Category: General

Dr Stephen Ayisi-Addo, Programmes Manager, National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), has asked the clergy not to refuse to bless marriages of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). He said getting  married to an HIV-positive person was not dangerous as perceived by many because antiretroviral treatment suppressed the virus and stopped it from spreading. Dr Ayisi-Addo spoke to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of the 20th anniversary celebration media launch of antiretroviral treatment in Ghana.  An estimated 354,927 people are currently living with HIV in Ghana. Out of this, seven per cent are children aged zero to four (0-4) years, six per cent represent adolescents aged 10-19, whilst the remaining 87 per cent are adults. As of December 2023, Ghana's HIV current prevalence rate stood at 1.7 per cent of  the general population. The prevalence, however, is much higher amongst key populations, particularly female sex workers, 4.6 per cent and men who have sex with men, 26 per cent. In December 2003, G hana began the treatment of HIV through Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), which keeps affected persons stronger and increases their life expectancy. The Programmes Manager of the NACP,  said ideally, any HIV-positive patient on ART treatment with strict adherence should have viral suppression within six months, adding that contacts of such persons would not be affected by the virus. 'Religiously, we are talking to pastors not to deny anybody who is HIV a marriage blessing, they should rather be encouraged to marry because love is bigger than HIV.' 'People are surviving with HIV today more than other disease conditions,  we need  to encourage pastors to bless such marriages and encourage people with HIV  to marry as well, once there is no exclusion criteria for people who have any other diseases not to marry. 'I have a lot of clients who are serodiscordant couples, one is positive, one is negative and they have given birth to three, four children who are all negative. So why do you deny anybody?  'As long as they're taking their medications, they're not going to pass the virus to their spouses and children,' he stated. He said HIV-positive patients must be encouraged and supported to ensure adherence to ensure viral suppression to prevent further spread. 'A lot of work in terms of reinforcing adherence needs to be done because sometimes it becomes a chronic disease like hypertension, diabetes and people get tired, some also go to herbalists, and prayer camps just because of stigmatisation, social reasons and long distance to the treatment sites among others.' Dr Ayisi Addo added that plans were in place to ensure the number of ART sites was increased to enable clients to get the medicines closer to their doorstep, saying at the moment there were about 800 ART sites even though the country had close to 6,000 health facilities. 'Ideally, all the health facilities should have the drug so that people can access it. So, part of this celebration is to reinforce adherence and all the things it takes to showcase the success stories.' He said some HIV-positive persons had not attained viral suppression due to a lack of adherence to medications. The Programme Manager called on the public to be supportive and stop stigmatisation against HIV persons and encourage them to avail themselves of treatment.  He said the NACP was in the process of formulating strategies in addressing issues of stigmatisation and that with support from partners, it was orienting HIV patients to stop stigmatising themselves. He also called on the public to support the AIDS fund and sustain the fight against stigmatisation to achieve epidemic control in a few years.  Source: Ghana News Agency

Mytle Health LLC, a healthcare advocacy group operating in both Ghana and the United States of America, has donated an undisclosed amount of cash to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, to procure 62 beds for hospital's Medical Block. The beds, when procured, would enhance the hospital's capacity to efficiently transfer patients from the Emergency Unit to appropriate wards. The donation was initially to be done as cash presentation to families with medical expenses to enable patients who had been discharged but unable to pay their bills to pay them. Mytle Health LLC, however, adapted its approach to addressing a more pressing need identified by the hospital- inadequate beds- and to ensure sustained benefits to patient care. Mytle Health group is a health care solution, made up of medical doctors, other health professionals based in Ghana and the United States of America, that allows Ghanaians abroad and at home to directly sponsor health care subscription plans for their loved ones. Mr Kojo De-Graft, Founding Partner of Mytle Health LLC, presented the envelope containing the undisclosed amount to Mrs Augusta Aninakwah Gyimah, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer. 'This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to making a lasting impact on healthcare accessibility,' Mr De-Graft said. He emphasised the enduring and significant advantages of their contribution. He announced that Mytle Health is encouraging Ghanaians abroad to sponsor their relatives in Ghana to seek medical care at home rather than travelling abroad, as the cost of medical care and treatment abroad tend to be higher. 'Mytle Health said stands as a beacon of healthcare advocacy, dedicated to providing Ghanaians, both at home and abroad, the peace of mind that comes with knowing their loved ones are cared for,' Mr De-Graft said. Mytle Health LLC's programme is based on packages that can be chosen at the time of sign-up. Mr De-Graft announced that Mytle Health intends to develop into a non-government organisation to support patients with the needed a ssistance. The term 'no bed syndrome' gained prominence in 2018 to depict the severe shortage of beds and mattresses in healthcare facilities nationwide, resulting in numerous patients being denied essential care, often with tragic consequences Mrs Gyimah expressed appreciation to Mr De-Graft and Mytle Health for the gesture and said it was a timely support for the Medical Block. She appealed for more assistance to the Medical Block with more beds and mattresses, especially high flood mattresses. Mrs Gyimah said there were large empty spaces in the ward which could keep patients that were being kept at the emergency ward but had been empty because there were no beds and mattresses. 'We're in dying need of mattresses,' she declared. Prof. Dr Albert Akpalu, Consultant Neurologist and Senior Physician Specialist at the Medical and Therapeutics Department, also extended his appreciation to Mytle Health LLC for its support, acknowledging that these services will enable Korle-Bu to fulfil its mandate to the p ublic effectively. He said the department also urgently needs monitoring equipment, BP equipment, suction equipment, and devices. Prof Dr Akpalu called for an improved ambience at the Block, saying, 'We have qualified persons. 'We need support systems to get things going.' Prof Dr Akpalu also called for assistance to improve the toilet facilities at the Medical Block Source: Ghana News Agency

