Nkoranza (B/A), Nov.01, GNA - The Nkoranza District Health Directorate has trained 420 community-based surveillance volunteers and 105 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) to assist in the operations and activities of community clinics within the district.

Mr. Richard Hinne, District Director of Health Services announced this at a day's workshop organised by the directorate for 50 health coordinators and supervisors of the National Immunization Days (NID) programme at Nkoranza.

The workshop was to prepare the participants for the first-phase of the programme against poliomyelitis.

Mr. Hinneh explained that the volunteers would be responsible for the identification of disease cases and make reports to health personnel who would inform the directorate for prompt attention. The District Health Director said the TBAs had supported pregnant women to deliver safely in addition to encouraging, advising them and referring cases beyond their competence to the Saint Theresa's hospital at Nkoranza.

Mr. Hinneh expressed appreciation for the support of the volunteers and TBAs in health care delivery within the district, and would therefore, be provided with identification cards, T-shirts and Wellington Boots to boost their morale.

He appealed to non-governmental organizations, philanthropists and individuals to assist the volunteers financially or in kind to encourage them to continue to contribute to safe health care delivery. Miss Alice Vorleto, Nkoranza District Public Health Nurse stressed the need for supervisors and coordinators to reach out to opinion leaders within the communities and give them prior information and education about the immunization programme for children between age zero and five.

Miss Vorleto appealed to teachers, parents and guardians to sensitise students and pupils about the importance of immunization. Mr. Augustine Frimpong, Nkoranza District Disease Control Officer, said the district obtained 104 per cent coverage during the immunisation conducted in April this year.

Mr. Frimpong announced that some new settlements had been discovered and would be included during the immunisation exercise from November 11 to 13.

The new areas are, Pienyina, Camp, Dasagwa, Fia-Aboi and Bonsukrom.

Mr. Henry Amoako Asante, Chairman of Nkoranza District Assembly Social Services sub-committee and the district health committee, urged Assembly members to educate the electorate to patronize the programme to make it successful.