Day: May 6, 2024

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Western Region GHS calls on peri-urban communities to patronise immunization programmes


The Acting Western Regional Deputy Director of Health Services, Mr Nicholas Asare Adomako, has entreated families, particularly those in the peri-urban settings, to support various immunization efforts by the service to give maximum protection to children under five.

He said while immunization exercises had gained much acceptance in rural communities, peri-urban areas had become a bit of a challenge.

‘Now we are having pockets of outbreak because families are not strictly adhering to immunization procedures’, Mr. Asare Adomako, also the Public Health and Coordinator for the Expanded Programme on Immunization, told Journalists on the GHS Risks Communication at a briefing of various interventions being undertaken so far.

Touching on the Africa Vaccination Week, Mr. Asare Adomako said the theme for this year’s celebration was ‘Healthy Childhood, Invest in Your Child for Healthy Future.’ 

He called on parents to readily avail their children under five to be vaccinated to protect them against diseases.

The Se
rvice would undertake routine immunization for children under five and continue with vaccination on COVID-19, the Africa Vaccination Week exercise as well as Child Health Promotion activities.

Mr. Asare Adomako called on Ghanaians to continue to observe the necessary COVID-19 safety protocols as the country had recorded 31 new cases with one case in the Western Region. 

According to him, the tenth round of COVID -19 campaign and vaccination had started.

Mr. Asare Adomako noted that, persons who were fully vaccinated in the region were 705,763 which represented 50.7% while, those who had received just one dose were 935,812 accounting for 67.2% and persons who had received the booster were 295,813 representing 41.9%. 

He added that people who had not received any of the jabs were 690,633, representing 42.5%. 

He said the GHS was targeting about 33,504 people for this round of vaccination in the region.

 Mr. Asare Adomako charged individuals to take advantage of the mass vaccination exercise to get their j
abs to stay protected, adding that by doing so the region could attain its herd immunity of 80 percent. 

He also advised Ghanaians to report any medical situation they noticed to the health facility after taking the vaccine.      

Source: Ghana News Agency

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There is a critical global shortage of midwives around the world – UNFPA


The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA), Ghana says there is a critical global shortage of around a million midwives.

A statement issued by Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director at the UNFPA to commemorate the International Day of the Midwife, said without significantly expanding midwifery, more women will die in childbirth. ‘Millions of stories will have no heroes and instead end in tragedy.’

International Day of the Midwife is celebrated on the 5th of May annually to raise awareness about the midwifery profession.

The statement said midwives could provide up to 90 percent of essential services for sexual and reproductive health and bring their expertise and counsel to women wherever they were.

However, their working conditions could be arduous, discouraging many from joining the profession.

Overt gender discrimination against this largely female workforce had also resulted in low wage rates, limited opportunities for advancement, and reports of sexual harassment on the job, the statement said.

The
statement said the UNFPA had been investing in midwifery education, regulation, and strengthening the roles of professional midwifery associations because of the central role of midwives in reproductive health care.

It said UNFPA supported the initiation of the Bachelor of Science degree in midwifery at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi.

UNFPA continues to provide additional support to KNUST such as the donation of skills laboratory equipment in 2023 to improve the quality of skills of the midwifery students.

The UNFPA ‘in partnership with the Ministry of Health, in 2023, supported the assessment of 16 midwifery schools to establish Midwifery Centres of Excellence; and supported the development of preceptorship guidelines for midwives and trained tutors in its application.

In addition, UNFPA worked with the Ministry of Health and other partners to support the review of the Nursing and Midwifery Strategic Plan (2024 – 2028) and continuing to work with midwifery associations to fost
er a stronger and harmonized voice that champions midwifery cause and reproductive health in general.

The statement said: ‘right now, around the world, millions of lives are in the hands of midwives. Whether they are wading through flood waters to reach pregnant women or delivering babies amid the, or in the scorching sun flying at 40 degrees, midwives are the unsung heroes of community health services.

‘Thanks to midwives, births are safer. The sexual and reproductive health care they provide is more attuned to women’s needs, desires, and local cultural practices.

Already, a woman or girl dies every two minutes somewhere in the world due to pregnancy, childbirth, or its aftermath.’

Now, climate change threatens to make the situation worse. Hotter temperatures complicate pregnancies and could lead to premature births and miscarriages. Sudden floods could sweep away roads, making it impossible to reach health facilities, the statement said.

Extreme weather events put women and girls at heightened risk of
displacement, child, and forced marriage and could take away their means of supporting themselves.

The UNFPA called for a commitment to supporting the midwifery profession, especially during a worsening climate crisis, which makes the need for midwives more urgent than ever.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Biadan Methodist SHTS calls for more infrastructure ? ?


The government’s flagship Free Senior High School (FSHS) programme has improved student enrolment at the Biadan Methodist Senior High and Technical School in the Berekum Municipality of the Bono Region considerably, Mrs Monica Oforiwaa Asiedu, the headmistress has said.

She said increased enrolment had left the school with no other option than to convert virtually all the workshops of the technical department into classrooms, a situation she added was impeding practical studies.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Biadan, a farming community near Berekum, Mrs Asiedu, therefore, appealed to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to come to their aid.

She said the school required a spacious dining hall, assembly hall, and girls’ dormitory, saying currently, the ‘small’ dining hall was also serving as the assembly hall.

