Enchi (WNR), Feb. 17, GNA – Death rate at the Aowin Municipality of the Western North Region dropped from 2.2 per cent in 2020 to 1.1 per cent in 2021, Dr Emmanuel Coomson, the Medical Superintendent at the Enchi Government Hospital, has disclosed.
At the 2021 Annual Performance Review of the Municipal Health Directorate, Dr Coomson attributed the gains made to regular training of staff, rendering physiotherapy services, increased assisted vaginal delivery, and declined abortions.
However, he said more of the aged died of stroke and diabetes with malaria recording 25.96 per cent of all Out-Patients Department (OPD) cases.
Among the top four OPD cases recorded in the year under review were joint pains, upper respiratory tract infections, and diarrhoea.
Dr Coomson attributed the increase in upper respiratory tract infections to the dusty nature of the roads and urged the residents to adhere to the wearing of masks to control the situation and pleaded with the authorities to work on improving the road network.
He said stomach ulcers were among the top ten prevalent cases due to the usage of unprescribed medications, especially pain killers, and called on the public to desist from such practices to prevent dire consequences.
Epilepsy was also high among the populace, he said, and advocated more mental health nurses to be posted to the area.
He expressed concern over the unpaid National Health Insurance claims, which continued to affect their operations, especially receiving medicines and logistics from suppliers.
Other staff of the facility lamented the increase in teenage pregnancy in the Municipality and called for measures to curb it.
GNA