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Tag: Ghana Health Service

  • Ghana Health Service starts yellow fever vaccination

    The Northern Regional Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service is set to vaccinate about 1,69000 people against yellow fever in the coming days.

    The immunisation exercise which commenced on Thursday and ends on November 18 will be in 13 districts across the region at designated points and health facilities.

    Addressing the press at a short briefing in Tamale, Deputy Director of Public Health, Dr Hilarius Abiwu said they have targeted at vaccinating about 65% of the total population in these districts between the ages of 10 to 60.

    This he said will translate to about 1,69000 people. He said these 13 districts are the target because they have not benefited in the previous exercise.

    He said yellow fever is a disease that is cause by a virus and transmitted from person to person.

    Dr. Abiwu noted that diseases that are caused by virus have no cure adding that there only intervention that science has made available to stop vary infection is through immunisations.

    Adding that people who are infected with yellow fever are liable to contruct jaundice resulting in yellow eyes.

    He indicated that majority of the people who may get infected by yellow fever may not get severe symptoms but the small number that will develop severe symptoms, about half of them die.

    Dr. Abiwu said most parts of Africa and some parts of South America are currently endemic for yellow fever.

    The Deputy Director advised that those who have been immunized already should not take part again.

    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • GHS to begin Phase B of yellow fever vaccination exercise

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is to begin Phase B of yellow fever Preventive Mass Vaccination Campaign (PMVC) to immunise the public against the disease in two districts of the Volta Region.

    The one-week exercise is slated to start from November 12 to 18, 2020 in Akatsi North and Agotime-Ziope and would be carried out in 85 districts in 14 regions throughout the country.

    Mr Anthony Mawuli Pani, Volta Regional Coordinator, Expanded Programme of Immunisation (EPI) disclosing this at a media briefing in Ho said 42,683 and 36,721 people were expected to be immunised in Akatsi North and Agotime-Ziope, respectively.

    He said the objective of the exercise was to increase the population immunity against the disease and to protect susceptible older age groups in selected high-risk areas.

    He said according to the World Health Organisation the vaccine was for a lifetime and would be administered to persons between 10 and 60 years, disclosing that an estimated number of 200,000 cases of yellow fever and 30,000 deaths annually worldwide had been recorded.

    Mr Pani said 85 percent of people, who suffered from the disease might be asymptomatic, while 15 percent severely affected with fatality up to 50 percent, therefore “vaccination is the main stay.”

    The Coordinator noted that the vaccination was not a specific treatment but rather to manage conditions of the disease for a better recovery.

    Mr Pani said pregnant women would not be dosed during the exercise because the vaccine could lead to a defect in the child.

    Madam Patricia Mawufemor Baku, Regional Health Promotion Officer, called on the public to avail themselves to be vaccinated and offered maximum support to the authorities undertaking the exercise to achieve the desired objective.

    She said all COVID-19 preventive protocols would be strictly observed for the safety of the public and the health staff, urging the public to continue to abide by all the necessary protocols so that “together we can end this pandemic.”

    Source: GNA

  • GHS boss refutes claims Upper West Regional Hospital is not fully functional

    The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye has refuted claims that the Upper West Regional Hospital is not fully functional.

    This is after the Paramount Chief of the Wa Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Pelpuo IV last month said the Wa hospital was not operating to its full capacity due to lack of resources.

    The chief made an appeal for the hospital to be given priority by the government when the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia visited the region as part of his ten-day tour of the five regions of the North.

    But speaking to Citi News, the Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said the hospital was functioning despite the lack of essential equipment.

    “The hospital is fully functional with the exception of the radiological department which is not fully functioning because of the CT scan. It is not easy to come by, but fortunately, we have a team who is going to train some personnel in the next two weeks so they can get the CT scans working again.”

    “Every other department is working. Currently, the hospital has 14 doctors with three specialists,” he added.

    The 160-bed capacity Upper West Regional Hospital was opened to the public on Thursday, January 9, 2020, after several months of delay.

    The US$ 52 million facilities, although commissioned by President Akufo-Addo at an elaborate ceremony in August 2019, had not been operational till January 2020.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Ghana Health Service calls for media support to eradicate malaria

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has called on journalists to support the Service to deliver integrated health package through accurate messages towards malaria eradication in the country.

    “Also, we need your support to set malaria as a national development agenda. This will drive advocacy for political will, increase partnership, availability and accessibility of effective tool for prevention, diagnoses and treatment of malaria in all the vulnerable populations.”

