Mankumah (Bole), Aug. 28 GNA - The Mankumah Health Centre in the Bole District in conjunction with the Ghana Health Services, have held a forum to sensitize the people on the roll back malaria programme, the use of the new Artesunate Amodiaquine, and to discuss topical health issues affecting them.

The Midwife in charge of the Centre, Madam Grace Ewuntomah, reiterated that malaria was the number one killer in the country with pregnant mothers and children being the most affected, and that the only means of reducing the epidemic was through keeping their environment clean and destroying all breeding places of mosquitoes.

Madam Grace Ewuntomah advised the people to seek early treatment at the hospital and avoid contacting quack doctors.

She urged pregnant mothers and children to sleep under treated bed nets now sold at government subsidized prices at the various health centres throughout the district.

She appealed to them to accept the use of Artsunate Amodiaquine and not to see it as harmful.

The District Disease Control Officer, Mr. Hamit Aminu advised traditional Birth Attendants against applying animal droppings on children's umbilical cord during birth, saying they could cause tetanus infection.

The Public Relations Officer for Bole District Health Insurance Scheme, Mr. Andres Dari Chiwitey said the scheme would not provide the cost of skin cancer resulting from excessive body bleaching, injuries sustained either by wife or husband through fights, criminal abortions, or blood transfusion once blood cannot be quantified.