Story: Augustina Tawiah
Teenage pregnancy cases among young adolescents (age 10 to 14) are gradually increasing, compared to cases among older adolescents (15 to 19) which are reducing.
According to a National Health Facility Data, teenage pregnancy cases among younger adolescents increased slightly in 2008, with 2,269 cases being recorded, as against the 2007 figure of 1,616.
However, among older adolescents, they reduced slightly in 2008, with 111,021 cases being recorded, as against the 101,527 recorded in 2007.
The records for previous years also showed that while cases among older adolescents reduced, those among younger adolescents increased.
For instance, in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, 1,079 cases (representing 0.14 per cent), 1,382 (0.2 per cent), 1,574 (0.202 per cent) and 1,395 (0.2 per cent), respectively, were recorded among younger adolescents.
Among older adolescents in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, 147,720 (14.5 per cent), 106, 254 (14.1 per cent), 107,157 (13, 784 per cent) and 103, 115 (13.0 per cent), respectively, were recorded.
The Adolescent Health Programme Manager of the Ghana Health Service, Ms Rejoice Nutakor, who made the data available in an interview, gave the possible reason for the increase in the cases of pregnancy among younger adolescents to be the inability of the service to reach pre-adolescents during its outreach programmes.
"Our targets have been adolescents, not pre-adolescents. What this means, therefore, is that we need to do more to reach out to them with education and information. We need to start talking to them about the parts of their bodies, touches that are dangerous and those that are positive so that they will be aware of those things before anybody takes advantage of them," she explained.
Ms Nutakor gave another possible reason for the increase in teenage pregnancy as exposure to the media, especially television, which, she explained, caused children to put what they watched into practice just to satisfy their curiosity.
She said parents also lacked information on adolescent reproductive health, saying those who had did not have the skills to communicate to their children.
She further mentioned poverty, which caused children to be taken advantage of, and low self-esteem as other possible reasons.
She disagreed with the fact that the increase could be due to the free maternal care that had been introduced for pregnant mothers, stressing that "most children don’t even know about its introduction and that is not the message we give them during our programmes".
On the reduction in pregnancy cases among older adolescents, she explained that it could be that the message to them during outreach programmes had been received well.
"It could also be that they are using protection such as condoms or are procuring abortion services," she added.
On measures that the GHS was taking to reduce teenage pregnancy, she said it was trying to bring on board other sectors such as the Ministries of Women and Children's Affairs (MOWAC), Education, Youth and Sports, Justice and Chieftaincy and Culture to play their roles effectively so that together they could stop teenage pregnancy.
Ms Nutakor called for the support of parents and religious leaders in educating young people on their reproductive health.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
DR GOBIND NANKANI — THE BOOKWORM
Story: Augustina Tawiah
For young Gobind Nankani, being born into a wealthy family had its challenges. This was because, as a young school boy, he had to contend with a lot of teasing from his schoolmates anytime he was studying because they thought with his family background, he should not waste his time on books.
"For me, having a rosy childhood was actually bad because my friends did not expect me to work hard since my family was wealthy. They always thought I was wasting my time studying."
But young Nankani did not allow those negative remarks by his friends to stop him from studying. "I ignored them because I felt as a young boy there were certain things I had to do and one of them was to study very hard and that was what I did."
Although his friends spent most of their time playing, he did not follow suit. “I was more selective with how much time I spent chatting and playing football. Sometimes, I spent only an hour playing and then went back to my books. There were times that for a whole week, I would not play.”
So serious was his attitude towards his studies that in those days when his father took him to their shop and cinema to help with the family business, he took his books along to read.
Indeed, his love for his books which he said, gave him a sense of achievement and fulfilment paid off. Today, he holds a PhD in Economics from one of the top universities in the world, Harvard University, USA. Dr Gobind Nankani, a former World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region is Ghanaian by birth and Indian by parentage. His father, a businessman is a partner of one of the biggest shops in the country known as the Nankani and Hagan stores. In Kumasi, where he was born and grew up, his father used to own one of the biggest cinema theatres there, known as the Nankani Cinemas.
Dr Gobind Nankani is based in London but visits the country regularly, especially now that he has been appointed the Chairman of Ghana's Economic Advisory Council, that provides advise to the President, Prof J.E.A. Mills. Junior Graphic contacted him while in the country recently to share his childhood experiences with children. In fact, except for the colour of his skin, hair texture and name that suggested he is Indian, everything about him is Ghanaian: He speaks fluent twi, had all his education in Ghana and is married to a Ghanaian, Mrs Helen Frimpong-Nankani. In fact, his own words sum it all, “I am completely Ghanaian”.
