Ve-Agbome (V/R), Sept 14, GNA- The Hohoe District Directorate of Ghana Health Service (GHS) has decided to register Tuberculosis (TB) patients with the Hohoe Mutual National Health Insurance Scheme to facilitate access and efficient healthcare delivery of patients. Dr. Michael D. Ahedor, Hohoe District Director of GHS, disclosed these in an overview of the TB programme in the district during an outreach sensitization durbar on the disease at Ve-Agbomein the district.
The Ghana Rural Action Support Programme (GRASP), a social and health oriented non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the District Health Management Team, organized the programme with support from the National TB Control Programme. Dr Ahedor said in 2006, only 130 cases were recorded out of expected 271 cases of a population of 171,345, and in 2004, out of a population of 168,150, only 87 cases out of expected 266 cases was registered.
He advised the people to practice personal and environmental hygiene and to support the Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme being undertaken by the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Ahedor commended GRASP for organising the event and appealed to other organizations to work towards the elimination of TB and other diseases.
Mrs. Cecilia Lodonu-Senoo, Executive Director of GRASP, said the Programme aimed at facilitating change through capacity building, education, advocacy, networking and partnership for the realization the potentials and self-worth of people in the rural areas. She said 30 trained volunteers on TB were currently embarking on a house-to-house campaign in the district resulting in the referral of 31 prospective patients to hospital. Mrs. Lodonu-Senoo said the drama group of the Programme had also organised plays to sensitise Churches and Schools on TB.
