Malaria cases increase in Ketu South

Enoch Darfah Frimpong Health Feb - 12 - 2014 , 05:13

The Ketu South Municipal Health Directorate recorded more than 100 per cent increase in malaria cases last year despite measures put in place to curb the menace. The total malaria cases reported in 2013 were 56,249 with 21 deaths as compared to 23,084 cases in 2012 that resulted in 11 deaths.

The Municipal Health Director of Ketu South, Mr Joseph Kwami Degley, made this known at the directorate’s 2013 annual review conference, which was held on the theme: “The Role of Community Leadership in curbing Maternal Deaths and Improving Child Health”.

The increase in malaria cases was attributed to poor sanitation in some of the communities.

To arrest the situation, Mr Degley said the frequency of emptying refuse containers in the communities had been increased and worn-out containers repaired, while a new slaughter house had been built at Aflao to start functioning soon.

HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis

The municipality also recorded 622 new cases of HIV and 401 cases of tuberculosis (TB).

In addition to these, there was an increase in maternal deaths during the year under review. Five were recorded in 2013, as against four in 2012, and neonatal deaths increased from six to eight, while three children died last year and none in 2012.

Plans for 2014

Mr Degley said the directorate this year would intensify surveillance on diseases, including awareness creation on guinea worm.

Regional Director of Health Service

The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Joseph Nuertey, expressed concern about the inadequate number of midwives in the region and noted that the situation was a key contributor to the high maternal and infant mortality in the region.

‘We don’t have midwives. Volta Region is the region with the least number of midwives. We have 437 midwives and 33 of them are retiring this year,” he said.

He said in view of the situation, the service had decided to link up the midwives with community health nurses in the region, to provide pregnant women with quality health care.