CAPE COAST HOLDS 2010 CENTRAL REGION HEALTH SERVICES PERFORMANCE REVIEW CONFERENCE

By Augustina Brown

Central Region has recorded 243 case4s of outbreak of Cholera from September 2010 with 13 deaths and 167 death cases of children under five years affected with malaria.

The region, in 2010 also recorded its first set of 12 confirmed cases of the Pandemic influenza H1N1 from the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Municipality and the Cape Coast Metropolis with 249 cases by the end of the year with no death.

The Regional Director of Health Services in the Central Region, Dr. Samuel T. Kwahie made this known in a welcome address during the 2010 Central Region Health Services Performance Review Conference in Cape Coast on the theme: “Strengthening Human Resource for Health towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals”.

According to the Regional Director, the region also recorded 77 maternal deaths in 2010 as compared to the 72 maternal deaths recorded in 2009, adding that neonatal mortality rate had declined from 2.4/1000 Live Birth (LB) in 2009 to 3.1/1000 LB in 2010.

He noted that neonatal deaths have become a significant proportion of deaths among children under five years in Ghana.

On the issue of teenage pregnancy, the Regional Director said it has reduced slightly in the year under review from 14.9% in 2009 to 14.1% in 2010 and added that early teen pregnancy rate remained stable at 0.2% for the past four years.

Speaking on the way forward, Dr. Samuel T. Kwashie said the transport services delivery in the region has improved in 2010 with 13 districts, 5 hospitals and 7 health centres producing a total of 35 Great wall double cabin pick-ups through the Ghana Health Service hire purchase scheme.

He said 195 motorcycles were received by the Regional Health Directorate from the Ghana Health Service Headquarters and distributed them to the various district including the Health Training Institutions. Also, 268 bicycles were distributed to eight districts to facilitate the work of the community based Health volunteers.

Dr. Kwashie stated that a number of development projects including a 3-bedroom districts bungalow at Breman Asikuma, a health centre at Gomoa Dego and the rehabilitation of the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital Out-Patient-Department (OPD) had been completed.

He explained that clearing of the site land had begun and work is expected to be completed in 18 months, adding that work on the new Trauma and specialist Hospital at Winneba is almost completed and the facility is expected to be functional.

He congratulated Health staffs in the region for their outstanding performance and urged them to remain focus and resolute in their determination to turn things round in the region.

He also advised Health Personnel not to allow any issue to destruct them from the goals and objectives they have set for themselves and to provide good services to their clients in this New Year.

The function was attended by the Central Regional Minister, Hon. Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Senior Colleges from the Ministry of Health and GHS Headquarters, Health Development Partners, Health Workers, Stakeholders in Health and the Media.

SENSITIZATION PROGRAMME HELD IN CAPE COAST FOR OPINION LEADERS

By Augustina Brown

The Central Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, DCOP Stephen Andoh- Kwofie has expressed concern over the increase in cases of violence from 2002 to 2010 in the region and has described it as awful.

He said there was the need to seek support from stakeholders to reduce the problem, adding that though the police was mandated to combat crime and other menace in the country, they cannot tackle cases of assault, defilement, unlawful rejection, neglect of parental duties among others that led to the establishment of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) to take care of such cases.

DCOP Andoh-Kwofie made this statement during a one day sensitization programme for opinion leaders in the Cape Coast Metropolis on Friday to enlighten them on Act 72 of 2007 which established the DOVVSU.

According to him, there was the need for the Police Service to strengthen its crime combating network in order for the service to reduce crime and other offences in the region hence the involvement of the opinion leaders in their strategy.

The Central Regional Coordinator of DOVVSU, ASP George Appiah-Sekyi told newsmen that there has been over 20,000 cases of domestic violence recorded in the rgion since the name was changed from WAJU to DOVVSU in 2002.

He said the sensitization programme was held by DOVVSU because opinion leaders play major role in the socio-economic lives of the people they represent.

He urged opinion leader not to settle cases of domestic violence on their own, adding that it’s unlawful for anyone to take the law into his / her own hands.

He warned all parents to desist from engaging opinion leaders in the settlement of domestic violence issues. 

He also warned that anyone found in such acts will be arrested and prosecuted before the law court.

ASP Appiah-Sekyi therefore advised the general public to report cases of domestic violence to DOVVSU as early as possible for action.

The programme was attended by Chiefs, Queen Mothers, family heads, Assembly Members and women among others who have a stake in the development of the society and the nation as a whole.