Category: Medical

Parents, especially nursing mothers, have been advised to ensure the completion of their children's immunisation packages and child welfare services by age five. Dr Naziru Tanko, the Deputy Programme Manager, Ghana's Expanded Programmes on Immunization, made the call during a two-day training workshop to equip media professionals with the tools and knowledge to effectively communicate the importance of vaccination. It was organised by the African Media and Malaria (AMMREN) in partnership with Ghana Health Service and the World Health Organization, on vaccines uptake in Ghana for selected journalists across the country. He said it was unfortunate that some nursing mothers stopped attending postnatal services when their babies were about nine to 10 months old. It was imperative to send babies to be weighed regularly from birth and continue till age five to enable them to receive all the recommended vaccines. Dr Tanko noted that the risk in unvaccinated children, particularly in urban areas, posed a signifi cant threat to the health and well-being of the population. He said parents played a crucial role in ensuring their children received all the recommended vaccinations by age five to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect children from serious illnesses. Dr Tanko urged parents to put in place measures in safeguarding their children's health by adhering to vaccination schedules recommended by healthcare givers. Vaccination not only protected individuals but also contributed to the overall health of the community by preventing outbreaks of vaccine- preventable diseases, he noted. Ghana, like many African countries, faced the challenge in achieving optimal vaccination coverage, partly because of fear, myths, misinformation and misconception about vaccines and stressed the need for continuous education and awareness campaigns to address those issues and encourage vaccine uptake, the Deputy Programme Manager said. 'Vaccines are safe, effective and crucial for the health and wellbeing of children . By vaccinating our children, we are investing in a healthier future for our nation,' he said. He reminded parents and healthcare givers to ensure children received the recommended vaccination not only to protect their health but also strengthen the resilience of the entire country against preventable diseases. Touching on the country's Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Dr Tanko said the EPI had significantly evolved over the past 20 years after its launch in 1978. He said with its main mandate of contributing to poverty reduction by reducing the magnitude of vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization as an essential component of Primary Health Care, the programme had seen an increase in number of vaccines it delivered routinely to children and pregnant women. From an initial six antigens against the six childhood killer diseases, the number has increased to 11-vaccines, including malaria vaccine that is being piloted in seven regions. The programme now vaccinates against 14 vaccine -preventabl e diseases, Dr Tanko said, and that plans were afoot to include the COVID-19 in the routine vaccines. The journalists were taken through topics like Immunisation as a Global Tool for Public Health Intervention, and Ghana's Expanded Programme on Immunisation: The journey so far. Others were the development of Vaccines and How Vaccines Work in Disease Prevention, Vaccine Financing, The COVID-19 Pandemic and Vaccine Hesitancy: The Ghana Experience, and Media as Partners in Vaccine Uptake in Ghana. Source: Ghana News Agency

Major General Raymond Ewusi, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Medical Services), Ghana Armed Forces, has challenged the staff of the 37 Military Hospital to deliver on their mandate to spur on benevolent groups and individuals to offer more to support the hospital. He said quality healthcare required the highest level of professionalism, compassion, and positive attitude to complete the 'healthcare equation.' Maj. Gen. Ewusi was speaking at the commissioning of a GHC700,000 refurbished Simango Ward at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, by Women Empowerment Foundation International (WEFI), a non-governmental organization. The WEFI, led by its founder Lady Sonia Agyei Kyem, mobilised funds for the renovation of the Simango Ward, one of the oldest wards at the hospital. Apart from the structural refurbishment, the WEFI provided 20 beds, 36 mattresses and 72 bed sheets, 17 Television sets, 17 air conditioners, 16 water heaters, three office tables and four chairs, two fridges and two microwaves. The WEFI has adopt ed the ward and pledges to assist it whenever the need arises. Maj. Gen. Ewusi appealed to philanthropic individuals to appreciate the need to be the driving force in lifting the image of healthcare facilities to the desired standards. 'What we witness today is a testament of what we can all contribute as stakeholders to serve Mother Ghana,' he said, and that the renovation had brought relief and smiles to many people. 'Like warriors that you are, your resilience and dedication manifested when some challenges threatened the completion of the project. You have proven to us that you face your battles to the end, and this is exemplary and inspiring to us all,' he told the WEFI. Maj. Gen. Ewusi said the refurbished ward had been configured and expanded to cater for the in-patient requirements of the Internal Medicine Division and the Genitourinary Department. 'The relief this brings to the Ghana Armed Forces Medical is unimaginable.' He assured the WEFI that the hospital would ensure high maintenance cultur e at the ward. Brigadier General Prosper Ayibor, the Commander, 37 Military Hospital, said hospitals served as sanctuaries of healing, where individuals entrusted their well-being to capable hands of medical professionals. 'Within these hospitals, the ward emerges as a critical component, which offers patients many advantages,' he said. Unfortunately, many of those wards were saddled with high cost of maintenance, which affected their smooth operations and meeting patients' expectations, he noted. He said through the acts of generosity, compassion and solidarity philanthropists and donors have the power to shape the future of healthcare, improve patients' outcomes as well as create healthier communities. Mrs Joyce Acquaye, the WEFI President, was elated by the collaboration between the Foundation and the Hospital and urged members not to rest on their achievements but work even harder. 'Let's continue to work together towards building a healthier, more resilient community where access to quality healthc are is not a privilege but a fundamental right for all.' The 37 Military Hospital began operating as the 37th General Hospital within the British Empire. One of the wards that came with its birth and commencement of operations is the Simango Ward. It was known as Ward Six. The Ward, however, was later named after Dr. Simango in recognition of his meritorious service to the hospital and to Ghana. It admitted Ghana's first cases of COVID-19 patients. The WEFI seeks to bring together women in business and in various professions. Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe, a Senior Medical Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, has urged persons who are yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to do so to prevent them from contracting the disease. He said although COVID-19 was no longer a public health threat, it was not completely eradicated, with people still getting infected and the virus manifesting with different symptoms. Speaking at a workshop on vaccine uptake for journalists in Accra, Dr Addipa-Adapoe said the symptoms of COVID-19 were now similar to that of malaria. The workshop was organised by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) with support from the World Health Organization and the Ghana Health Service (GHS). 'With the new infections, it is difficult to tell if it's a COVID infection without testing, now you may experience headaches, cough, fever and sometimes sore throat, the likelihood of a loss of sense of taste and smell are no longer the case, persons infected may sometimes experience muscle weakness,' he s aid. The medical doctor said with the onset of the rains, Coronavirus was manifesting as influenza like infections and that the public needed to be alert and report to hospitals when they experienced coughs and sore throats. Dr Addipa-Adapoe said COVID-19 was now like any other disease with the symptoms close to that of malaria and encouraged persons who experienced or suspected a COVID-19 infection to report to a health facility for treatment. He said the vaccine was safe and an effective form of protection against the virus as it prevented the severity of the illness and deaths. Data from the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) show that presently, there are 8, 306,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines available. As of March 2024, 14,935,381 persons, representing 45 point five per cent of the total population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, 11,850,978 persons representing 46.5 per cent of 36 point nine per cent of total population are fully vaccinated while 6,889,700 have received a booster dose. Mr. Naziru Tanko Mohammed, Deputy Programme Manager, EPI, said persons who were yet to be vaccinated could visit any of the vaccination centres to receive their jabs. He said vaccination had conquered many childhood vaccine-preventable diseases in the country. It helped with the elimination of Neonatal tetanus in 2011, no Wild Polio Virus reported in Ghana since 2008, no Measles death in Ghana between 2003 and 2021. Mr. Mohammed said vaccination had contributed to a drastic reduction in pneumonia and diarrhea in children, strengthened health systems and contributed to the reduction of Under Five Mortality from 111 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 40 per 1000 live births in 2022. A vaccine, according to the WHO, is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious or malignant disease prevention. Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting against harmful diseases before contact with them, it uses the body's natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections, making immune systems stronger. Source: Ghana News Agency