Taking us through his school days in Kumasi, Dr Nankani said he was not treated differently by his colleagues because of the colour of his skin. “I spoke the language (twi). Besides, we played together during break time and ate "red red" just like everybody else. He spoke with nostalgia about the happy moments he spent with his friends whenever they walked to and from school and the gutter to gutter football they used to play together.
But despite all his studies, young Nankani did not neglect his responsibilities at home. According to him, in those days, after school, during school holidays and weekends he assisted in the running of the family business. These included, going to work at their shops and cinemas. At the cinema, his responsibility was to check the tickets of the people that entered. “And I remember while at the gate checking the tickets, a lot of my friends would come and I allowed them to go in free," he said smiling.
Dr Nankani grew up at Adum, Kumasi, where he said as a boy, he witnessed a lot of the political clashes that occurred between the then ruling Convention People's Party of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the National Liberation Movement (NLM) led by Baffour Osei Akoto. He said their house was just by the roadside, so he saw a lot of the violence between those two political groups. "It was disturbing for me as a young boy to see blood ooze out of people and others dead on the streets" he said.
Young Nankani started school at Asafo Kindergarten and then continued at St Anglican School where he ranked among the top students. On completion, he was enrolled at Asanteman Secondary School. From Asanteman, his mother wanted him to learn about the Indian culture, so he was sent there for further studies. However, after a three-and-half years stay there, he returned to Ghana and was enrolled at Opoku Ware SHS where he had his Sixth Form.
Dr Nankani had his Bachelor of Economics Degree at the University of Ghana, Legon, earning at the time, a rare first class honours degree and later Masters and PhD degrees from Harvard University, USA. He joined the World Bank in 1976 and left in 2006.
Dr Nankani loves reading medical literature because as a child it was his ambition to become a doctor as one way of serving society. He has twin daughters; Serwaah and Asantewaa.
For young Gobind Nankani, being born into a wealthy family had its challenges. This was because, as a young school boy, he had to contend with a lot of teasing from his schoolmates anytime he was studying because they thought with his family background, he should not waste his time on books.
"For me, having a rosy childhood was actually bad because my friends did not expect me to work hard since my family was wealthy. They always thought I was wasting my time studying."
But young Nankani did not allow those negative remarks by his friends to stop him from studying. "I ignored them because I felt as a young boy there were certain things I had to do and one of them was to study very hard and that was what I did."
Although his friends spent most of their time playing, he did not follow suit. “I was more selective with how much time I spent chatting and playing football. Sometimes, I spent only an hour playing and then went back to my books. There were times that for a whole week, I would not play.”
So serious was his attitude towards his studies that in those days when his father took him to their shop and cinema to help with the family business, he took his books along to read.
Indeed, his love for his books which he said, gave him a sense of achievement and fulfilment paid off. Today, he holds a PhD in Economics from one of the top universities in the world, Harvard University, USA. Dr Gobind Nankani, a former World Bank Vice President for the Africa Region is Ghanaian by birth and Indian by parentage. His father, a businessman is a partner of one of the biggest shops in the country known as the Nankani and Hagan stores. In Kumasi, where he was born and grew up, his father used to own one of the biggest cinema theatres there, known as the Nankani Cinemas.
Dr Gobind Nankani is based in London but visits the country regularly, especially now that he has been appointed the Chairman of Ghana's Economic Advisory Council, that provides advise to the President, Prof J.E.A. Mills. Junior Graphic contacted him while in the country recently to share his childhood experiences with children. In fact, except for the colour of his skin, hair texture and name that suggested he is Indian, everything about him is Ghanaian: He speaks fluent twi, had all his education in Ghana and is married to a Ghanaian, Mrs Helen Frimpong-Nankani. In fact, his own words sum it all, “I am completely Ghanaian”.
Taking us through his school days in Kumasi, Dr Nankani said he was not treated differently by his colleagues because of the colour of his skin. “I spoke the language (twi). Besides, we played together during break time and ate "red red" just like everybody else. He spoke with nostalgia about the happy moments he spent with his friends whenever they walked to and from school and the gutter to gutter football they used to play together.
But despite all his studies, young Nankani did not neglect his responsibilities at home. According to him, in those days, after school, during school holidays and weekends he assisted in the running of the family business. These included, going to work at their shops and cinemas. At the cinema, his responsibility was to check the tickets of the people that entered. “And I remember while at the gate checking the tickets, a lot of my friends would come and I allowed them to go in free," he said smiling.
