Category: Medical

The Cassona Global Imaging, and Mindray, manufacturer, and supplier of medical devices, have trained students of Klintaps College of Health and Allied Sciences in Accra on modern ultrasound machines.

A team of clinical scientists trained the medical imaging sciences students on the operation of new medical imaging equipment to build their capacities towards enhancing healthcare delivery in various health facilities.

The training formed part of measures by Cassona to contribute to building expertise of Ghanaian health professionals on the operationalisation of modern medical imaging equipment to promote access to quality healthcare.

The students were introduced to both the hardware and software components of portable and fixed ultrasound machines and were taught how to use artificial intelligence to facilitate their diagnosis.

Prior to the demonstration, the students, some of whom were in their third year, said they had not been exposed to AI-enabled ultrasound machines and described the exercise as an ‘ey
e opener.’

Dr Hassan M. Abdinur, International Clinical Application Specialist, Mindray, said the exposure of medical students to emerging technologies would equip them to handle modern machines easily on the field.

He encouraged the students to continually research on emerging technologies in their fields of study and ‘play with the new machines’ anytime they got the opportunity.

‘It is important to have the machine around for the students to familiarize with it before they enter the field. ‘I advise the students to play with the machines, practice and see the new AI features so that in future they’ll be more updated,’ Dr Abdinur said.

Mrs Gladys Tetteh, Sales Lead for Cassona in Accra, said the training would be extended to more institutions across the country in keeping with the company’s commitment to support the development of Ghana’s human resource capacity in the health sector.

‘The young generation needs to be well equipped to be able to serve the Ghanaian populace. We want to expose the students
to the new equipment and build them so that they can serve patients better when they enter the field,’ she said.

Professor Philip Narteh Gorleku, Founder Klintaps College of Health, said the high cost of medical imaging equipment hindered the ability of medical training institutions to procure modern machines to offer practical training to their students before they entered the job market.

He said the training was crucial as it enabled his students to get hands-on experience with new machines that aligned with their field of study.

Some of the students who had the opportunity to operate the machines described their experience as timely and appealed to Cassona to institutionalise the training to benefit more students.

Source: Ghana News Agency

About 53 per cent of reports on stigmatisation against tuberculosis (TB) patients were recorded between March 2022 to March 2024, a report by Hope For Future Generation (HFFG) has said.

This was made known at a stakeholder engagement in Accra by HFFG, an NGO with focus on Health, Education and Socio-Economic status of women and children.

The engagement was to access the impact of HFFG’s Tuberculosis Impact project implemented in some parts of the country between 2022 to 2024 as funding for the project ends in March 2024.

The project was undertaken in nine districts, and three regions – the Volta, Greater Accra and Central regions.

The aim of the project is to reduce stigmatisation and human rights abuses associated with tuberculosis with the help of an Online App developed by HFFG.

Madam Emmanuella Kwamee, Programmes Manager, HFFG, who made a presentation, said other human rights abuses such as discrimination agains TB patients were 17 per cent.

She added that TB patients also faced some social protec
tion challenges such as lack of food and water.

Ms Kwamee said HFFG through its volunteers helped in reducing issues of stigma by educating community folks on the essence of showing love to TB patients.

In order not to retrogress on the progress made so far, Madam Cecilia Senoo, Executive Director, HFFG, called on the government to own the TB online App, which had helped thousands of people to access help.

She said many countries were using similar Apps and were getting good results.

Mr Stanley Mangortey, Monitoring and Evaluation, National Tuberculosis control Programme, congratulated the HFFG for implementing the project, saying his Office could not do it alone.

He called for more collaborations from other organisations to change the narrative regarding TB in Ghana.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Julius Abuku, the Medical Superintendent of the Agona Swedru Municipal Government Hospital, has denied knowledge of allegations by some people that the hospital caused the death of a 54-year-old woman.

Dr Abuku said the hospital did no wrong to direct security personnel and nurses to turn away patients who were brought in for admission since fumigation had been done in all rooms of the facility at the time.

In a media interview to debunk the allegation, Dr Abuku said the hospital management gave a week-long public notice for its planned fumigation exercise and all standardised existing protocols were dully observed by extending letters to nearby hospitals in the Municipality about the work.

The Medical Superintendent explained that one Mr Nawarf Awudu on Saturday, March 9, sent his sick mother to the Hospital and allegedly accused the authorities of refusing to admit her because of the fumigation.

The man was said to have rushed his mother to the Swedru Alhmadiyya Hospital afterwards, but she died on a
dmission there, unfortunately.

Dr Abuku said the management had been carrying out fumigation exercises occasionally as in any government hospital per the mission and vision of the facility.

