Lambussie (UWR), Sept. 3, GNA - Madam Francisca Bagne, Lambussie/Karni District Director of Health, has called on health workers to render quality services at all levels to clients and patients to meet their health needs and aspirations.

She said it was the duty of every health worker to ensure that the services that she or he renders satisfied patients brought before them, saying: "For them we are there and without them we are not there". Madam Bagne made the call during the Half Year Performance Review of health activities in the Lambussie/Karni District on Thursday. She urged health workers to improve their conduct and relationship with clients, colleague staff and the public to help encourage the sick to patronise the health facilities.

Madam Bagne announced that among the top ten diseases, malaria was the leading cause of deaths among children and pregnant women in the district.

She said malaria accounted for 6,490 cases at the Out-Patient Department, despite interventions such as intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant mothers, provision of treated mosquito nets and education on environmental cleanliness among others. "Let me appeal to each one of us here that we have a role to play in reducing the malaria burden in the district by reminding a next door neighbour on the importance of preventing oneself from being bitten by the mosquito".

Madam Bagne bemoaned the inadequate health personnel in many of the health facilities, which she said was impacting negatively on quality healthcare services.

"Nurse patient ratio in the district stands at 1:1,562 and that of the doctor to patient ratio also stands at 0:49,986", she said. Madam Bagne said many of the Community based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compounds have no toilet facilities, potable water and furniture and equipment to work with.

She said efforts of the health workers, who were providing health care services to rural people, should not be overlooked. Madam Bagne called on the district assemblies in the region to provide potable water, solar lamps and toilet facilities among others for health workers to encourage them to stay and to work in rural communities.

The Regional Directorate of Health Services should also put in place measures to motivate health workers in the rural areas by giving them special concession to further their education either within or outside the country. 3 Sept. 10