More Major Health Stories in 2013

Accra, July 3, GNA – The World Health Organization (WHO) published a new human immuno deficiency Virus (HIV) treatment guidelines recommending that there was the need to offer antiretroviral therapy (ART) earlier than expected.

It said recent evidence indicated that earlier ART would help people with HIV to live longer, healthier lives and substantially reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to others.

Accra, July 6, GNA - Ghana was among five sub-Saharan Africa countries expected to reduce HIV prevalence among young people between the age 15-24 by more than 52 percent between 2001 and 2010, according to the UNAIDS 2011 report.

Abuja (Nigeria), July 15, GNA - Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan challenged African leaders and their peoples to find home-grown solutions to infectious diseases that confront the development of the continent.

Accra, July 22, GNA - Dr Isabella Sagoe-Moses, Child Health Coordinator at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said slow progress had been made regarding new-born health.

Accra, July 31, GNA – Age at first sex in some districts in Ghana was as low as eight (8) years with both girls and boys keeping up to five concurrent sexual partners, a new study by the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) revealed.

The study carried out in four districts – Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem (KEEA) and Agona East in the Central Region and Bongo and Builsa districts in the Upper East Region, was the third in a series under the ARHR's Citizens Health Accountability Project to produce a participatory monitoring report based on beneficiaries’ perspective on progress towards achieving MDGs 4 and 5 (infant and maternal mortality respectively).

Accra, Aug 3, GNA - The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with its partners announced August 7 as World Breastfeeding Day.

Accra, Aug 21, GNA – Dr Nii Akwei Addo, Programme Manager and National AIDs Control Programme (NACP) said the prevalence rate of the HIV virus had reduced to 1.37 per cent as compared to 3.6 per cent in 2000.

Accra, Aug 27, GNA - The Ministry of Health and its Partners commenced a major rehabilitation and upgrading works to transform the Ridge Hospital in Accra into a Regional Hospital.

Cape Coast, Aug. 31, GNA - President Mahama announced that plans were far advanced to upgrade the Central and Volta Regional Hospitals into Teaching Hospitals.

He said whilst the Central Regional Hospital would offer the University of Cape Coast Medical School students the opportunity to perform their practical work, that of the Volta Regional Hospital would also provide practical support to students of the Ho University of Health and Allied Sciences.

Accra, Sept. 2, GNA - The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) organised a five-day Master’s level course on Vaccinology for 30 young African scientists and researchers from 10 countries.

Accra, Sept. 4, GNA - The Greater Accra Regional Health Administration launched measles-rubella vaccination campaign with the object of encouraging parents to avail children of nine months to 14 years old to be vaccinated for free.

Accra, Sep 18, GNA – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a new warning to the international community that the H7N9 and H5N1 avian influenza viruses could re-emerge.

The FAO said bird flu continues to pose serious threats to human and animal health, especially in view of the upcoming flu season.

Accra, Sep 24, GNA — A new report from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) showed dramatic acceleration towards reaching 2015 global targets on HIV.

According to the report, new HIV infections among adults and children were estimated at 2.3 million in 2012, a 33 per cent reduction since 2001.

Accra, Sep 26, GNA - Post market surveillance exercises conducted by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) revealed that Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Limited had imported and distributed fake and unregistered medicines onto the Ghanaian market.

Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) banned the importation and distribution of all medicinal products manufactured by Bliss GVS Pharma Limited, Dombivli (E) 421 201 Dist-Thane, India, into Ghana.

This was necessary as a result of the manufacturer not adhering to the registration requirements as enshrined in the Public Health Act of 2012, Act 851, a process which assured the quality, safety and efficacy of all medicinal products used in Ghana.

Accra, Oct 07, GNA - The Food and Drugs Authority(FDA) asked the public and any institution that has stock of any medicines from Bliss GVS Pharma to return them to the supplier with immediate effect.

This follows the blacklisting of Bliss GVS Pharma Ltd, partner of Tobinco Pharmaceuticals Ltd by the FDA.

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - The Ministry of Health (MOH) proposed the establishment of an Agency to coordinate the administration of all health institutions in the country.

The Agency, to be known as the Health Training Institutions Agency would be responsible for the coordination and administration of the 75 public institution, as well as 35 private health institutions.

Yendi(NR), Oct 24, GNA – The national immunization exercise against polio took off in the Yendi Municipality of the Northern Region.

The three-day exercise targeted about 33,000 children under-five years in 263 communities in the municipality.

Yendi (NR) Nov. 2, GNA - The Ghana Health Service conducted a vaccination exercise against cervical cancer in 13 districts in Northern and Central Regions from November 4- November 8.

Accra, Nov. 14, GNA – The World Health Organization (WHO) 2013 Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap said the world should aim to have vaccines which reduce malaria cases by 75 per cent and capable of eliminating malaria, licensed by 2030.

Accra, Nov. 27, GNA- Evidence for Action (E4A), a non-governmental organisation, aimed to improve maternal and newborn survival in six sub-Saharan countries, launched its Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) Professional Society in Accra.

Accra, Nov. 30, GNA- President John Dramani Mahama said renewal of the mandate of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) would be based on their performance and role in the reduction of child and maternal mortality.

Nuaso (E/R), Dec. 6, GNA - A baseline survey conducted by Socioserve-Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), revealed that many Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds in the Asuogyaman and the Lower Manya Krobo districts operated under very poor conditions.

The survey disclosed that due to the poor conditions, almost all patients, most of whom were pregnant women, shunned the CHPS compounds at their respective areas and travelled longer distances to visit bigger health facilities even on emergencies.

Accra, Dec 13, GNA – The World Health Organization (WHO) 2013 malaria report says global efforts to control and eliminate malaria have saved an estimated 3.3 million lives since 2000.

It said within the period, malaria mortality rates were reduced by 45 per cent globally and by 49 per cent in Africa.

Accra, Dec. 25, GNA – The Japanese Embassy in Ghana signed two grant contracts with the Centre for Pregnancy and Childbirth Education (CePaCE) of the 37th Military Hospital and the Needy Club of Ghana.

CePaCE received $120,726.00 for the provision of medical equipment and Needy Club of Ghana received $121,940.00 for the construction of CHPS Compound for the Aneta Yordanu community in the North Dayi District of the Volta Region.