It would be unwise on health grounds to admit patients when rooms were fumigated because it could be hazardous for the patients, he said, adding that even those already on admission were all discharged for their safety.

He said it was unfortunate that the facility where the woman was sent to could not stabilise her even though she was admitted on time.

Dr Abuku entreated the public, especially people living in and around Agona Swedru, to exercise restraint with the Hospital’s management since they were there to save lives and must do all in its power to ensure that mandate was carried throughs.

The Medical Superintendent expressed his sympathy to the bereaved family for the loss of their relative due to circumstances beyond the control of the hospital.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The National Health Insurance Authority has organised a three-day hands-on event for a specialist group of clinical experts for a comprehensive review of the Ghana Diagnostic Related Groupings (G-DRG) payment method of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The clinical experts, according to a statement from the NHIA, were drawn from all specialty areas on the Benefit Package of the Scheme.

They were from the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Upper East Regional Hospital, Police Hospital, Ho Regional Hospital, Bank Hospital, Ghana Infectious Disease Centre, and Society of Private Medical and Dental Practitioners.

The rest were from the Accra Medical Centre, University of Cape Coast Hospital, Accra Psychiatric Hospital, Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana, Medicas Hospital, National Blood Service, Shai-Osudoku District Hospital, Fresh Luk Eye Centre and St. Joseph Hospital.

Dr Isaac Charles Noble Morriso
n, a member of the NHIA Governing Board, who chaired the opening ceremony, called for a collective responsibility to ensure an all-inclusive NHIS.

He said the ongoing meetings were a statutory requirement in line with the NHIA Act 2012, (Act 852) section 34 subsection 1, which mandates the Authority to review the NHIS service list and service tariff in collaboration with healthcare providers.

Dr Ruby Aileen Mensah Annan, the Convener and Acting Director, Strategic Health Purchasing Directorate, NHIA giving an overview of the Scheme’s operations and the development and use of G-DRGs as the payment method for services, said the NHIA remained committed to achieving the objective of providing financial risk protection against the cost of quality healthcare services for its members.

She emphasised the need for the expert team to capture all the needed input for care to ensure the development of accurate reimbursable tariffs.

Dr Francis Asenso-Boadi, Chairman of the NHIA National Copayments Committee, decried t
he recurrent problem of illegal charges (copayments) by some credentialed healthcare providers.

Professor Adukwei Hesse, the NHIS service tariff review consultant, who highlighted the guidelines for the specialty group work, review templates, and reference materials, urged the participants to provide solutions to concerns raised to inform the final decision of policy makers regarding the 2024 NHIS service tariff review.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Glaucoma Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana has urged the public to use only approved methods and medications for treating glaucoma.

It said most traditional medicines paraded as remedies for glaucoma only damaged the eye or worsened the situation.

Speaking at the media launch of the World Glaucoma Week in Accra on Wednesday, Dr Charles Cofie, Chairman, Glaucoma Group of the Ophthalmological Society of Ghana said: ‘There is no traditional method for treating Glaucoma.’

He said eye pressure was a major risk factor for glaucoma and the only clinically proven treatment for glaucoma was to lower the eye pressure with medications and surgery, stating early detection combined with treatment could slow down or stop glaucoma progression.

The World Glaucoma Week (WGW) is a global initiative observed in the second week of March each year to raise awareness on glaucoma.

This year’s WGW is being observed under the theme ‘Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World’.

Glaucoma refers to a group of eye condition
s that damage the optic nerve, often as a result of increased pressure within the eye.

This damage can lead to vision loss and, if left untreated, irreversible blindness.

Glaucoma is often asymptomatic in its early stages, earning it the nickname ‘the silent thief of sight.’

Regular eye exams are crucial for early detection and treatment.

In Ghana, Glaucoma is the number one cause of irreversible blindness and affects over 700, 000 people.

Globally, the number of people aged 40 to 80 years with Glaucoma is estimated to be 7,03 million in 2020 and projected to reach 111.8 million in 2040.

Dr Patric Kuma – Aboagye, Director General, Ghana Health Service (GHS), said the Ghana Health Service was expanding the wellness clinic concept to include awareness creation and screening for glaucoma.

‘By this, we implore both persons living with the disease and those not to go for regular checkups,’ he urged.

Dr Aboagye said the Service had deepened collaboration with eye health stakeholders in the private sector an
d with development partners to fund free eye screening in the medium to long term.

‘In the short term, however, I have directed all regional directors to undertake screening in all our facilities for clients and staff members during this week celebration,’ he said.

He advised persons 20 years and above to have an eye examination every two years till age 30 years after which an eye examination should be performed yearly.

‘For anyone who uses spectacles for distant vision, short-sighted or rapidly changing refraction, and for those with a family history of glaucoma, an eye exam should be conducted by an eye specialist once a year,’ he said.

