Category: Medical

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has donated a vehicle to the Sickle Cell Condition Advocates (SICCA), to facilitate the work of the group.

Professor Francis Chiska Kasolo, the Country Representative for WHO Ghana, presented the vehicle to SICCA on behalf of the Organisaion.

He said the WHO deemed it fit to empower SICCA to facilitate their advocacy, which was geared towards sickle cell prevention, as part of the organisation’s mandate to lead and champion global efforts to achieve better health for all.

Madam Charlotte Owusu, the founder of SICCA, said the non-governmental organisation used advocacy to drum home the need to prevent the sickle cell disease and enhance its management in Ghana and beyond.

Madam Owusu acknowledged the WHO for its collaboration with SICCA since its establishment in September 2007, and jointly undertaking several activities to prevent sickle cell disease through education and counselling.

Further, both institutions had worked on ensuring the effective management of the con
dition and eradicating it in the long term through preventive measures such as pre-conception screening.

She said the vehicle had come at a time when SICCA was in dire need of a means of transport to help in expanding its advocacy drive throughout the regions of Ghana.

Madam Owusu explained that sickle cell disease resulted from a defective production of haemoglobin, a substance in the red blood cells that gave blood its colour and carried oxygen around the body.

‘In people with sickle cell conditions, the abnormal haemoglobin changes the round cell to a sickle or half-moon shape when it gives up its oxygen, and this causes blockage of blood flow (often they resemble a farm tool called a sickle, hence the name sickle cell),’ she said.

Madam Owusu added that this leads to a variety of complications, such as chronic anaemia, severe episodes of pain in the bone, joint, chest, and an abdominal pain of a biting nature (crises), jaundice, stroke, repeated infections, chronic leg ulcers, and organ damage.

She s
aid people with sickle cell conditions were treated with pain relief medications and medicines to prevent or fight infections, adding that they were sometimes given blood transfusions or operated upon when it became necessary.

The founder of SICCA noted that the advocacy group sought to create public awareness of sickle cell disease in schools, communities, and in the media, advocating for a stronger health system to help with the prevention of the condition.

She said that there was the need for great investment, stronger collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders to help stem the tide of rising cases of sickle cell disease in Ghana and Africa as a whole.

Madam Owusu said most African countries did not have the necessary resources to provide comprehensive care for people with the disease, despite the availability of proven cost-effective interventions through preventing early diagnosis and management of the condition, beyond its public health impact.

‘Sickle cell disease also poses numerous economi
c and social costs for those affected and their families and can interfere with many aspects of the lives of sufferers in areas including education, mental health, social well-being, and development,’ she said.

She emphasised that couples must check their genotype to know their compatibility before they marry, to avoid the risk of having children with sickle cell disorder, as that was the only way the disease could be prevented.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A mechanised water system has been constructed at Diani, a community in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the Northeast Region (NE/R), to help residents’ access to potable water.

The facility, designed to serve a population of 1,200, has a storage capacity of 10 cubic meters (Rambo 10,000 polytank) and comes with four fetching points distributed across the community.

Besides the water facility, a girl-friendly institutional latrine equipped with basic facilities for menstrual health and hygiene management, has also been constructed for the Diani Primary School to ensure that girls remain in school.

They were constructed by Plan International Ghana, an international NGO, as part of its three-year Integrated Package for Sustainable Development (I-PADEV) project, which is being implemented in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the NE/R and the Jasikan Municipality of the Oti Region.

The project seeks to contribute to creating a resilient and protective environment both at home and at school for better health
and learning outcomes for children, especially girls through equitable access to and effective utilisation of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), early childhood care and development, education, health facilities and services.

Prior to the construction of the mechanised water system, residents relied on a polluted dam, which was about a kilometer away from the community.

Mr Constant Tchona, Country Director, Plan International Ghana, speaking during the inauguration of the facilities at Diani, announced that ‘Plan International Ghana has completed 20 water facilities under the project. This includes eight mechanised systems and 12 hand pumps. Of these completed water facilities, four mechanised systems and six hand pumps are located here in West Mamprusi.’

The ceremony was also to commemorate this year’s World Water Day, which was on the theme: ‘Leveraging Water for Peace.’

World Water Day, commemorated on March 22, every year, serves as a platform to create awareness and inspire action to tackle the wa
ter and sanitation crisis globally.

Available data show that one in two (49 per cent) public schools in the country do not have access to improved water supply services and three out of every five (62%) children attend

school without water supply in the country whilst children, especially girls in rural and other under-served areas, have to walk long distances in search of water before going to school.

Mr Tchona said, ‘The lack of (or inadequate) quality water and sanitation facilities in schools disproportionately and negatively impacts on the educational outcomes (and ultimately economic empowerment and social status) of girls.’

