GHS to intensify malaria control

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it will intensify its malaria control efforts in the Upper West and Northern regions, which are the two most endemic regions in the country.

Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira, GHS Director-General said larvacide-spraying, free distribution of insecticide treated mosquito nets, in addition to providing artesunate-amodiaquine combination for the treatment would be intensified to help bring down the prevalence of malaria in the two most endemic regions.

He said, nationwide, the under five years mortality rate of malaria deaths was now 0.6 per cent, which was an improvement upon the previous year’s record due to early reporting to hospitals and the effective use of artesunate-amodiaquine combination for the treatment of childhood malaria.

Dr Appiah-Denkyira, who made the disclosure on Monday in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra said maternal mortality and child mortality had reduced, but more efforts was required to reduce it further.

He said malaria fatalities were no longer in the communities but rather in hospitals and this could sometimes be attributed to the lack of blood in the blood banks, and urged healthy people to donate blood to help save lives.

Dr Appiah-Denkyira explained that whenever a woman gave birth, she lost about 300ml of blood, and if she was not healthy enough, there should be a replacement.

He urged pregnant mothers to report early to hospitals and clinics for deliveries to avoid complications.

The Director-General lauded some mobile telecommunications companies in the country for their support in the fight against maternal and child mortality.

He said Airtel for instance gave the GHS of 1,500 mobile phones which were being used by their field officers in healthcare delivery; while Vodafone had linked up all medical doctors in the country to enable them contact each other for information, especially from the specialists.

He said due to mobile phone discussions, 35 per cent of referral cases in the Amansie West in the Ashanti Region in 2013 were not referred, as the patients were treated there.

The Director-General appealed to co-operate entities and individuals to support government’s effort in bringing healthcare delivery to the people.

He said in order to ensure efficient healthcare delivery; the GHS had appointed clinic supervisors in all districts and municipal hospitals to supervise the activities of the various clinics.

Dr Appiah-Denkyira revealed that this year about 500 new medical doctors would be recruited into the service.

He urged government in addition to building new clinics, to expand the existing ones and build theatres as well.