Day: December 10, 2023

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched the 2023 National Adolescent Health Advocacy Week in Cape Coast with a call on stakeholders to increase investment in the promotion of adolescents’ health as Ghana strived to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.

The Adolescent Health Advocacy Week is set aside to shine the spotlight on issues affecting adolescent health and to collectively find solutions to them.

This year’s celebration is on the theme: ‘Every Adolescent Counts: Accessible Health Care for All’.

Throughout the week, there would be stakeholder engagements with communities, teachers, parents, as well as the media with the aim of identifying and addressing issues affecting adolescent health at both the individual and societal levels.

Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, the Central Regional Minister, in a speech read on her behalf, said stakeholders must channel more resources and energy into addressing the health needs of adolescents holistically to ensure no one was left behind in order to secure th
e future of the country.

She maintained that every young person, irrespective of their background, deserved the right to access comprehensive health care without any impediment, indicating that many adolescents faced numerous challenges in accessing essential healthcare services.

‘Adolescents’ health care goes beyond mere medical care; it is a holistic approach, which includes mental health, sexual and reproductive health and the provision of accurate information that empowers adolescents to make informed choices,’ she said.

The Minister observed a gradual but significant shift towards prioritising adolescent health care, including increased awareness, access and engagement but insisted that more needed to be done.

‘Together, let us make a lasting impact on the lives of adolescents, for they are not just the future; they are an integral part of our present, deserving health, happiness and the opportunity to thrive,’ she said.

Dr Mrs Marion Okoh-Owusu, the Central Regional Director of Health Services, not
ed that the region had achieved significant success in awareness creation and service delivery for adolescent health in schools, communities, and health facilities.

She was, however, quick to add that measures such as providing young people with age-appropriate information and teaching them about the dangers of having sex must be intensified to consolidate the gains.

‘Wherever we are, let us make the time for our adolescents. They need to hear from us.

‘They see us and they want to be like us but most of them are ill-informed because of peer pressure and other myths they hear from the communities and the media,’ she noted.

Dr Mrs Okoh-Owusu said the GHS had prioritised and intensified adolescent health care in schools by ensuring that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card was a requirement for admission.

‘The school clinics are now functional, and the health service has assigned nurses to support in the provision of services for the schools.

‘The schools have also been linked up to some of th
e hospitals so that when faced with severe emergencies, they can refer them to the bigger hospitals,’ she said.

She stressed the need for all stakeholders to get involved in enhancing access to health care for young people in the country as it was not the duty of health professionals alone.

Madam Adjoa Yenyi, the Programmes Specialist, Adolescent and Youth Development at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), observed that even though Ghana was making significant progress in adolescent health care, the country was not likely to achieve UHC by 2030.

She, therefore, reiterated the urgent need to increase investment in that area to meet the health needs of young people and propel Ghana towards the mark.

She noted that because adolescents were part of the general population, they were normally integrated into the mainstream population.

‘But there is a need to make a conscious effort to invest in young people’s health because when we invest in their health now, we will begin to see the benefits in years
to come.

‘When we invest in young people now, all the health issues we are addressing; teenage pregnancy, gender-based violence, Sexually Transmitted Infections, diabetes, and the others, there will be no need for the government to put so much money into curing these ailments,’ she added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some traditional rulers in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region have pledged to clamp down on illegal mining activities, otherwise known as ‘galamsey’ in the area.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Nana Aka Nwoza III, the Chief of Bakanta in the district, expressed concern over the galamsey activities in upstream communities such as Ebi, Asasetre, Nvenlesolo, Bomoakpole, Anwia, Teleku-Bokazo and Nkroful within the district.

He said a sub-committee, set up by Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli, the President of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, comprising chiefs of Asanda, Ambainu and other traditional areas, as well as himself, had gathered first-hand information of the extent of damage that galamsey activities were causing fertile lands and river bodies in the area.

He called on chiefs in the Nzema area to be united and fight against the menace, which was polluting the water bodies, especially River Amanzule, the main source of drinking water in that enclave.

Nana Nwoza said on their second f
act-finding mission on galamsey sites, they would go with the police and drones to track and arrest those involved.

Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III, the Chief of Esiama in the Nzema East District, lauded the efforts of Awulae Kpanyinli for setting up the committee to investigate galamsey activities in his jurisdiction.

