More than 500 children are admitted at the Tamale Central Hospital every month. Out of the number, over 200 of them die during the rainy season. The Tamale Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr.. Nsiire Agana, disclosed this at a seminar organised by the Northern Region branch of the Ghana National Chemical Sellers Association in Tamale. The theme for the seminar was "the role of the Chemical Seller in Primary Health Care". Dr.. Agana attributed the high death rate to the lackadaisical attitude of some chemical sellers who prefer to treat patients even when they do not know the cause of their ailment and only refer such patients to the hospitals only when they are in critical conditions. He said as Chemical Sellers, their role is to offer first aid treatment to patients and refer them to the hospitals. Dr.. Agana therefore called on them to be more purposefu in their traditional practice in order to save lives. The National President of the Association, Mr.. K. Djan Mantey called on Chemical Sellers to team up with the district health management team, since they play a leading role in health care delivery. He called on licensed Chemical Sellers, who have not registered with the branch to do so. The Regional Chairman, Mr.. Ofori Attah, announced the Association's intention to adopt a ward at the Regional Hospital.

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