Dr Harrison Abutiate, President, Glaucoma Patient Association of Ghana, said various research laboratories in the world were studying how to protect retinal ganglion cells that made up the optic nerve from attack and degeneration.

He said a new delivery system was also being studied by testing drug dispensing contact lens that may be easier to use than tablets and drops
.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Glaucoma has caused blindness of over 45,000 people in Ghana, making the country the highest with Glaucoma infections in Africa.

Data from the Ghana Health Service show that Glaucoma accounts for over 19 per cent of all blindness in the country.

Presently, eight of every 100 Ghanaian aged 30 years and above and nine out of every 100 Ghanaian aged 40 years and above have glaucoma.

Dr Hornametor Afake, Head, Eye Care Unit, GHS, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during the commemoration of the 2024 World Glaucoma Week.

He said: ‘Glaucoma is the number one cause of preventable irreversible blindness in Ghana and the world at large unlike cataract, which is reversible.’

Ghana has 0.74 per cent prevalence of blindness which translates to about 230,000 people blind. Out of this, 54.4 per cent are because of cataract.

Glaucoma is a complex group of eye disorders that results in the progressive damage of the optic nerve that connects the eyeball to the brain leading to irreversible blindness left untreated.

The
major risk factors of Glaucoma include elevated intraocular pressure, people of African descent or Black race, family history, increasing age, indiscriminate use of steroids, myopia or short sightedness and long sightedness.

The World Glaucoma Week instituted by the World Glaucoma Associated is slated from March 10th to 16th and themed: ‘Uniting for a Glaucoma-Free World’ and focuses on bringing communities worldwide to fight together against glaucoma blindness.

Global estimates indicate that currently, 78 million people suffer from all kinds of Glaucoma and 7.7 million people have moderate or severe distance vision impairment or blindness from Glaucoma.

It said 111.8 million people are predicted to have Glaucoma by 2040, with 50 per cent or more of Glaucoma is undetected in developed countries whereas 90 per cent of the cases is undetected in developing countries such as Ghana.

He said Ghana was recording more cases of Glaucoma because most people were not aware as the condition at the initial stages was
asymptomatic, which made them present it at an advanced stage.

‘This is why awareness creation is key for people to visit the eye clinic for screening because early detection is the way to save sight,’ he added.

He said so far, the main cause of Glaucoma was not known but research had proven that there were genetic factors.

‘We recommend that anyone 20 years and above have an eye examination every two years till age 30 after which an eye exam should be performed yearly,’ Afake added.

Glaucoma, just like Hypertension, is a chronic disease and the treatment methods available are the use of medication such as eye drops and surgery.

Dr Afake said aside the treatment methods available, healthcare professionals especially at the primary level had been trained to pick up cases of Glaucoma early since most of the cases came from the rural areas.

He advised eye care professionals to always do opportunistic screening by going beyond the normal eye tests to pick cases of Glaucoma early.

Dr Afake called for all us
eful anti Glaucoma medications to be placed under the National Health Insurance because some of the medicines currently available on the market were expensive.

He emphasised the need for early detection, screening and treatment to prevent irreversible loss of sight.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has held refresher training for fifty media practitioners on HIV-related human rights, stigma, and discrimination.

The two-day training held at Peduase in the Eastern Region formed part of activities in commemoration of Zero Discrimination Day, observed annually on March 1st.

The training was organised with funding support from USAID, PEPFAR through SEND Ghana.

Dr Kyeremeh Atuahene, Director General of the GAC, in a speech read on his behalf at the opening said the refresher training sought to ultimately make Ghanaians understand that zero discrimination was about the fact that HIV infection does not make a person less of a human being.

He, thus, emphasized the need for journalists to educate the public to promote equality and fairness for persons living with HIV (PLHIV).

Dr. Atuahene highlighting the pervasive nature of HIV-related stigma and discrimination in Ghana, referenced statistics from the Ghana Statist
ical Service indicating that a significant percentage of the population still holds unacceptable attitudes towards PLHIV.

The Director-General indicated that reports from various studies and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) have shown that individuals affected by HIV continue to face discrimination in various aspects of their lives, including housing, employment, education, and access to health services.

Dr. Atuahene said it was important to remove discriminatory laws and enact empowering legislation, such as the Ghana AIDS Commission Act (Act 938), which guarantees fundamental human rights and freedom for people infected, affected, or at higher risk of HIV.

‘Under the provisions of Act 938, individuals living with HIV have the right to health, privacy, education, work, and freedom from discrimination based on their HIV status. Any form of discrimination against people living with HIV is punishable by law,’ he said.

