Cases of snake bites on the increase in Northern Region

Tamale, Feb. 21, GNA - There has been a rise in the number of snake bites in the Northern Region with the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) recording 43 and 97 cases in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Dr. Ken Sagoe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TTH, attributed to farming activities and picking of sheanuts by women without protective clothing.

He said this at the 2010 Annual Performance Review of the hospital in Tamale on Monday.

Dr Sagoe said the situation had improved considerably with the availability of anti-snake serum but noted that the Medical Ward for snake bite victims was hard pressed for space with some of the patients sleeping on the floor.

He said the Mental and Psychiatry Unit of the hospital also admitted 27 patients.

Dr Sagoe said the hospital would soon receive its first psychiatrist and expressed the hope that this would enable it expand its mental health services within and outside the hospital. Dr. Sagoe said in 2008 the hospital recorded 54 maternal deaths but thi= s was reduced to 33 in 2009 and expressed the hope that the number would continue to reduce to enable the hospital contribute significantly to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 for the country. He said the Child Health Unit of the hospital suffered a down turn wit= h the loss of the only paediatrician in early 2010 adding that management was making efforts to plug the gap and was expecting to recruit two paediatricians in this year.

Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, the Northern Regional Minister, commended th= e staff of the hospital, especially doctors, for their sacrifice in accepting postings to serve in the region despite the numerous challenges they face. He advised the hospital authorities to build a fence around the hospital premises to prevent people from encroaching on its property.