Programme to curb TB in seven communities in Ho Municipal Area.

Ho, April. 2, GNA- A programme to curb the spread of tuberculosis has been carried out within seven communities in the Ho Municipal Area ahead of the World TB Day. The communities are New Sabon, Taviefe-Deme, Akoepe-Tokor, Akoepe-Avenui, Ho-Ahoe, Matse and Ziavi. The project under the aegis of Future Generations International (FUGI), a local Health Advocacy NGO, sought to sensitize the people on the modes of infection, identifying patients and facilitating their early treatment. Mrs Joan Awunyo-Akaba, Executive Director of FUGI, quoting Ho Municipal Hospital data said 96 TB patients had been registered so far within 34 communities in the Municipality. She said the FUGI approach involved selecting chiefs, elders, community leaders Assembly Members and some members of households for training by Health Professionals. Mrs Awunyo-Akaba said these Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) were given the "necessary logistics and motivation" to comb their areas, educating people, as well as spotting suspected cases for screening. Mrs Awunyo-Akaba said the project provided the crucial linkage between the communities, the Ghana Health Service and Health Facilities within the project area.