He told the GNA that the committee, of which he is a member, would do a good fact-finding job and present its report to the Traditional Council, the District Security Council and the Operation Vanguard team so they could take the necessary action to deal with the canker.

He said: ‘Even if the Minerals Commission has given a license to a mining company to do prospecting in the area, the Chief of that community should be prompted, else, the move will be stopped.’

He appealed to all traditional rulers to support the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council to fight the galamsey menace to protect water bodies from further deterioration.

Source: Ghana News Agency

About 327 people, including 22 pregnant women have tested HIV positive in 2022 in the Asuogyaman district.

From January to September this year, about 305 HIV-positive cases had been recorded out of about 2,556 people who went through the testing at various health facilities.

Miss Rebecca Arthur, a public health nurse, who disclosed this at a forum to commemorate World AIDS Day at Apeguso, expressed worry at the rate of infections, especially among women.

According to her, more women were testing positive because they usually avail themselves of the counselling and testing unlike the men ‘who are reluctant to test their statuses.’

She said over 16,000 new infections were recorded last year nationwide and called for education to create awareness.

Miss Rebecca Dede Bantey, Asuogyaman District Director of Health, noted that stigma remained a challenge since people refused to test due to stigma and discrimination.

She said testing to know their status was critical and called on young people, especially to t
est and know their status to be able to access the treatments and other facilities available to reduce infections.

Miss Bantey advised young people to prioritise their education and refrain from indulging in sexual activities since ‘apart from HIV there are other sexually transmitted infections.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Etornam Flolu, DCE for Afadzato South in the Volta Region, has assured investors of quality labour and workforce.

He said a dedicated workforce added to the many investments’ potential, including in agriculture and tourism, should become a pulling force for entrepreneurs.

The DCE of the District which hosts Ghana’s highest mountain, was speaking at a day’s event that formed part of the 6th Volta Trade and Investment Fair in Ho.

He said quality labour helped promote agriculture, hospitality and various service industries in the district, and that the Assembly would sustain efforts to provide the needed environment for businesses.

‘Afadzato South District, with its endowed rich resources, is poised to do business with the investor community in the areas of agriculture, tourism, service, commerce and industry.

‘The district provides an investment climate with its vast arable land for agricultural produce that feeds into industry. Its tourist attractions draw thousands of tourists from across the globe into
the district, creating investment potential for the hospitality sector,’ Mr Flolu said.

The border district situated on the Eastern Corridor highway has a population of close to 77,000, with 70 per cent electricity coverage.

Close to 49 per cent of its total land area is suitable for agriculture, while forest-savanna vegetation remains favourable for livestock and crops.

The Volta Lake, which is in the South-Western part of the district provides the potential for aquaculture, irrigation farming and hospitality.

The district is blessed with the Nation’s most popular monkey sanctuary, and a snake village that is increasingly becoming a tourist pull, and the DCE called on investors to consider the prospects for hotels, amusement parks, and facility rentals.

‘The Assembly is open and committed to being supportive of the private sector through Public Private Partnership (PPP) and the creation of an enabling environment for the development of its people and the nation at large.

‘Investors are also assured of
a very rich and enthusiastic labour force, ever ready to be employed and work,’ he stated.

The district’s snake village wowed patrons at the fair with a display of various snake species including cobras, pythons and boa constrictors.

Exhibitors from the area had various agricultural and craft products on display.

The 2023 Volta Trade and Investment Fair was organised by the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in collaboration with the Continental Free Trade Secretariat under the theme ‘Leveraging the AfCFTA for Economic Development’.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Association of Certified Registered Anaesthetists (GACRA) says over 30 per cent of have left the country for greener pastures in 2023.

It said apart from the worrying figure, hardworking, skilful and experienced professional CRAs had vacated post, noting that ‘This has brought about undue stress on the few left.’

Mr Nwisangra said this at the fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Scientific Conference of the GACRA in Bolgatanga held on the theme: ‘Sustaining the practice of anaesthesia in Ghana amidst the brain drain; policy direction and regulation.’

Mr. James Nwisangra, President of the GACRA, said the situation might be worse and affect the practice of anaesthesia.

‘I am told many, including some present in the conference have intentions of leaving.’