In a brief history, Mrs Asiedu said the Biadan community established the school in 1998 to train 59 students on brick laying and it was absorbed by the government in 2001.

Currently, it has 2,040 students, 166 teachers, and 40 non-teaching staff, she stated, and said because of its excellent performance, coupled with the FSHS implementation student enrolment kept increasing.

Mrs Asiedu said the school also needed support to complete its entrance gate and fencing project too, saying the school was making a significant impact at Biadan and adjoining communities and appealed for support from wealthy natives of the town too.

She expressed appreciation to the Parent Association and the Old Student Association as well as the Consolidated Bank Ghana for putting up a standard sick bay for the school.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Sefwi-Asafo College of Health Presbyterian Students Union inducts new Executives into office


The Sefwi-Asafo College of Health Chapter of the National Union of Presbyterian Students in the Western North Region, has inducted its newly elected executives into office with a call on them to remain disciplined and to help uplift the image of the Presbyterian Church on campus.

The Reverend Vincent Kpakpah, Sefwi-Asawinso District Minister and Resident Pastor for Ebenezer Congregation, speaking at the induction service, commended the immediate past executives for their dedication and hard work, and asked them to continue to live by the teachings of Christ as they prepared to depart campus.

He also advised them to take their studies seriously to pass their final examinations successfully.

Rev. Kpakpah also lauded the immediate past Moderator of the Presbyterian Church for supporting the Branch at the College with a brand-new musical instrument during his visit to the Sefwi Presbytery.

The elected executives were Miss Abigail Bemah Kakari, President, Mr Micheal Frimpong Vice and Miss Rosina Esinam, Genera
l Secretary.

The rest are Miss Regina Tsatsu, Prayer Secretary, Nana Akua Wuku Beryl Treasurer, Mr Johnson Kwaku Tano Bible Studies Coordinator, Miss Abigail Oppong, Music Coordinator and Miss Febiri Boatemaa Calebtina, the Organiser.

Miss Karikari, the President, in her acceptance speech, asked for unity among the executive members to help promote the Presbyterian doctrine on campus.

She pledged to serve with humility to help win more souls for Christ on campus.

Madam Sylvia Nana Yaa Opare, the Union’s Patron, on her part, thanked the Ebenezer Congregation for their continuous support to members towards the growth of the Presby Church on campus.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Adzigo Norvileke Welfare Association donates to Anlo-Afiadenyigba schools


The Adzigo Norvileke Welfare Association (ANOWA) has donated mathematical sets to selected basic schools at Anlo-Afiadenyigba in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region.

The over 1,000 sets to boost teaching and learning were distributed to the Anlo-Afiadenyigba E.P and R.C Junior High Schools (JHS), Akatsavakpor M.A JHS, Nyravase Community School, Tengekope JHS, B. A Holy Cross Preparatory School and Kings Voice Basic school.

Mr Raymond Yao Agboado, the Chairman of the Association, told the Ghana News Agency that the donations were also to curb the numerous challenges teachers and students faced in studying mathematics and related subjects. 

‘We have noticed that over the past years, the study of mathematics, vocational and technical skills have been hampered by lack of basic teaching and learning materials, so we aim to help mitigate the challenges,’ he stated.

The Association would also embark on other projects like the computerisation and digitalisation of the Anlo-Afiadenyigba Health Centre to alle
viate the challenges health workers faced in the quest to deliver excellent healthcare services. 

He said the association intended also to construct an ultra-modern sports complex.

‘The rationale is to help unearth talents in the various sporting disciplines which include volleyball, netball, basketball, handball, tennis, and others.

‘All this sports edifice would come with floodlights to enable games to be played at night. ‘

Mr Agboado explained that the association was formed by the dynamic youth from Anlo-Afiadenyigba who contributed to fund the various projects for the progress and development of the area.

He urged the youth within the area to cooperate with the association to bring more development.

Mr Agboado also called on other donor groups and agencies as well as the government to come to the aid of the area.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Odomase Number One sub-chief donates US$2,000 worth computers to alma mater


Barima Yaw Twum, the Nkosuahene (Development Chief) of the Odomase Number One Traditional Area in the Sunyani West Municipality, has donated modern computers worth US$2,000 to the Odomase Presbyterian Junior High School.

According to the chief, the brand-new machines, comprising two laptops and two desktops touch-screen computers, with accessories were his widow’s mite to advance the study of ICT in the school.

Barimah Twum was accompanied by Nana Saamaa Diawuo, the Nkonwahemaa (Queen mother in-charge of Stools) of the Traditional Area and Nana Ameyaa Mensah, the Queen-mother of Adoe, a farming community in the area.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after a short presentation ceremony held at Odomase Number One, Barimah Twum, an old student of the school, said the machines was also to help introduce the students to the use of modern technology and gadgets.

Barimah Twum said he was the school’s prefect and completed around 1982, saying it was therefore imperative for every successful person
to give back to the society, and acknowledged the contribution of the school to his career and life success.

The Reverend Alexander Kwadwo Nyantakyi, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional of the Presbyterian Schools, expressed appreciation to the donor for the gesture and asked the local school authorities to ensure that the machines were used for the intended purposes.

Mrs Mavis Afowaa, the Headmistress of the school, also thanked the donor, saying the school needed the computers to facilitate ICT learning and teaching and appealed for an ICT center too.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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