Two pregnant women died in 2023, in Ketu South from severe pre-eclampsia, a serious condition occurring in pregnant women with severe high blood pressure and signs of dysfunction of one or multiple major organs. One of the deaths was caused by 'pulmonary oedema 2? pre-eclampsia with severe features and the other by 'multiple organ failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation 2? abruption placenta and pre-eclampsia with severe features.' This was disclosed at the Ketu South Health Directorate's 2023 programme of work review held at Aflao, a forum to give feedback to stakeholders in health on the performance of the Directorate, its successes and challenges and the way forward for the 2024 year. Mr David Agbokpe, Municipal Director of Health Services said though the Directorate made great strides in the year in maternal and child health issues, two women however lost their lives. He reported: 'Two maternal deaths were recorded during the period under review as compared to one in 2022, still birth had decr eased from 45 in 2022 to 23 in 2023. Fifteen neonatal deaths were also recorded in 2022 compared to 11 in the same period in 2023. There was an increase in antenatal fourth visit that is 61.8 percent in 2022 as compared to 69.7 percent in 2023. Skilled delivery had seen an improvement in the period under review that is 47.1 percent in 2022 as compared to 51.1 percent in 2023 and postnatal care slightly reduced from 99.9 percent in 2022 as compared to 99.7 percent in 2023.' He added that anaemia in pregnancy was also monitored closely and 'there was reduction in anaemia at 36 weeks that is it had reduced from 49.2 percent in 2022 to 45 percent in 2023.' He attributed these to the Directorate's efforts to get males (partners of pregnant women) involved in maternal and child health issues and noted they intended keeping the zeal to improve the male involvement to record more successes in the area. Source: Ghana News Agency

Tunisia calls for an immediate end to the war on Gaza and the lifting of the siege to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinians, Health Minister Ali Mrabet said on Saturday. The minister made the remarks while attending the annual meeting of the Supreme Council of the Arab Board of Health Specialisations (ABHS) in Amman, Jordan, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Health on Sunday. Minister Mrabet reiterated Tunisia's full support for the idea of awarding this year's prize for the best doctor in the Arab world to a Palestinian doctor, in recognition of the enormous efforts made by Palestinian medical staff under exceptional circumstances. He reiterated his call for strengthening of training activities in the Greater Maghreb region, while sharing Maghreb experience and knowledge with Middle Eastern countries in the fields of training and scientific research. He also stressed the need to implement training programmes related to emergency situations in order to promote the values of solidarity among countries and to improve services during pandemics and conflicts. The 2024 session of the Supreme Council of the ABHS was attended by Arab ministers of health, representatives of the member states of the Council, the President of the Executive Bureau of the Council and representatives of the Technical Secretariat of the Council of Arab Ministers of Health. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

WINDHOEK: Persons with disabilities have appealed to the government to honour late President Hage Geingob's remarks of increasing the state monthly old-age pension grant from N.dollars 1400 to either N.dollars 2000 or N.dollars 3000. Geingob, in his New Year's message, expressed his hope for an increase in the old-age pension grant, stating his desire to see this happen before he leaves the presidential chambers. Paying tribute to Geingob during a candlelight vigil by individuals with disabilities here on Friday, Chairperson of the National Federation for Persons with Disabilities in Namibia, Mathew Hashoongo, said individuals with disabilities believe that his words should not be in vain and therefore the Government should honour his wishes. 'We are going to miss him but we believe that his words will not go in vain… we want to honour Geingob by making his promise come true and we are looking forward to that N.dollars 2000 or N.dollars 3000,' he said. Echoing his sentiments, Deputy Minister of Disability Affairs, Alexia Manombe-Ncube, said Geingob ensured that grants were increased during his administration and therefore hopes that the government will continue with his New Year's remarks to increase the grant, which equally includes people with disabilities. Manombe-Ncube said that Geingob's mantra was to bring everyone on board to prosper, advance and live a better life. At the same event, Chief Executive Officer of the National Disability Council of Namibia, Angelique Philander, applauded Geingob for his commitment towards individuals with disabilities, noting that under his office as prime minister in 2001, he appointed an advisor on disability; launched the Namibia constitution in Braille, launched the Continental Plan for Actions for the African Decade of People with Disabilities. She further added that as president he appointed a person with disabilities as minister of disability affairs to ensure that individuals with disabilities have representation in Parliament. His administration also ensured tha t the children with disabilities grant was increased from N.dollars 250 to N.dollars 1400. Geingob died at the age of 82 in a Windhoek hospital. His memorial service is scheduled for 24 February, to be followed by his burial on 25 February 2024 at Heroes' Acre Cemetery on the outskirts of Windhoek. Source: The Namibia Press Agency