The regional launch of campaign against yellow fever has been launched at Tangasia in the Nadowli district of the Upper West Region with a call on the people to adopt proper hygienic life in order to prevent the yellow fever mosquito from spreading the causative agent of the disease. The Nadowli district chief executive, Abu Kasangabata therefore called for effective sensitization of the people about the menace of yellow fever epidemic.He said environmental sanitation is very dear to the Nadowli district assembly; the assembly he said is doing all within its power to provide portable drinking water to the people in ensuring that they are healthy. He said recent immunization exercise carried out in the district scored 94% success within the district, this he said is a remarkable achievement. The Nadowli DCE said there are several related problems associated with health delivery in the district; this compelled the district assembly to construct 16 CHPS compounds across the district. According to him the NDC government has pledged to access quality health services to Ghanaians.
He said the district assembly is making it mandatory for all chiefs, unit committee members, elders and opinion leaders in all communities in the district to carry all pregnant women to health facilities across the district when the need arises. He said this has been time tested convention which in due course will be made to become a law. He said any pregnant woman who dies in any community in the district, the chiefs and unit committee members especially will be held responsible.
He advised the people to beware about the emergence of a mining company in the district and said no mining community has truly benefited from mining operations. He warned that the activities of the mining company will bring in its wake certain diseases such as HIV/AIDS and many others related venereal diseases, this he said the people must be ready to face the emerging challenges associated with mining operations in the district. He said the Nadowli district assembly will be embarking on mass spraying along the Black Volta to fight against the mosquito causing yellow fever in order to save human lives in the district.
The regional manager of Zoomlion, Emmanuel Volsuri said the launch is a joint program between the Nadowli district assembly and the Zoomlion Company in direct response to the outbreak of yellow fever in some districts in the region. He said the program will involve door to door sensitization program to combat the yellow fever mosquito. He advised the people to take simple hygiene issues seriously by making sure that soak aways, empty disposable tins are properly disposed off. People must also cover all containers with water.
The regional environmental health director of the Upper West Region Mr. Rex Mathew Jakpa said over 60% of diseases at the district and 80% of diseases at the regional could be prevented if simple hygiene methods are followed by the people, but said poor sanitary conditions are the bane of the people. He said yellow fever is spread from person to person infected by a virus through a mosquito bite. He advised against the rampant spread of stagnant water as that is a serious environmental problem in any community. He said all breeding sites of mosquitoes must be eliminated as mosquito bites can lead to explosion of many diseases.
BMJ Seidu
