By Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Fumbisi (U/E), Oct. 17, GNA – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) in the Builsa South District has intensified disease surveillance and public education following reports of yellow fever outbreak in neighbouring Upper West Region.
Mr Emmanuel Kob-Puo, the District Director of the Service, said the Directorate had activated its surveillance system and sensitized health workers to identify and report suspected yellow fever cases to prevent its spread in the district.
He spoke in an interview with journalists on the sideline of the ‘Accounting to the People’ held on the theme: “Deepening citizen participation and strengthening public accountability.”
Mr Kob-Puo said health facilities were provided with case definitions which outlined the signs and symptoms of yellow fever to guide health workers and enable them to identify suspected cases, and take samples for laboratory investigations.
He said the Directorate further engaged communities and the District Risk Communication Committee, comprising heads of departments and representatives of various agencies, to strengthen public awareness and preparedness.
Mr Kob-Puo stated that the district had not recorded any confirmed case of yellow fever at the time of the interview, and indicated that measures were implemented to ensure prompt response in the event of an outbreak.
He added that the District Assembly, through the District Chief Executive (DCE), who chairs the Public Health Emergency Committee, was expected to convene stakeholders to review the district’s emergency response plans.
On healthcare delivery in the district, the Director identified inadequate health professionals, particularly midwives and nurses, as a major challenge.
He said although the number of doctors had increased from one to three, several health facilities continued to experience staff shortages, especially nurses and midwives.
Mr Kob-Puo added that inadequate staff accommodation also made it difficult to attract and retain health workers in some communities, and that the Free Primary Health Care (FPHC) initiative improved the availability of medical equipment at the district hospital and other health facilities.
He, however, said the rising patient numbers placed additional pressure on staff, medicines and other essential medical supplies.
He announced plans to intensify child immunization and vaccination activities in communities and schools, and said health professionals as part of the plans would visit outreach points to vaccinate children who missed routine immunization and also administer vitamin A supplements to school children.
He urged parents and guardians to ensure that girls aged nine to 14 years received the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protected them against the HPV infections that could cause cervical cancer.
Mr Kob-Puo said the vaccination exercise would be free of charge and encouraged parents to make their children available during exercise.
The District Director called on residents to cooperate with health workers, adhere to public health advice and promptly report suspected symptoms of yellow fever to the nearest health facility.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Godfred Aaneamenga Polkuu
Reporter’s email: [email protected]