THE Director-General (DG) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has commended health workers in the Saboba District for their dedication and commitment to duty, describing their willingness to serve in the district as highly commendable.
During an engagement with staff of the District Health Directorate as part of his four-day official visit to the region in the meningitis belt, he expressed appreciation for their hard work and sacrifices in delivering healthcare services to the people.
He urged them to remain steadfast, particularly as the government rolls out the Free Primary Healthcare programme across the country.
He emphasised the need for intensified public education on meningitis, especially following the two deaths recorded in the district. According to him, the deaths could have been prevented if community members had observed preventive measures and reported early to health facilities when symptoms appeared.
“Medications are available. No one should die of meningitis,” he stressed, reiterating that individuals who feel unwell should take their NHIS cards and report promptly to the nearest health facility for early diagnosis and treatment.
The DG further encouraged health staff to strengthen collaboration with the media, traditional leaders, and other key stakeholders to enhance public awareness. He also noted that the upcoming Mahama Cares initiative for non-communicable diseases would require extensive public education to ensure its success.
As part of his visit, the DG paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Saboba Traditional Area, Uchabobor Bowan John Mateer Sakojim IV. He appealed to the Paramount Chief to serve as a Regional Meningitis Ambassador to help promote preventive practices and reduce deaths associated with the disease. He also thanked the Chief for his role as a member of the Regional Health Committee.
In response, the Paramount Chief expressed his deep appreciation to the District Director and staff for their dedicated service and sacrifices. He conveyed his sadness over the loss of two lives to meningitis in his traditional area and described the DG’s visit as timely and touching.
The Chief urged the District Health Directorate to intensify public education on preventive measures and called on the region to be proactive in preventing avoidable deaths. He pledged his full support and commitment to ensure that all health projects within the district were successfully implemented.
The DG also visited the Catholic Health (CHAG) facility in the district, where he charged management and staff to be prepared for any potential outbreak. As a major health facility in the area, he encouraged them to maintain close collaboration with the District Health Directorate and to promptly seek assistance when necessary. He inspected a designated isolation centre identified by the facility for possible outbreak cases.
At the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), the DG appealed for continued specialist support to manage complex cases. He called for collective action to ensure that no patient dies unnecessarily from meningitis, stressing that all hands must be on deck to combat the disease.
Management of TTH assured him of their readiness to provide the needed expertise to support health interventions in the region. They also indicated plans to deploy specialists, particularly in maternal health, to support the districts.
His visit to the region forms part of an ongoing effort to strengthen preparedness, enhance public education, and mobilise stakeholder support to prevent meningitis-related deaths in the region.
BY TIMES REPORTER
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