The Ghana Coalition of Health NGOs has advised the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to intensify awareness of the Pneumococcal Meningitis outbreak in localised messages.
The Coalition believes this would facilitate public education about the disease in the communities where the disease has struck.
President of Health NGOs, Gilbert Benarko, says although the Ghana Health Service has been proactive since the disease struck in the Brong Ahafo Region three weeks ago more work needs to be done to contain it.
Dr Benarko says the Coalition’s assessment of the situation in communities that have recorded the disease shows there has not been adequate education about the disease.
“We need to have local content messages to communicate effectively in the communities so that we can generate demand for people to visit the health facilities in the case of any suspected case,” Dr Bernako said.
He spoke via phone on PM Express on the Joy News Channel (Multi TV), Tuesday.
Eight people died three weeks ago in the Brong Ahafo Region following the outbreak of the disease.
Since then two other regions – the Northern and Ashanti regions – have recorded deaths related to the disease. The disease has so far claimed claimed 33 lives in the three regions.
The Ghana Health Service maintains the situation is under control, allaying public fears of a possible epidemic. However, the Ghana Coalition of Health NGOs believe it is not enough for the Ghana Health Service to give assurances.
Dr Bernako says members of the Coalition who have been combing affected areas in the three regions identified a weak interaction between disease control unit of the Ghana Health Service and other health allies.
He notes that a stronger interaction would ensure intensified surveillance system.
“We need to get WHO technical and financial support because it is done elsewhere and WHO has experience,” he told show host, Nana Ansah Kwao IV.
He also suggests that chiefs and media houses especially at affected regions and across the country must be involved in efforts to control the diseases
Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe
Head of Surveillance of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, who was the guest on PM Express Tuesday, said the recommendations by the Coalition of Health NGOs were laudable.
He was however quick to point out that the health service and the WHO were already in close interaction.
He revealed that the current dry season has facilitated the spread of the disease, adding not all 33 deaths reported are the result of Pneumococcal Meningitis.
Source-myjoyonline.com
