PRESIDENT RAWLINGS IN TAMALE

President Jerry John Rawlings has called on District Assemblies to enforce their bye laws on sanitation to help check sanitary problems in their communities. He was commenting on the outbreak of malaria in some communities in the Northern Region, when he visited the Tamale Central Hospital on Monday 20 October. 60% of cases reported at the hospital daily, are malaria- related. The Medical Superintendent in charge of the Tamale Central Hospital, Mr.. Nsiah Asare, who disclosed this to the President said the most vulnerable are children. This is because the children's ward which has only 51 beds admits about 100 children every other day, thus creating problems of overcrowding. Dr., Nsiah Asare said the Ministry of Health has embarked on a comprehensive Community Health Education Programme to sensitize the people on the causes of malaria and mosquito related diseases and how to prevent them. Dr.. Nsiah Asare further revealed that the Regional Health Directorate is embarking on a programme to counter any major outbreak of cerebro-spinal meningitis (CSM) this year. He said mass immunisation against CSM will start next week and cards will be issued out to those immunised to prevent duplication. The Northern Regional Minister, Mr.. Gilbert Iddi commended the health workers for handling the CSM outbreak last year and urged them to show the same zeal to nib the problem in the bud. End