Nestle Ghana Limited says it does not add sugars (sucrose and glucose) to infant formulas for children in the country. 'Like everywhere in the world, in Ghana, we do not add sugars (sucrose and glucose) to Infant Formulas for children aged 0-12 months. 'In Ghana, all our growing up milks have no added sugars except NIDO1+ which we add honey, in compliance with strict international and local regulations', the Company said in a press release. It is in response to criticisms that the Company was adding sugar to its baby food in some countries, according to analysis by an organisation, which campaigns for the observance of human rights by Swiss-based companies. The release said Baby Food and Infant Formula were highly regulated categories and that Neetle applied the same nutrition, health, and wellness principles everywhere in the world aligned with both international and local guidelines and regulations. 'This includes compliance with labeling requirements and thresholds on carbohydrate content that encompa sses sugars.' It said regarding cereals, there may be slight variations in recipes around the world. 'In Europe, Nestlé's range of cereals comes with and without added sugars. 'Our milks and cereals for young children are fortified with vitamins and minerals such as iron to help tackle malnutrition in Central and West Africa,' it said. Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe, a Senior Medical Officer at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, has urged persons who are yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to do so to prevent them from contracting the disease. He said although COVID-19 was no longer a public health threat, it was not completely eradicated, with people still getting infected and the virus manifesting with different symptoms. Speaking at a workshop on vaccine uptake for journalists in Accra, Dr Addipa-Adapoe said the symptoms of COVID-19 were now similar to that of malaria. The workshop was organised by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) with support from the World Health Organization and the Ghana Health Service (GHS). 'With the new infections, it is difficult to tell if it's a COVID infection without testing, now you may experience headaches, cough, fever and sometimes sore throat, the likelihood of a loss of sense of taste and smell are no longer the case, persons infected may sometimes experience muscle weakness,' he s aid. The medical doctor said with the onset of the rains, Coronavirus was manifesting as influenza like infections and that the public needed to be alert and report to hospitals when they experienced coughs and sore throats. Dr Addipa-Adapoe said COVID-19 was now like any other disease with the symptoms close to that of malaria and encouraged persons who experienced or suspected a COVID-19 infection to report to a health facility for treatment. He said the vaccine was safe and an effective form of protection against the virus as it prevented the severity of the illness and deaths. Data from the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at the Ghana Health Service (GHS) show that presently, there are 8, 306,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines available. As of March 2024, 14,935,381 persons, representing 45 point five per cent of the total population have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Similarly, 11,850,978 persons representing 46.5 per cent of 36 point nine per cent of total population are fully vaccinated while 6,889,700 have received a booster dose. Mr. Naziru Tanko Mohammed, Deputy Programme Manager, EPI, said persons who were yet to be vaccinated could visit any of the vaccination centres to receive their jabs. He said vaccination had conquered many childhood vaccine-preventable diseases in the country. It helped with the elimination of Neonatal tetanus in 2011, no Wild Polio Virus reported in Ghana since 2008, no Measles death in Ghana between 2003 and 2021. Mr. Mohammed said vaccination had contributed to a drastic reduction in pneumonia and diarrhea in children, strengthened health systems and contributed to the reduction of Under Five Mortality from 111 per 1000 live births in 2003 to 40 per 1000 live births in 2022. A vaccine, according to the WHO, is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a particular infectious or malignant disease prevention. Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting against harmful diseases before contact with them, it uses the body's natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections, making immune systems stronger. Source: Ghana News Agency