Apam (C/R), Feb. 6, GNA - Mr Kwame Quandahor of the

Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division of the Ghana

Health Service (GHS), has advocated the use of the Rapid

Diagnostic Test to ascertain malaria cases reported in the country's

health facilities. Speaking at the Annual Performance Review meeting of health

facilities at Apam in the Gomoa West Region of the Central Region,

he said almost all health facilities in the country had made malaria the

leading disease reported at their facilities. He expressed doubt about how the medical authorities were able

to arrive at such a conclusion, explaining that there were a lot of

diseases which manifested as feverish conditions. Mr Quandahor said maternal mortality was the major concern of

the GHS as the 450 deaths per 1,000 births was too high. He noted that 90 per cent of government subvention to the GHS

went into payment of salaries, leaving only 10 per cent for

administrative work. Dr Yaw Ofori Yeboah, District Director of Health Service said

inadequate health workers was thwarting health delivery in the area. He said teenage pregnancy was common in the district, especially

at Mumford, Dago and Apam. The District Director said hypertension was also on the increase

and urged the people to reduce salt intake to prevent the medical

phenomenon. Dr Yeboah commended the District Assembly for its

contribution to health delivery. Mrs Augusta Akyaa Sarpong, District Director of Education

expressed concern about defilement cases in the district and

cautioned against the settlement of such criminal acts at home. She appealed to the chiefs and queen mothers in the area to form

abstinence clubs in schools as a measure to prevent the spread of

HIV. Mr Alex Gyimah, District Co-ordinator of the National Youth

Employment Programme said the programme had trained 450 health

assistants locally to support health delivery. Mr Frank Amankrah, Community Development Officer said

Gomoa and Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District were leading in HIV

cases in the Central Region. Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II, Omanhen of Gomoa

Akyempim said the Year-of 96Action declared by President John

Evans Atta Mills enjoined the citizens to be healthy to enable them to

meet the challenge. In a speech read on his behalf, Mr Theophilus Aidoo-Mensah,

District Chief Executive called on Ghanaians to change their attitude

to health and endeavour to wash their hands with soap after

attending toilet or returning from work. He said the assembly had established five Community Health and

Planning Services Zones and was in the process of creating

additional zones.