    Dr Anthony Adofo Ofosu, the Deputy Director General, GHS, said this at the launch of “Zero malaria starts with me” campaign in Accra.

    The launch coincided with a sensitisation programme by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMRN), the National Malaria Control Programme and the Speak Up African Organisation.

    The Deputy Director General said “It is the belief of the GHS that with effective engagement…we will be able to eradicate malaria from the country in the near future.”

    Dr Ofosu noted that malaria remained a major public health concern in the country, adding “It is accounting for majority of the OPD cases that we see in our various facilities. However through intensifying and scaling up of malaria control strategies, a lot of success has been achieved over the years.”

    According to him, malaria related deaths across all age groups had reduced drastically by 88 percent “That is from 2, 799 in 2012 to 33 by the end of 2019. Under five malaria case fatality rate had also reduced significantly.

    That is if you take 100 children admitted in the hospital, we have less than one per cent fatality,” he explained.

    The Deputy Director General said testing of malaria suspected cases to confirm the existence of parasites before treatment had increased from 38 percent in 2012 to 93.7 percent in 2019.

    “These reductions have been achieved through strong collaborations between public, private and Civil Society Organisations, the media and particularly the unwavering dedication of our health workers.”

    Dr Ofosu said in spite of the gains, the country continued to record high numbers of malaria cases, and disclosed that over six million malaria cases were confirmed in OPDs of health care facilities last year, and reiterated that malaria continued to be the number one cause of hospital attendance.

    He expressed concerns that about 50 per cent of the population did not sleep under treated mosquito nets though about 20 per cent of the population had access to the nets and said the involvement of the media was critical to intensify the need for the use of the treated mosquito nets.

    Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei, the Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) stressed on the need for Journalists to change the narrative, and extensively concentrate news coverage on malaria dissemination in communities across the country.

    “As media people, we set the agenda. Let us use this opportunity to set the agenda, hold politicians, people in high places, and those who matter accountable, let us change the narrative, and we can do it,” she said.

    She said GJA was committed to complementing the efforts of GHS in its quest to eradicate malaria in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • WASSCE: Schools that didn’t experience any coronavirus spikes can go on recess – GHS

    The Ghana Health Service has said Senior High Schools (SHS) that did not experience any COVID-19 related cases can go on recess.

    This comes after the government granted permission to allow for final year SHS students to undertake their West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) examinations.

    According to the Director-General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye, any school that has not reported a positive case of COVID-19 in the last two weeks prior to their initial vacation date can also go on recess.

    Addressing journalists at a press briefing in Accra on September 3, the Director-General said, “However if there are any schools that have recorded any positive cases of COVID-19, they will be made to undergo some assessment of contacts with them having their exit from school a bit delayed.”

    Dr. Kuma Aboagye expressed delight over the low spike in cases of COVID-19 in most senior high schools amid the resumption for examination.

    He also urged all students to adhere to the safety protocols as they return back home.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Non-adherence to mask wearing worrying – GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has expressed worry over the growing number of persons failing to adhere to the directive of facemask wearing in public.

    According to the service, its studies reveal more than fifty percent of the populace do not wear mask at all, with the remaining percentage also failing to properly wear protective gear.

    Director-General of GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye revealing findings from the survey noted “if you realize, three or four weeks we have been conducting the mask-wearing research. The first one that was conducted we had the intention to use 80, but 44 percent were using the mask appropriately.”

    He went on “and the next survey that was done, this number dropped to fifteen percent and that means that people are dropping their guards. So, if people start dropping their guards of using the masks and about fifty-four percent of the people are not wearing masks, that is a major worry.”

    Source: Starr FM

  • Ghana marks Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa

    As Africans mark the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa (DSRA) today, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, has said science and technology is vital for national development.

    He said the nation, therefore, needed to recommit to the application of science and technology for it socio-economic development.

    June 30 every year is celebrated as the Day of Scientific Renaissance of Africa in accordance with the African Union resolution passed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in July 1987.

    The day is being celebrated across Africa in remembrance of the continent’s great contribution to the rise and development of modern science and technology.

    Scientific renaissance literally means re-awakening of science.

    The local theme for the celebration of the 2020 DSRA is: “Rethinking Food Security and Nutrition in the Midst of COVID-19 Pandemic”.

    In a message to mark the day, Prof Frimpong-Boateng said, it was very instructive that this year’s celebration is focusing on food security and nutrition in “these irregular times”.

    He recounted that Africa is the region with the highest prevalence of undernourishment (POU) despite its vast land resources, explaining that “food security exists, when all the people, at all times have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, which meets their dietary needs”.

