Anti-Retroviral centre inaugurated in Sunyani

Sunyani (B/A), Aug. 5, GNA - An anti-retroviral therapy center costing over GHC 73,000 was on Tuesday commissioned at the Brong-Ahafo Regional Hospital in Sunyani with a call on HIV/AIDS patients to access the facility.

The center, located at clinic five of the hospital also manages diabetes, hypertension and tuberculosis patients. Dr. Daniel Asare, Medical Director in charge of the hospital commissioning the facility, noted that, the rate at which HIV/AIDS was spreading in the region was very alarming. The commissioning coincided with the 6th anniversary celebration of the hospital.

He appealed to the public, especially the youth, to control their sexual drive and avoid the stigmatization of HIV/AIDS victims. Dr. Asare explained that the hospital's total outpatient attendance increased from 50,000 in 2004 to 99,260 in 2009 and admissions from 3,754 to 7,312 within the same period. "Deliveries also doubled from 900 in 2004 to 1,760 in 2009 whilst major and minor operations increased by 30 percent without any increase in the number of surgeons," he said. The medical director stated that oromaxifacial, urology, mammography, endoscopy and orthopaedic services had been added on since 2003.

He said by progressive innovations, supplemented with effective collaborative supervision the hospital had outsourced the functions of essential but non-core activities to service providers. Dr. Asare mentioned unreliable supply of electricity, inadequate accommodation for staff as some of the challenges confronting the hospital and appealed to the Volta River Authority to extend a dedicated line to the hospital.

Dr. Aaron Offei, Regional Director of Health Service, said as a referral facility, the hospital had lived up to expectation and provided services to patients from the region who otherwise had to travel to the Okomfo Anokye Hospital in Kumasi. He said the hospital continued to mentor other hospitals in the region to improve on quality of service delivery and cautioned staff and management not to be complacent in the course of their duties. Dr. Offei stressed the need to strengthen relationship with the general public and engage them quite often to raise the hospital advocacy profile.

Black flies invade Birim North District

New Abirem, Aug. 5, GNA - Hordes of blackflies which are known to cause onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, have invaded both the Birim North and Akyemansa Districts of the Eastern Region. Mr. Tei Djangmah, Birim North District Director of Health Services, made this known at New Abirem during the General Meeting of the Birim North District Assembly.

Mr. Djangmah said the recent flooding of rivers Nnwin, Maaman and Pra in these areas was a contributory factor to the multiplication of the files in such large numbers.

He has therefore warned people living in the two areas to wear protective clothing to avoid the bites of the blackfly. The director said free mectizan (ivermectin) tables had been distributed to people in the various communities to prevent them from getting infected through the bite of the flies, and advised residents who had not yet received the drug to go for it. Mr. Djangmah said side-effects including itching, headaches, and swelling of limbs might occur after taking the drug, and stressed that these were just an indication that the drug was working. He therefore urged people not to be alarmed, since those side effects would go away about two or three days after taking the drug.