He identified the lack of career progression, poor conditions of service, wrongful placement on the Single Spine Salary Scale, lack of scheme of service and regulatory challenges as factors which contributed to the exodus of the skilled workfo
rce.

Mr Nwisangra said CRAs in Ghana numbered about 1200 serving over 32 million people.

‘This gives us a ratio of 1:26, 650.43. This is an unfortunate situation which clearly shows the magnitude of work on the CRA.’

On the significance of their job in healthcare delivery, he said their specialty included resuscitation of the sick, injured, critically ill, the newborn and those in intensive care units.

‘This can only be done by the trained anaesthesia provider that is the CRA or the Anesthesiologist and not any other person. All emergency situations in our health institutions are centred on the Anaesthetist,’ he emphasized.

Mr Nwisangra, who was re-elected as the Association’s President for another four-year term at the conference, expressed concern about the poor conditions of service, including the lack of accommodation, and inadequate equipment at the workplaces among others.

He said the GACRA had submitted a comprehensive conditions of service document to the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC
) awaiting negotiations.

He said even though the rules of engagement had been signed by both parties, there was undue delay in the process of negotiations.

‘FWSC, the employer and stakeholders should speed up the process to enable us to have improved conditions of service for the CRA.’

Mr Nwisangra further indicated that the Association had observed an upsurge of diseases, such as cancer, kidney and liver cases in Ghana which used not to be common among the populace.

He said research attributed the diseases to pollution and contamination of river and water bodies due to illegal mining activities and the use of uncontrolled chemicals on farms, abuse of substances and high consumption of alcohol and drugs by the youth.

The Association urged the government to make pragmatic efforts to control illegal mining and the use of toxic chemicals on farmlands to save the lives of citizens.

Dr Samuel Kwabena Boagye-Boateng, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, in a speech read on his behalf,
said the theme of the conference was most appropriate and timely, considering the exodus of health professionals abroad in search for greener pasture.

He said the trend, if not checked, would have dire consequences on the health status of the citizenry.

He appreciated the importance and invaluable roles of anaesthetists in quality healthcare delivery

‘The migration of anaesthetists and other health professionals to other countries in search of better conditions of service should be a cause of worry for all people living in Ghana and if this is not checked or minimized, will affect access to quality health care which will impact negatively on our health status,’ he said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Dela Gadzanku, Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) for Eastern, Volta and Oti, has urged the private sector to get involved in the growth of the tourism, cultural, and creative arts industries in the Volta Region.

He said the Sixth Volta Trade and Investment Fair prioritised tourism, culture, and the creative arts because of the region’s potential in those areas.

He said the private sector held the key for the turn-around of the tourism sector.

Mr Gadzanku, speaking at the Second Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture Forum, which formed part of the Sixth Volta Trade and Investment Fair activities, said globally those industries were driven by the private sector.

The Chairman said the tourism, culture, and creative arts industries were also a part of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) priority areas.

He urged the various stakeholders to join forces to promote those sectors for accelerated socio-economic development in the region.

The forum was on the theme: ‘Leveraging the
AfCFTA to Boost the Tourism, Creative Arts and Cultural Sectors of the Volta Region.’

Mr Daniel Agboka Dzegede, Executive Director of Volta Development Forum (VDF), emphasised the importance of the media in highlighting the region’s many tourism opportunities.

He stated, ‘We need a wide spectrum of media both local and international to constantly and aggressively propagate the good news about Volta region’s tourism potential’ in order to draw more tourists to the area and support its tourism-related businesses.

Mr Dzegede stated that tourism was gold and needed to be pursued with the requisite zeal and dexterity.

He said tourism was essential to the socio-economic growth of the region, so deliberate efforts must be made to improve the tourism destinations, properly package and advertise them, and draw in more visitors.

He called for a concerted effort to build, market, position, and brand the region’s numerous tourism destinations in its various towns and districts.

The Executive Director also stressed
strong public-private partnerships that would ensure that the region’s tourism potential was fully utilised.

He said the VDF had mapped out the entire potential for tourism in the region and was working with the Ghana Tourism Authority on specific measures to turn the industry around for the betterment of the area.

Mr Dzegede said to help them develop their capacity in the areas of tourism investment, rebranding, and hospitality management, they were now working with the Barbados High Commission and a few other organisations from that nation.

Source: Ghana News Agency