He said stigma and discrimination not only undermine the
life-saving treatment services provided but also contribute to the premature deaths of PLHIV.

He emphasised that most often it was stigma, not the disease itself, that poses the greatest threat to the well-being of persons living with HIV.

Dr Atuahene while calling for collective action to eliminate discrimination, urged the media, religious institutions, traditional leaders, politicians, educators, employers, and all Ghanaians to join forces in creating a society free from discrimination in all forms.

Dr Zohra Balsara, USAID Ghana Health Office Director, was optimistic that the training would enable accurate reportage and improve understanding of HIV and AIDS among the public.

‘Accurate reporting will prevent misinformation and support community education to reduce stigma and improve patients’ confidence to access HIV services,’ she said.

Dr Fred Nana Poku, the Director of Technical Services, GAC in his presentation took journalists through the HIV basics, the mode of transmission, symptoms, its importa
nce, testing, treatment principles, reducing one’s risk of HIV and where to get more information.

Other topics covered include HIV related stigma and discrimination, how to use the Oraquick HIV Self-test kit, HIV and AIDS terminology guidelines, Epidemiology of the HIV and AIDS response, among others.

Dr Poku urged journalists to use the knowledge acquired on their platforms to educate the public on HIV to eliminate stigma and discrimination for the protection of all.

Ms Rebecca Ekpe, the Public Relations Officer representing the President of GJA expressed appreciation for the continuous partnership with the GAC to enhance capacity of journalists in this national exercise to end stigma and discrimination.

She pledged the GJA’s commitment to the training of journalists and urged them to take these training sessions seriously and share the knowledge as they go along.

Ms Ekpe advised the media to emphasise more on the effects of HIV and AIDS, stigma and discrimination on women, its impact on the community b
ecause they form the majority of the population and globally.

Mr Dominic Hlordzi, the General Secretary, Ghana Journalists Association, educating journalists on how to report HIV issues urged them to be factual when writing or reporting and not to be too sensational as that could lead to stigma.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A total of 142,347 vulnerable people comprising of 76,867 females, 16,987 children, and 65,480 male parents, from three regions in the northern Ghana are to benefit from a five-year project on improving nutrition.

The Project, dubbed: ‘Championing Nutrition and Gender Equality’ (CHANGE), will reach out to about 108 communities in the beneficiary districts, 27 health facilities, including nine health centres and 18 Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS).

The project is being implemented by Children Believe, an international NGO, in partnership with Norsaac, an NGO, among other government agencies with funding support from Global Affairs Canada.

The beneficiary districts include; Tolon, Kumbungu, Nanumba South, Kasena-Nankana West, Builsa South, Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Bole and East Gonja Districts in the Northern, Upper East and Savannah Regions.

Madam Ethel Sakitey, the Chief of Party, CHANGE Project, said it was to help improve nutrition for the poorest and marginalised groups especially, among ch
ildren, adolescent girls, and women.

It would target pregnant, lactating, and marginalised women aged between 15 – 49 years old, to improve women leadership and control over resources for community and individual gender-equitable nutrition practices.

Again, the project would adopt an integrated and coherent approach to empower women with greater control over food security and livestock production, thus championing capacity building, fostering participatory and multi-stakeholder involvement, supporting systematic and sustainable changes, and enhancing the resilience of local communities through asset development and environmental protection.

She called on all stakeholders in the implementation areas to support the project to ensure that the marginalised were empowered for inclusive development.

Dr Belinda Bennet, the Chief International Programmes Officer, Children Believe, Canada, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to supporting women, children, and adolescents by providing them the needed opportuni
ties, while helping them to break barriers to succeed and thrive.

She said the organisation, over the years, had supported more than 5,000 children and about 14,000 vulnerable communities within the four regions in the north had been imparted through various interventions and programmes.

Martine Moreau, the High Commissioner of Canada to Ghana, said the Canadian Government’s support for the CHANGE Project, was a testament of its resolve to safeguarding the rights, and nutritional well-being of marginalised communities for sustainable development.

She said about 865,000 people in the northern part of the country had benefited from water, sanitation, and hygiene projects, which was supported by the Canadian Government, adding that the CHANGE Project would further improve on the livelihoods of the people.

Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, the Northern Regional Minister, described the project as a game-changer, saying nutrition and gender inequalities were closely related to poverty, which also had a direct bearin
g on peace and security.

He said there were issues low birth weight, stunting and wasting amongst children in the north and gave assurance that with support of donor partners, ‘Government remains resolute and committed towards addressing these unacceptable health indicators and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Madam Veronica Quartey, a staff of the Ghana Health Service, commended Children Believe and partners for the project, saying it complemented government’s efforts at improving nutrition and well-being of the people.

Source: Ghana News Agency