He said, ‘Plan International Ghana believes that access to safe, adequate and affordable WASH services promotes girls and women empowerment since it enhances their dignity and position in the community.’

He mentioned other activities being undertaken under the organisation’s WASH project, which included ongoing construction of 20 girl-friendly institutional latrines in schools,
roll-out community-led total sanitation in 20 project communities among others.

He called on members of the public to use water more carefully, reducing stress on the environment and water infrastructure, saying ‘In our working lives, we can also ensure that all our activities are done responsibly and protect water resources and ecosystems according to the law.’

Mr Yidana Zakaria, North East Regional Minister, said the government had committed a lot of resources to the provision of potable water to communities in the country with Nalerigu, Gambaga and Walewale being the beneficiaries in the region.

Mr Zakaria urged the beneficiaries to protect, guard and preserve water sources, and desist from all practices that polluted water sources and encouraged them to plant more trees around water bodies to preserve them.

Mr Somo Lucky Arimiyaw, West Mamprusi Municipal Chief Executive, who was represented during the event, thanked Plan International Ghana for its numerous interventions in the area complimenting gove
rnment’s efforts to bring development to the people.

Mr Yidana Hanan, a resident of Diani, who is in-charge of the water facility, said residents would be charged 40 pesewas per bowl to fetch the water, and the money would be used to buy electricity to power the facility.

He said school children in school uniform during school hours and fetching the water for the use of the school, would be allowed to fetch the water for free.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate has marked the 2024?Tuberculosis (TB) week with role plays in senior high schools.

The sensitisation and educational programme were aimed at getting the students to learn, educate their peers and the public on TB to ensure behaviour change.

The schools included Chemu, Tema Methodist, Olams, Manhean,Tema Technical, and Tema Presbyterian Senior High.

The programme saw the screeing of the students with some advice on health-related issues for their general well-being.

Health officials from the Tema General Hospital, Tema- Manhean Polyclinic and TMA Health Centre had a float from the General Hospital through communities Nine and Seven, and ended at the Methodist Day School in Community Eleven, where a short drama was performed by the students on the subject.?

The drama sought to debunk the perception that TB was a spiritual issue and the need to seek early care, as it was a medical condition that could be cured, especially when detected early.

Madam Joana Anorkor Lar
tey, the TB and HIV Coordinator at the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate, said her outfit had, over the years, visited various communities, especially smoking joints, to sensitise and screen the people for TB.?

‘This year, the mantle has been given to the students to bring them up to date on the disease and equip them to own their health to effectively influence and change misconceptions about TB,’ she said.

Madam Lartey said the students were to work with the 2024 theme for World TB Day, which is: ‘Yes, We Can Stop TB.’?

The Directorate targeted 167 positive cases for 2023, but they were able to record 157, and attributed the shortfall to the lack of follow-ups and some patients being in the denial stage, she said.

The coordinator said in Ghana, about 39 people lost their lives daily to TB and 121 people fell ill each day and stressed the need for people to get tested, especially if their cough persisted for days after taking in cough mixtures.

Other symptoms included loss of appetite, sweating at ni
ght, sleeplessness, sneezing, and a sore throat.

She cautioned the public against buying antibiotics on their own and drinking concoctions to cure TB, but rather report to the hospital for proper diagnosis, treatment and care.

She encouraged the public to get enrolled on the National Health Insurance Scheme for easier treatment at the hospital.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Joachim Ayiiwe Abungba, the Black Volta Basin Head, Water Resources Commission (WRC), has advocated transboundary cooperation between countries and communities for global water security.

He made the call during the commemoration of the World Water Day at Tumu at the weekend.

The event served as a platform for dialogue and collaboration, reinforcing the collective resolve to leverage water as a catalyst for community peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

He spoke on the theme: ‘Leveraging Water for Peace,’ and stressed the pivotal role of collaborative efforts in mitigating water-related conflicts and fostering sustainable development.

‘Water has the power to start conflict or bring about peace. Tensions between communities and (between) nations can arise when there is a lack of water, if it is contaminated, or people have uneven or no access to it,’ he noted.

‘More than three billion people worldwide depend on water that crosses national borders, hence the need for international cooperation
among countries and communities.’

Dr Abungba indicated that as the world grappled with mounting water challenges, the call for enhanced transboundary cooperation and community-led initiatives emerged as a beacon of hope for achieving water security and fostering global harmony.

He reiterated the WRC’s commitment to fostering transboundary cooperation, particularly in the Black Volta Basin.

The Commission is the national focal institution facilitating dialogues towards establishing permanent mechanisms for transboundary water resources management.

Mr Fuseini Yakubu Batong, the Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive, said: ‘Water can spark and intensify conflict when access is denied and usage unfairly shared.’

