Kumasi, July 27, GNA - The Kumasi metropolis recorded a total of 123,504 cases of malaria with 20 deaths, between January and June this year, authorities have said.

Dr Joseph Oduro, Metropolitan Director of Health Services, who made this known, cautioned residents to strictly observe sanitary regulations in order to curb the breeding of mosquitoes, which are the main cause of malaria.

He was speaking at the annual half-year performance review of the Metropolitan Health Directorate in Kumasi on Wednesday.

He said the metropolis also recorded 8,469 cases of hypertension and 142 cases of HIV/AIDS within the period under review.

Dr Oduro said acute urinary tract infections, home and occupational injuries, as well as rheumatism accounted for the other causes of Out-Patient Department (OPD) attendances in the metropolis.

He said his outfit was collaborating with private health institutions and other stakeholders in the health sector to explore ways of enhancing quality health care delivery in the metropolis. Miss Benedicta Owusu-Appiah, the Metropolitan Health Information Officer, stressed the need to strengthen data collection, collation and analysis of all health indicators from both the public and private hospitals so as to commit resources towards improving the health status of residents in the metropolis.