    Prof Frimpong-Boateng said Ghana could lose up to 30 per cent of its 2019 production due to the adverse effects of COVID-19.

    This, he said, could aggravate the already challenging effects of climate change and its associated effects, leading to shortfalls in the production of the major food crops and significantly affect food and nutrition security in the country.

    He said Government has, therefore, put in a lot of measures to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on food security and nutrition.

    “It is against this background, that the Ministry of Environment Science Technology and Innovation through its agencies has outlined measures to assess and strengthen existing nutrition emergency responses, risk assessments, and early warning surveillance systems to ensure a coordinated multi-sectoral approach to minimise the shock during and after the pandemic.

    “These measures borders on promoting local food production and consumption, creating food and nutrition database for better emergency preparedness planning, supporting local industries with technical skills and technologies to process diverse nutritious food products and provide evidence-based guidelines for food consumption.”

    Prof Frimpong-Boateng said the Ministry places greater emphasis on food sovereignty, self-reliance, exploring diversification of crop production activities and the scaling up of underutilised crop species that were healthy and culturally accepted.

    Consciously, the belief is that critical measures need to be taken immediately to protect and promote good nutrition to buttress government efforts in the health sector, he said.

    That was why the sector Ministry has over the years, been supporting the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in playing a leading role in adding value to food crops to produce instant fufu powders like plantain fufu, yam fufu and cocoyam fufu.

    There was also the High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) for kokonte, agblema, fortified gari, bakery and pastry products; Industrial Cassava Flour for the paper and textile industries and maize, rice, soyabeans, and groundnuts for weaning foods among others.

    He also mentioned other innovations like the technologies on pre-cooked yam chips and chunks as convenience foods, fruit cocktail drinks and juices of pineapple, orange, mango, pawpaw, lemongrass, hibiscus calyx, noni, cashew, tiger nuts and others that had been developed by CSIR.

    “Again, rice parboiling technology has been developed and transferred to women and the youth in rice-growing areas in northern Ghana. The Chokor, Urismo and Ahotor ovens for fish smoking are among the several technologies developed for processing fish in Ghana by the Institute.”

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus: 186 new cases send current case count to 7,303; recoveries 2,412

    Ghana has 186 new COVID-19 cases to put the current confirmed case count to 7,303, the Ghana Health Service has announced.

    On the official website of Ghana Health Service, 2,412 persons who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier have also recovered.

    This implies that as of the last update, 95 more persons have recovered from the novel Coronavirus.

    Death toll still stands at 34.

    The current total active cases stand at 4,857.

    The Ghanaian Health officials have so far conducted 205,890 COVID-19 tests.

    Per the regional update, the Ghana Health Service website also announced on May 27, 2020, that, the Greater region has recorded 140 of the new cases, followed by the Central region with 23 new cases.

    The Ashanti region recorded 14 new cases, with the Eastern Region recording 9 new cases.

    The Greater Accra region still leads the regional confirmed case count chart with 5,148 cases. The Ashanti and Central regions follow with 1,099 and 334 cases respectively.

    Ahafo and Bono East regions are yet to record a case since Ghana recorded its first two cases of the virus.

    Find below the regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region 5,148

    Ashanti Region 1,099

    Central Region 360

    Western Region 344

    Eastern Region 117

    Western North Region 62

    Volta Region 59

    Northern Region 36

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 22

    North East Region 2

    Savannah Region 1

    Bono Region 1

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records 125 more recoveries

    At least 125 more persons have recovered from the novel Coronavirus in Ghana, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has reported.

    This marks the total number of recoveries stand at 1,898 as of Wednesday, May 20, 2020.

    The death toll, however, is still 31.

    According to the Ghana Health Service, 173 new cases of the virus have been confirmed, which makes the total number of confirmed cases stand at 6,269.

    The total active Coronavirus cases is now at 4,340.

    Eight persons are still in critical condition with the number of tests administered in the region of 187,000.

    The top four regions [Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Central] have seen an increase in the number of confirmed cases.

    The Greater Accra region still leads with 4,582 confirmed cases, followed by the Ashanti region with 921 cases.

    The cases in the Western and Central regions have now increased to 170 and 285 respectively.

    So far, the Savannah, Ahafo and Bono East regions have not recorded any case of the virus.