He recognised the support of various stakeholders in enhancing access to potable water within the municipality.

The Fire Service, Community Water Systems, Sachet Water Producers’ Association, Sissala East Agricultural Directorate, Immigration Officials and community representatives among other stak
eholders participated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Upper West Region tops all the 16 regions in the 2023 National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) population coverage, Mr Samuel Lobber Lekamwe, the Acting Upper West Regional Director of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), has announced.

He said 772,941 people, representing 81.9 per cent of the 943,448 projected population of the region, were covered by the NHIS within the year under review against its 81 per cent coverage recorded in 2022.

Mr Lekamwe added that the region remained the lead region in the country in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in membership coverage.

He said the region achieved 772,941 of its target of 856,429 for 2023, representing 90.3 per cent.

Mr Lekamwe announced this in Wa at the weekend during the Authority’s 2023 end-of-year performance review meeting held on the theme: ‘Eighty Per cent Population Coverage in All Districts – The New Targeting Metric’.

The Bono Region came second with coverage of 1,013,392 out of a total population of 1,269,837, representing 79.8 p
er cent while the Ahafo Region came third with NHIS coverage of 435,898 out of a population of 580,589, representing 75.1 per cent coverage.

For the district coverage, Wa Municipality came first by achieving 97 per cent of its 2023 annual target of 174,019, followed by Wa East District which achieved 96 per cent of its 72,216 target, while the Lawra Municipality achieved 77 per cent of its target of 90,918 falling at the bottom of the chart.

Mr Lekamwe commended the staff of the Wa Municipality and other good-performing districts for their part in ensuring the region sustained its gains in the NHIS coverage.

The NHIA Regional Director said 31 per cent of the total membership renewals of the scheme were through mobile renewals.

‘That means if the NHIA was not innovative, and with the kind of staffing situation we have, 31 per cent of the members we have today would not have been our members’, Mr Lekamwe explained.

He encouraged the public to take advantage of the *929# mobile renewal platform and the NHIA
mobile application to renew or register to benefit from the NHIS package.

He indicated that the NHIS prioritises the vulnerable groups in society by ensuring that such groups of people are registered for free.

He said 280, 182 of such people were registered within the year under review.

Mr Lekamwe indicated that the region had set for itself a target of 886,005 membership coverage for 2024, representing 91.8 per cent of the region’s population.

He explained that they would enhance their strategies to achieve their membership targets, intensify quarterly outreach programmes, intensify public education on e-platforms and enhance institutional registrations among others in 2024.

He said illegal fee charges by accredited health service providers was eroding member confidence, poor mobile networks affecting mobile registration and renewal, and poor road networks affecting community visitations and inadequate vehicles, among others, were some challenges affecting the work of the Authority.

Mr Titus Sorey, the
NHIA Northern Belt Director, commended the Upper West Regional office of the Authority for the success chalked and standing tall not only within the Belt but the country at large.

He assured the NHIA Regional Director and his team that the challenges confronting them would be attended to accordingly.

Mr Sorey urged the staff of the authority to increase their public education to empower the members of the scheme to challenge illegal charges at NHIA-accredited facilities.

‘Let’s inform our people, let them know what is covered and what is not covered because we know we cover about 95 per cent of the conditions.

How can you say this condition is covered but the medicine for it is not covered, what are you treating, it doesn’t just add up to me’, he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The second phase construction of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) main campus in Ho is more than 90 per cent complete.

The US$68 million China Phase-Two project would provide what is to be the largest nursing and midwifery school in West Africa, a state-of-the-art administration block, and other facilities including classrooms, libraries, and laboratories.

UHAS is running 22 undergraduate programmes and 14 postgraduate courses and using infrastructure way below the required standard, that elicited President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to cut the sod for the second phase project in September 2021.

The Government also provided counterpart funding of US$6 million for ancillary works.

Justice Mr Jones Mawulorm Dotse, the Chairman of the University Council, while opening the second session of the Eighth UHAS Congregation, announced the near completion of the project, and was hopeful it would be handed over in June 2024 as scheduled.

He expressed gratitude to the Republic of China for the as
sistance, and to the Government of Ghana for the counterpart funding, while appealing for the needed releases to enable utilities such as water and electricity extension to the school.

Professor Lydia Aziato, the Vice Chancellor, drew attention to other physical infrastructure projects that stalled at the various campuses, including the laboratory complex and the buildings for the School of Public Health at Hohoe.

She reminded the Government of the bad nature of the main campus roads, for which construction had been on hold for some time now, and said it continued to challenge access to the University and frustrated students and lecturers.

A total 478 graduated at the second ceremony – the majority being sandwich and postgraduates, bringing to 1,816 that passed out at the Eighth Congregation.

