Accra, May 19, GNA - Ghana marked the 2010 World Hepatitis Day, in Accra with a symposium on the disease that causes inflammation of the liver, its prevention and management.

There was also a free screening of people to know their status. The programme, which was jointly organised by Ghana Hepatitis Society of Ghana (HEPSOG) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), focussed on teachers and personnel of the National Ambulance Service (GNAS).

Mr Stephen Corquaye, Executive Member of PSGH said the prevalent rate of Hepatitis B, is between seven and 10 per cent in the country. He stressed the need for Ghana: "To shout aloud to treat people with the disease and prevent others from contracting it." Giving a presentation on the prevention and management of Hepatitis B, he said vaccination offered protection against the disease. Mrs Helen Sam also with PSGH said the association had emphasised on public health during the past five years to create awareness about the disease.

Dr Kofi Nkrumah, President of HEPSOG said countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are vulnerable to the disease, which is causing a drain on the economy and affecting productivity.

He said People Living with HIV/AIDS and suffering from Hepatitis B were worse off.

Dr Ahmed Zakaria, Director of GNAS said screening for Hepatitis was very vital to prevent some of the irreversible damage the disease could cause to the liver.

Dr Timothy Acheampong, a lecturer at the Ghana Medical School of the University of Ghana, who gave a presentation on "What is Hepatitis B?" said 95 per cent of infection is among adults. He said the risk factors for the disease progression include excessive use of alcohol and unprotected sex. Dr Acheampong said symptoms of Hepatitis B include yellow coloration of the eyes or jaundice, passing of pale stools and dark urine.

He said the main mode of transmission include the coming into contact with blood, drug abuse, use of razors , body piercing and tattoos. Mrs Irene Duncan -Adanusa, General Secretary of Ghana National Association of Teachers asked HEPSOG and PSGH to include the cluster of schools in their awareness creation on the disease to ensure wider coverage.

NHIS does not promote quality health care delivery - Research

Accra, May 18, GNA - Findings of a research commissioned by SEND-Ghana, a civil society organisation and World Bank, Ghana office have revealed that a National Health Insuran Scheme (NHIS) does not promote quality health care delivery to subscribers. In 44 selected districts from four regions, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper West and East Regions where the research was conducted, more than three-quarters of the accredit

ed NHIS health care facilities, representing 76 per cent, said the scheme had negative effects on quality health care delivery.

It said accredited health care providers stated that implementation of the NHIS had negatively affected their ability to acquire medicines both in terms of quality and quantity to cope with the increasing attendance.

The research was conducted in the last quarter of last year and launched by Professor Fred Binka, Dean, College of Health Sciences of the University of Ghana, in Accra on Tuesday. It was to assess the rate of subscription to the NHIS in the selected districts, and quality of health care provided to clients of the scheme.

The findings revealed that implementation of the scheme had led to significant increase in facility attendance by clients without a corresponding improvement in health infrastructure and equipment as well as human resource resulting in extra workload; over-stressed staff, excessive pressure on existing amenities and reduced attention to patients.

It said in Northern Region for instance, the number of medical doctors reduced from 32 to 26 between 2006 and 2008 while membership subscription between the same period increased to 828,805 from 281,775. The findings said in the three Northern Regions, the average NHIS clients to a medical doctor ratio rose from 5,845 in 2006 to 21,663 in 2008 while the average NHIS clients to a nurse ratio also swelled from 208 to 743 during the same period.

It revealed delays in the issuance of NHIS identity cards to clients resulting in some not accessing health care services adding 27 per cent clients in Northern, 34 per cent in Upper West and 13 per cent in Greater Accra Regions could not access health care services because of the delays in issuing identity cards.

The findings said contrary to views of managers of health care facilities, District Mutual Health Insurance Schemes considered the NHIS to be inappropriate for the promotion of scheme sustainability because of the high tariffs service providers charged.

It recommended that the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) developed innovative ways of re-imbursing claims of service providers timely to facilitate acquisition of medicines and medical equipment for improved service delivery.

The findings suggested that the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ghana Health Service (GHS) should pay serious attention to the development of existing health facilities, improve on human resource situation and re-distribute health personnel to underserved and overburdened areas. It recommended that NHIA in collaboration with MOH, GHS and the Teaching Hospitals should institutionalise a regular stakeholder forum to discuss implementation issues that were of common interest. Mr. Osei Acheampong, Director of Research at NHIA, said the report was eye-opener for the authority as it would take lessons from the research to improve upon its services. He said NHIA would endeavour to expand registration, access as well as ensure improvement in operations of the scheme.