces Medical is unimaginable.’

He assured the WEFI that the hospital would ensure high maintenance cultur
e at the ward.

Brigadier General Prosper Ayibor, the Commander, 37 Military Hospital, said hospitals served as sanctuaries of healing, where individuals entrusted their well-being to capable hands of medical professionals.

‘Within these hospitals, the ward emerges as a critical component, which offers patients many advantages,’ he said.

Unfortunately, many of those wards were saddled with high cost of maintenance, which affected their smooth operations and meeting patients’ expectations, he noted.

He said through the acts of generosity, compassion and solidarity philanthropists and donors have the power to shape the future of healthcare, improve patients’ outcomes as well as create healthier communities.

Mrs Joyce Acquaye, the WEFI President, was elated by the collaboration between the Foundation and the Hospital and urged members not to rest on their achievements but work even harder.

‘Let’s continue to work together towards building a healthier, more resilient community where access to quality healthc
are is not a privilege but a fundamental right for all.’

The 37 Military Hospital began operating as the 37th General Hospital within the British Empire. One of the wards that came with its birth and commencement of operations is the Simango Ward. It was known as Ward Six.

The Ward, however, was later named after Dr. Simango in recognition of his meritorious service to the hospital and to Ghana.

It admitted Ghana’s first cases of COVID-19 patients.

The WEFI seeks to bring together women in business and in various professions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

With a health screening and education on nutrition and preventing lifestyle diseases, Renel Ghana Foundation has marked World Health Day with women-led farming groups at Walewale in the West Mamprusi Municipal Assembly.

Under the theme: ‘My Health, My Right’, the Foundation collaborated with the Municipal Health Directorate to empower the women with the health information that would also benefit their families and communities.

A total of 60 women from the Sungataba and Sakintihi farming groups benefited from the event, held at the Assembly, a press release issued to the Ghana News Agency, on Friday, said.

‘The focus of the event was to empower women-led farming groups with essential knowledge about maintaining good health and ensuring access to healthcare services, as women are at the centre of sustainable development,’ the release said.

They were educated on their rights to health and the importance of a balanced-diet for overall well-being.

‘Participants were encouraged to assert their rights to health
care services and prioritise their health needs, especially in preventing anaemia, the most common health issue in the Municipality.’

They were thus advised on locally accessible iron-rich foods and how to plan their families for a healthy lifestyle.

They shared their experiences and concerns regarding health-related issues and expressed their appreciation for the knowledge imparted to them.

The screening covered their blood pressure and sugar levels, body temperature, and body mass index, among other issues.

It also identified underlying health issues and provided the necessary guidance for further medical intervention.

Representatives from the Walewale Chief”s Palace, the Chief Imam of Walewale, and the Office of the Municipal Chief Executive attended the event, demonstrating their support for the cause.

Their participation, according to the release, underscored the collaborative efforts towards promoting community health and well-being.

‘Such initiatives are essential for fostering a culture of goo
d health and well-being (SDG 3) within communities, ultimately contributing to sustainable development and livelihoods,’ it said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nestle Ghana Limited says it does not add sugars (sucrose and glucose) to infant formulas for children in the country.

‘Like everywhere in the world, in Ghana, we do not add sugars (sucrose and glucose) to Infant Formulas for children aged 0-12 months.

‘In Ghana, all our growing up milks have no added sugars except NIDO1+ which we add honey, in compliance with strict international and local regulations’, the Company said in a press release.

It is in response to criticisms that the Company was adding sugar to its baby food in some countries, according to analysis by an organisation, which campaigns for the observance of human rights by Swiss-based companies.

The release said Baby Food and Infant Formula were highly regulated categories and that Neetle applied the same nutrition, health, and wellness principles everywhere in the world aligned with both international and local guidelines and regulations.

‘This includes compliance with labeling requirements and thresholds on carbohydrate content that encompa
sses sugars.’

It said regarding cereals, there may be slight variations in recipes around the world.

‘In Europe, Nestlé’s range of cereals comes with and without added sugars.

‘Our milks and cereals for young children are fortified with vitamins and minerals such as iron to help tackle malnutrition in Central and West Africa,’ it said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe, a Senior Medical Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, has urged persons who are yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to do so to prevent them from contracting the disease.

He said although COVID-19 was no longer a public health threat, it was not completely eradicated, with people still getting infected and the virus manifesting with different symptoms.

Speaking at a workshop on vaccine uptake for journalists in Accra, Dr Addipa-Adapoe said the symptoms of COVID-19 were now similar to that of malaria.

The workshop was organised by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) with support from the World Health Organization and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

‘With the new infections, it is difficult to tell if it’s a COVID infection without testing, now you may experience headaches, cough, fever and sometimes sore throat, the likelihood of a loss of sense of taste and smell are no longer the case, persons infected may sometimes experience muscle weakness,’ he s
aid.

The medical doctor said with the onset of the rains, Coronavirus was manifesting as influenza like infections and that the public needed to be alert and report to hospitals when they experienced coughs and sore throats.

Dr Addipa-Adapoe said COVID-19 was now like any other disease with the symptoms close to that of malaria and encouraged persons who experienced or suspected a COVID-19 infection to report to a health facility for treatment.

He said the vaccine was safe and an effective form of protection against the virus as it prevented the severity of the illness and deaths.

Data from the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) show that presently, there are 8, 306,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines available.