    Find below the regional breakdown

    Greater Accra Region 4,582

    Ashanti Region 921

    Central Region 285

    Western Region 170

    Eastern Region 106

    Western North Region 57

    Volta Region 41

    Northern Region 31

    Oti Region 26

    Upper East Region 26

    Upper West Region 21

    North East Region 2

    Bono Region 1

    Savannah Region 0

    Ahafo Region 0

    Bono East Region 0

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Foreign Affairs ministry donates coronavirus medical supplies to Ghana Health Service

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on Friday, May15 donated some medical supplies and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to aid health workers in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The items which were presented by the Deputy Minister Charles Owiredu, was facilitated by Ghana’s Mission in China with support from both the private and public sector in China.

    Charles Owiredu lauded the Ghanaian Embassy in China for taking up such an initiative to help the country to combat the Coronavirus which has halted the globe.

    “May I at this point, and on behalf of the honourable Foreign Minister, commend our Embassy in China for this laudable initiative and for facilitating the speedy arrival of these much needed medical supplies, which will no doubt go a long way to augment the efforts of governments to fight this pandemic.”

    “The Ministry, and that matter, the Government of Ghana, is sincerely grateful to all the Chinese companies that contributed to this donation. We are particularly grateful to Tianyun Manganese, the parent company of Ghana Manganese Company (GMC) for generously donating more than half of these medical supplies on display here today,” he stated in his address.

    The Minister also urged Ghanaians to continue to observe all the safety protocols put forward by the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health.

    “Though the government continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment in the fight against the pandemic, we all have a collective responsibility to ensure full control or total eradication of the virus. It is thus, vital that we continue to adhere strongly to the protocols of enhanced hygiene, social distancing, wearing face masks, among others, that have been put in place by the health professionals for our own safety.” Charles Owiredu concluded.

    The donated items include ventilators, KN95 and surgical nose masks, goggles, surgical gloves, isolation gowns, medical shoe covers, gun thermometers disinfectants, and wipes.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Do not use homemade face masks with strings Health Minister

    The Health Minister has advised against the use of homemade face masks with strings and tied behind the neck or head.

    In a statement copied to JoyNews, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu recommended the use of face masks made from JAVA or Wax cloths sown triple-layered and with side loops to be worn as hooks to the ear.

    “Calico inlade with fabric stiffeners and inner covered with side loops to be worn as hooks to the ear.”

    But “homemade masks with strings to be tied behind the neck or head are not encouraged.”

    The Health Minister added that adult masks must not be worn by children, “child appropriate length masks must be worn by children.”

    President Akufo-Addo has announced compulsory wearing of face masks from April 20, 2020, as the government intensifies the fight against deadly novel coronavirus.

    The President in his seventh address to the nation encouraged the wearing of face masks to prevent the spread of the virus.

     

    Source: myjoyonline 

  • Coronavirus: There are no ‘false positive’ cases – Ghana Health Service

    Ghana has recorded 1042 positive cases of COVID-19 and 99 recovery cases. More than 60,000 people whose samples were collected through contact tracing and other enhanced testing approaches have tested negative for the virus.

    However, rumormongers have cast doubts over the number of positive cases, saying the samples of some of the people who have tested positive might not be the actual case. The claim is that there might be “false positve” cases.

    Addressing the issue, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye debunked the claims that there may be persons mistakenly testing positive for Coronavirus in the country.

    Although admitting the possibility of “false” positive cases when conducting a test, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye explained that the Health Service uses the global Polymerise Chain Reaction (PCR) test to check for the presence of the virus in the samples.

    The PCR test is a method used to detect viral genetic material called RNA or antigen to tell whether or not someone has the virus. This testing technique is used globally to check the presence of COVID-19.

    The GHS Director General wants Ghanaians to know that the research centers in charge of testing samples for the virus are using this standard method and there is no way any result could be faulty.

    “It detects the virus to locate where the virus is. What they are doing is very specific for COVID-19. So, if you use some rapid test to check your antibody meaning your body producing something when you become exposed, that is what can give you false positive. But for what we’re doing, I can assure that, short of maybe a missing report; I won’t say false positive is a problem’,’ he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ program.

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • 40 new COVID-19 patients part of travellers under mandatory quarantine

    The number of confirmed cases among travellers under mandatory quarantine and were tested for COVID-19 currently stands at 78.

    As of 24th March 2020, persons put under mandatory quarantine were 1,030.

    “In respect of contact tracing, a total of 970 contacts have been identified and are being tracked. Out of these, two hundred and four (204) have completed the 14 days mandatory follow up,” the health service noted on its COVID-19 dedicated page.

    “The great majority of the confirmed cases are Ghanaians, who returned home from affected countries. Seven (7) are of other nationals namely: Norway, Lebanon, China, Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (UK). The number of confirmed cases among travellers under mandatory quarantine who have been tested is seventy-eight (78),” it added.