The Vice Chancellor said the University’s 12-year existence had added more than 8,000 professionals to the health workforce, and that management remained committed to growing its essence.

She said the university emb
arks on the practical nature of health training as a prime institution in the West African sub-region, and appealed for support from all quarters in sustaining the mandate.

The Eighth edition of the John Evans Attah Mills Memorial Leadership Lecture series, instituted to ‘immortalise’ the late President, was held the day prior, and had Rev. Mrs Joyce Aryee as speaker.

Professor Mills established the UHAS by an Act of Parliament (Act 828 in December, 2011) and operationalised in September 2012, with 154 students.

It is envisioned to become a pre-eminent research and practically oriented health educational institution dedicated to community service.

The main campus, including the central administration, is in Ho with a second campus located in Hohoe.?

Professor Fred Newton Binka became the foundational Vice Chancellor of UHAS and served in that capacity until July 2016, when he was succeeded by Professor John Gyapong.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Euracare Specialist Hospital, a healthcare facility in Ghana and Nigeria, has extended a $50,000 support in discount to three deserving patients in Ghana to undergo life-changing surgeries.

This generous gesture is part of Euracare’s commitment to making quality healthcare accessible to all, regardless of financial constraints.

A statement issued in Accra by the Hospital said the recipients were carefully selected based on their medical needs and financial circumstances.

Each of these patients were struggling with a debilitating condition that required intervention, but the cost of treatment had been a barrier to accessing the care they deserve.

It said with Euracare’s support, these individuals had the opportunity to undergo the surgeries they desperately needed, without the burden of excessive financial strain.

Dr. Benjamin Sarkodie, the Medical Director of Euracare Ghana, said, ‘At Euracare, we believe that healthcare is a fundamental human right, and we are dedicated to ensuring that no one is denied
the medical care they need due to financial limitations.’

He said recognising the importance of surgery in improving the quality of life for our patients, they were proud to offer these discounts as part of their ongoing efforts to give back to the community.

‘Two of these patients had Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) of the brain while the 3rd patient had carotid carvenous Fistula (CCF),’ he adddd.

He said all procedures were successfully done by the Euracare treatment team in Ghana, led by Prof Sarkodie and the patients had since been discharged.

He said the initiative stood as a testament to Euracare’s steadfast dedication to serving the community, transcending the boundaries of the hospital.

‘Grounded in the belief that prioritising the health and well-being of our community can catalyze significant positive change, Euracare remains committed to playing its part in building a healthier and happier society,’ he added.

He called on other organisations to support those in need and collaboratively contr
ibuting to shaping a future that is not only healthier but also brighter for all.

Source: Ghana News Agency

BasicNeeds-Ghana has asked healthcare service providers to look beyond the physical needs of pregnant women and provide them with psycho-social support to enhance their mental well-being.

Mr Peter Yaro, the Executive Director of BasicNeeds-Ghana, said it was important for maternal and child welfare clinics to also include counselling support services for mothers and children.

He said this was crucial because a project undertaken by his outfit revealed that mental health issues during pregnancy and childbirth were real and needed much attention.?

Mr Yaro made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on women and mental health in Accra.

He said, ‘The package of services for pregnant women and mothers must transcend just antenatal visits, distribution of vitamins to supporting them with psycho-social care and needs that can help them cope especially with postpartum depression.’

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is a medical condition that many women experience after having a baby. It is a strong
feeling of sadness, anxiety (worry) and tiredness that lasts for a long time after giving birth.

People with mental health issues have signs of feeling anxious or worried, feel depressed or unhappy, have emotional outbursts, sleep problems, weight, or appetite changes, become quiet or withdrawn than usual, substance abuse, feel guilty or worthless.

Globally, the prevalence of maternal mental health problems is estimated to range from 18 per cent to 38 per cent.

In low and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Ghana, the prevalence rate is reportedly higher ranging from 15 per cent to 57per cent (Lund et al., 2014).

Studies have shown that the weighted mean prevalence rates is 15.6 per cent during prenatal period and 19.8 per cent for postnatal period.

In Ghana, a post-partum depression prevalence of 8.6 per cent, 3.1 per cent and 41 per cent have been reported among women who delivered at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels.

?

Mr Yaro explained that pregnant women and newly delivered mother
s experienced depressive conditions and the challenges of having new babies, which needed more clinical attention to improve their well-being.

He said women, due to their unique needs, were vulnerable and as such there was the need to pay closer attention to their mental health.

The Executive Director called for social protection schemes targeted at vulnerable women and children, adding that some of the schemes currently available with all the good intentions usually missed out on targeting.

Mr Yaro mentioned that maternal and mental health problems were major public health issues and urged the citizens to visit hospitals when experiencing the signs and symptoms.

Source: Ghana News Agency