As of March 2024, 14,935,381 persons, representing 45 point five per cent of the total population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Similarly, 11,850,978 persons representing 46.5 per cent of 36 point nine per cent of total population are
fully vaccinated while 6,889,700 have received a booster dose.

Mr. Naziru Tanko Mohammed, Deputy Programme Manager, EPI, said persons who were yet to be vaccinated could visit any of the vaccination centres to receive their jabs.

He said vaccination had conquered many childhood vaccine-preventable diseases in the country.

It helped with the elimination of Neonatal tetanus in 2011, no Wild Polio Virus reported in Ghana since 2008, no Measles death in Ghana between 2003 and 2021.

Mr. Mohammed said vaccination had contributed to a drastic reduction in pneumonia and diarrhea in children, strengthened health systems and contributed to the reduction of Under Five Mortality from 111 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 40 per 1000 live births in 2022.

A vaccine, according to the WHO, is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious or malignant disease prevention.

Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting against harmful diseases before contact with
them, it uses the body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections, making immune systems stronger.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, Member of Parliament (MP) for Cape Coast South Constituency, has commissioned a refurbished delivery suit at Ekon Health Centre for the people of Ekon and its adjoining communities.

At a short ceremony to hand it over to the health authorities, Mr Ricketts-Hagan said the facility would help alleviate challenges faced by expectant mothers over the years.

Mothers, he indicated were major contributors to national growth and efforts to ensure their safety during deliveries should be prioritised.

The clinic, which serves more than 3,000 people within the area, needed a facelift for quality healthcare services for patients.

He said the healthcare centre needed a further facelift to help cater for the basic health needs of the people, students and surrounding communities to avoid travelling long distances to access healthcare.

The MP pledged his unwavering support to the people of Cape Coast and promised to complete all unfinished projects in the area.

Mr Isaac Takyi Mensah, the
Physician Assistant of Ekon Health Centre, expressed delight that that infections among pregnant women would reduce with access to their own facility, particularly the available washrooms and thanked the MP for the gesture.

Mr Mensah called on the government, NGOs, individuals and philanthropic organisations to support as they needed more logistics and equipment like a laboratory, scanning machines and blood bank to improve on their services.

For his part, Nana Kwame Adu Ababio I, Chief of Ekon, appreciated the efforts of the MP for supporting the community over the years.

He called on all to get on board and assist the community for its growth and development.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Professor Emmanuel Arhin, a geoscientist, has urged government to leverage the expertise of geoscientists and academia to address the increasing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country.

He stated that NCDs were becoming increasingly significant in the field of public health and now the leading cause of mortality and disease burden in Ghana, saying NCDs continue to affect millions of people globally.

Professor Arhin, also the Dean of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) Campus at Dormaa, made the statement at a public lecture on the topic: ‘Origins of Emerging Non-Communicable Illnesses (NCDs): The Concealed Perils to Public Health.’

He observed that in the past, conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and heart diseases were considered lifestyle diseases when the environment were less polluted, however the situation has changed significantly as NCDs now affect individuals of all ages, including children.

He said statistics between 2019 and 2022 indicated t
hat majority of individuals in Ghana diagnosed with type II diabetes fell within 30-39 age bracket, representing a population of over 1.4 million.

Professor Arhin highlighted a statement made by Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) during the World Heart Federation roundtable in Accra barely two years ago that over 600,000 individuals, comprising 400,000 females and 200,000 males, were diagnosed with high blood pressure annually in Ghana.

He emphasized that NCDs, if not prevented, could lead to metabolic disorders in individuals resulting in elevated blood sugar levels, which may lead to severe health complications such as cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and stroke.

Prof. Arhin reiterated the importance of the partnership between geoscientists and medical professionals which was long overdue.?

He assumed that reducing the rising number of dialysis cases of NCDs required acknowledging that prevention was more effective option than cure and stressed
the importance of proactively addressing the root sources of NCDs rather than just treating the symptoms.

Professor Arhin stressed the importance of creating an Environmental Disease Pattern Map for Ghana moving forward to help determine the route of exposure by analyzing food and water samples to confirm disease-types.

Additionally, human samples such as hair, nails and blood samples be collected to identify the underlying causes of NCDs to effectively combat the increasing prevalence of cases, he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Deputy Director, Public Health, Bono Regional Directorate of Health, Dr Prince Quarshie, says sleeping under Long Lasting Insecticides Nets (LLINs) remains the surest way to put the nation on the edge to eliminate malaria by 2030.

He appealed to pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and everybody to sleep under the LLNs, being distributed nationwide to protect themselves from mosquito bites, and put the nation on the edge to eliminate malaria by 2030.

Dr Quarshie made the appeal when he announced the regional mass distribution of the LLINs at a stakeholder meeting in Sunyani.

He said the region had moved from malaria control to elimination, saying, efforts being made by the health directorate to eliminate the disease would not be successful if people failed to sleep under the LLINs.

Dr Quarshie said the mass distribution of the LLNs in the region, would be held between May 23 and May 27, 2024, explaining that the campaign was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the National Malaria Elimination
Programme (NMEP) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

It aimed at registering all targeted households and distributing LLINs to at least 90 per cent of all the registered households at distribution points in local communities.

Dr Quarshie said the GHS and partners were training registration assistants in the region, who with identification cards would visit individual homes from April 18 to April 22, 2024, to register members of each household.

They would take information about the number of people in each household, name and telephone numbers of the heads of the family and this information would be used to collect the free LLINs at designated distribution points.

Source: Ghana News Agency