By Dennis Peprah
Sunyani, Dec. 29, GNA – Malaria continues to remain the highest Out-Patients Department cases in the Bono Region, with the region recording 353,480 uncomplicated cases in 2023, an increase of 11.08 per cent in the previous year, Dr Kofi Amo-Kodieh, the Bono Region Director of Health has said.
In 2022, the region recorded 381,107 cases of uncomplicated malaria, he stated, when interacting with the media and other stakeholders on the region’s state of health at a meeting in Sunyani.
Dr Amo-Kodieh said recorded cases of upper respiration tract infections also declined from 240,635 to 189,97, a marginal decrease of 5.95 per cent within the same period, indicating that rheumatism, other joint pains, and arthritis further decreased from 115,314 in 2022 to 89,66, a decrease of 2.81 per cent.
Cases of diarrhoea also decreased from 85,225 to 70,026, recording 2.19 per cent, while that of acute urinary tract infections also declined from 67,459 to 56,594, a decrease of 1.77 per cent cases within the same period, he added.
The 2022 recorded 62,602 cases of skin diseases also saw a marginal decline, reducing to 46,518 cases in 2023, while intestine worms also decreased from 59,738 cases to 48,993 within the same period.
Cases of anaemia also declined from 56,061 to 37,933, while that of typhoid fever saw a sharp decrease from 50,329 cases to 18,962 with acute eye infections declining from 36,080 cases to 24,610 cases.
Dr Amo-Kodieh commended health workers and stakeholders in the region for their hard work, saying through their efforts and partnership the directorate was able to achieve some successes in quality healthcare provision.
Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister stressed more was required from health workers and the public to reduce malaria infections and other communicable diseases in the ensuing year, and therefore advised everybody to endeavour to observe personal hygiene and keep surroundings clean.
She also entreated parents to ensure that their children slept under mosquito-treated nets and advised pregnant women to attend antenatal and post-natal clinics regularly.
The Regional Minister also called on corporate bodies in the region to support the Regional Coordinating Council and the health directorate in ensuring that challenges confronting the health sector were tackled proactively to facilitate quality healthcare provision in the region.
GNA