Ghana scores zero death rate of measles

Accra, Feb 16, GNA- No child in Ghana has died of measles in the last three years, Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Hajia Alima Mahama said in Parliament on Friday.
Hajia Mahama said this was due to Government's pragmatic efforts and improved childhood care to reduce infant and maternal mortality. Hajia Mahama, who is also the MP, NPP-Nalerigu Gambaga made the observation in a contribution to a motion to thank the President, Mr John Agyekum Kufuor for the "State of the Nation Address" delivered on February 8, 2007.
She attributed the feat to improved immunization, hygiene and public education. She added later in an interview with the GNA that the target was to reach a zero, eradication rate of measles in the country. The Minister said similar efforts were also being made to eradicate polio and called for improved use of treated nets to also reduce malaria among children.
Nana Abu Bonsra, NPP- Fomena, the newest Member of Parliament, expressed his appreciation to President Kufuor for acknowledging him in his address, and the confidence of his constituents for giving him their mandate that had brought him that far to Parliament.
He however appealed to Government to improve telecommunication network service since it was difficult reaching parts of the Constituency with mobile telephone.
Nana Bonsra also appealed for the provision of a bus for the Obuasi Secondary School with a bus to enhance transportation.
According to the Fomena MP, secondary schools in the area had been performing poorly for the past five years, adding that none of the Senior Secondary Schools in the Adansi State was included in the 31 schools that were to be upgraded nation-wide.
He also appealed for assistance to improve facilities in the Fomena Community Health Nurses Training School to increase its intake for both community health nursing and other health professions. Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Co-operation and NEPAD, called on colleague MPs to educate their constituents on the redenomination of the cedi which comes off next July, so that unscrupulous people would not take advantage and misinform the public.
Ms Botchwey, who is also MP-NPP Weija, said the amount of paper used in correspondence with MPs was bulky, and suggested that MPs should be given laptop computers to reduce the volume of paper they had to carry. She argued that providing laptops would attract an initial cost, but would bring benefits in the long run.
Mr John Akparibo Ndebugri, PNC-Zebilla, who moved the motion thanked Members of the House for their contributions, which he said, had been "vigorous, exciting and useful. He also expressed the appreciation of the House to the press for its coverage.