Tamale, GNA- The Northern Regional Directorate of Health
Services (RDHS) has trained over 3,756 Community Based Agents
and 64 Service providers under its programmes of Home
Management of Malaria and the Integrated Management of Childhood
Illness. Dr. Akwasi Twumasi, Regional Director of Health Services
announced this during this year's "World Malaria Day" in Tamale. The occasion which had as its theme: "Counting out malaria
through community action" was organized by the Christian Children's
Fund of Canada (CCFC) in collaboration with the Ghana Health
Service (GHS) and its local partners. Dr. Twumasi said malaria accounted for 38.6 percent of Out
patient Attendance (OPD) and 18 percent of reported deaths in health
institutions in the region. He said, for instance in 2007, the region recorded 332,959 cases
at the OPD and 20, 393 cases of admission with 532 recorded deaths
as a result of malaria. The Regional Director said over 20 million people in the country
were exposed to malaria infection, adding that, it was the biggest killer
and largest contributor to the disease burden in Ghana. He said in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
Ghana was implementing a malaria control strategy that involved multi
and inter-sectoral partnership working on an agreed plan to reduce
death and illness due to malaria. On the Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) for pregnant
women he said, in 2007 only 39 percent of women in the region were
covered with the required doses and attributed the low turn out to the
late and irregular attendance of most pregnant women for antenatal
services. He entreated pregnant women to patronize antenatal services as
soon as they got pregnant and also endeavour to attend the clinics at
least four times before delivery. Dr. Twumasi said the GHS in collaboration with UNICEF and the
WHO had been distributing Insecticide Treated Mosquito Nets (ITN)
to pregnant women but however regretted that instead of using the
nets for protection women in the rural areas were rather keeping them
to display during their child naming ceremonies. Madam Sanatu Nantogma, Country Director of the CCFC
commended government for embarking on an intensive sanitation
exercise but urged government to also promote behaviour change
initiatives to bring about sustainable solutions to the menace of
malaria.