    A total of fifty-four cases including three have been confirmed from the regular surveillance systems of the state with three deaths.

    GHS explained that “All the three (3) cases that unfortunately succumbed to the disease were aged and had underlying chronic medical conditions”.

    The service said the remaining 51 cases are doing well.

    “Fourteen (14) are being managed at home and the rest are responding well to treatment on admission in isolation. They are awaiting their test results and will be discharged when the results are negative,” it said.

    SOURCE: citinewsroom.com

  • GHS takes delivery of more PPEs for health professionals

    The Ghana Health Service, GHS has taken delivery of the second consignment of Personal Protective Equipment, PPE. The PPEs will help protect health professionals who are in contact with infected Covid-19 victims.

    Director-General for the Ghana Health Service Dr Patrick Aboagye said they have taken delivery of the second consignment of PPEs.

    He said the third consignment is also expected in the country soon and will be distributed.

    Dr Patrick Aboagye also advised the health professional to use the PPEs judiciously.

    “We’ve brought in the second consignment of PPEs, we are expecting the third consignment and as it comes it will be distributed. As we continue to expand our training and rapid response teams, there are systems and resources available plan to ensure that as and when we need PPEs we will use them. We will ask that people not to also waste PPEs, that is extremely important because it globally not readily available..”

    Nurses and Midwives have been advised by their mother association, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to leave isolation units if they are not supplied personal protective equipment by the government.

    The Association also urged the health workers to be on alert in the conduct of their daily routines in light of the outbreak of the 2019 Coronavirus.

    The Association in a release on Friday, March 13, 2020, said health officials must ensure that protective gears are made available to the nurses and midwives who will be on the frontline working in isolation units in the four designated treatment centres for Coronavirus in Ghana.

    “Nursing and Midwifery managers must ensure that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are available for use by all nurses and midwives working in the isolation Units in the four designated treatment centres.”

    “In the event of unavailability of these logistics at the isolation centres, we strongly advise our nurses and midwives to protect their lives by removing themselves from that environment,” the statement said.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Upsurge of flu in 3 SHSs under control GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it has brought under control the upsurge of flu cases in three senior high schools namely, Akuse Methodist Secondary School, Krobo Girls Secondary School and Legacy School (Private)) in Lower-Manya-Krobo district all in the Eastern Region.

    The GHS said its officers and experts from the national and regional levels were dispatched to the schools to provide response action and the affected students are responding to treatment.

    Outbreak of Flu in 3 SHSs under control Ghana Health Service

    According to the GHS, laboratory test conducted on the affected students confirmed seasonal flu Type-A H3N2 which responds well to current treatment regimen for flu management.

    The GHS in a statement said the affected students were given the needed medication and told to stick to common hygienic practices such as: Washing of hands with soap under running water and observe common cough etiquette such as covering the mouth with a handkerchief before a cough or sneeze to prevent further spread”

    “All the affected students have responded well to treatment and are doing very well as at today, Sunday 3rd November, 2019 and normalcy has been restored to the school, students are going about their daily routines,” the statement added.

    Adolescents drink weedicides to abort pregnancies Ghana Health Service

    The GHS reiterated that the situation is under control and encouraged parents not to panic, but rather advise their wards to cooperate with the health and school authorities, practice and enhance personal hygiene and cough etiquette as suggested by the health teams.

    The GHS said it will continue to monitor the situation very closely and do its best to contain it and provide updates to the general public as appropriate.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Outbreak of Flu in 3 SHSs under control Ghana Health Service

    An unusual outbreak that affected three senior high schools in the Lower Manya-Krobo District of the Eastern Region, has been brought under control, according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

    The secondary schools affected were Akuse Methodist Senior High School, Krobo Girls Senior High School, and the Legacy Girls Senior School.

    Student activities have now returned to normalcy, a GHS statement indicated Sunday.

    Adolescents drink weedicides to abort pregnancies Ghana Health Service

    The outbreak occurred on October 31, 2019.

    Health experts from the national and regional departments of the GHS were dispatched to support the affected schools to assess the situation and to collaborate with school authorities to bring the health crisis under control.

    Flu samples were taken from affected students for laboratory testing confirmed the seasonal flu Type-A H3N2.

    According to the statement, affected students are responding well to treatment.

    Ghana Health Service to embark on yellow fever vaccinations

    The GHS encourages parents not to panic but rather advise their wards to cooperate with the health and school authorities, practice and enhance personal hygiene and cough etiquette.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com