Dr Nankani grew up at Adum, Kumasi, where he said as a boy, he witnessed a lot of the political clashes that occurred between the then ruling Convention People's Party of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the National Liberation Movement (NLM) led by Baffour Osei Akoto. He said their house was just by the roadside, so he saw a lot of the violence between those two political groups. "It was disturbing for me as a young boy to see blood ooze out of people and others dead on the streets" he said.
Young Nankani started school at Asafo Kindergarten and then continued at St Anglican School where he ranked among the top students. On completion, he was enrolled at Asanteman Secondary School. From Asanteman, his mother wanted him to learn about the Indian culture, so he was sent there for further studies. However, after a three-and-half years stay there, he returned to Ghana and was enrolled at Opoku Ware SHS where he had his Sixth Form.
Dr Nankani had his Bachelor of Economics Degree at the University of Ghana, Legon, earning at the time, a rare first class honours degree and later Masters and PhD degrees from Harvard University, USA. He joined the World Bank in 1976 and left in 2006.
Dr Nankani loves reading medical literature because as a child it was his ambition to become a doctor as one way of serving society. He has twin daughters; Serwaah and Asantewaa.
Friday, June 19, 2009
LIFE'S UNBEARABLE — SCHOOLS BLAME COMMUNITIES
Story: Augustina Tawiah
A number of schools in some communities in various parts of the country find life unbearable due to activities of inhabitants of the communities.
The schools complained that some members of the communities in which they are situated, break into the classrooms to smoke wee, engage in sexual activities and sometimes steal school property.
In an interview withMr Dominic Akorli, local GNAT Chairman (circuit 38) at the Fadama Cluster of Schools, for instance, he complained bitterly about how members of the community had been using the school's compound to play football and other sporting activities during classes and, thereby, disturbing the entire school because the compound was not fenced.
He complained that the activities of the footballers disrupted class activities as they reported as early as 5 am to play football and left around 8:20 am when school was in session “and they return in the afternoons at 3 pm when those in the afternoon session are in class,” he added.
According to him, sometimes the encroachers hide in their classrooms and engage in illicit activities leaving behind condoms which schoolchildren have to dispose of almost everyday.
"Encroachers on the school lands also make so much noise that sometimes while teaching is going on, instead of the pupils concentrating when their teachers were teaching, they dance to music being played.”
“During sporting activities in the school, some community members invade the school compound and even go to the extent of sometimes fondling female students. And no one dares complain for fear of their lives. Three pregnant female teachers on different occasions collapsed after being hit by balls during football matches played by the encroachers on the compound," he added.
At the Apenkwa Cluster of Schools, the situation was not different. A source there disclosed that the roofing of almost all the classrooms leaked because of the activities of the footballers.
The source said drug peddlers sold and smoked wee on the compound sometimes in the presence of the students adding that, "if you try to challenge them, they will harm you".
It said, because the school was not fenced, people often broke into the classrooms and sometimes eased themselves there.
Meanwhile, the Director of Basic Education, Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Stephen Adu, has stated that the GES would soon require all new schools to be fenced.
This directive would be part of a broader 'School-Friendly Environmental Guidelines' the GES was developing is meant to ensure security in schools as well as protect children and school lands.
"In urban areas and even some villages, people are taking over school lands. Some school compounds are also being used as football fields which we are aware of. People also go to schools when classes are still in session and pick up their children. If all schools are secured, all these things would be prevented," he noted.
Mr Adu, who said these in an interview said, "schools that do not have the resources to fence their buildings, especially those in the villages, can grow flowers or plants around them to serve the same purpose".
He explained that though the guidelines would not affect old school structures already in the system, "those who can afford can do so, but those who cannot, can plant hedges and also use wire mesh to secure the schools".
He stated that the school-friendly environment guidelines were still under discussion and when all was ready, it would be adopted by public schools in the country.
Ms Victoria Akrong, Headmistress of Apenkwa Presby Primary said the introduction of the guidelines would help a lot because it meant intruders who broke into schools would have to be arrested and it would check the activities of hawkers, motor riders and passers by who made so much noise while school was in session.
A number of schools in some communities in various parts of the country find life unbearable due to activities of inhabitants of the communities.
The schools complained that some members of the communities in which they are situated, break into the classrooms to smoke wee, engage in sexual activities and sometimes steal school property.
In an interview withMr Dominic Akorli, local GNAT Chairman (circuit 38) at the Fadama Cluster of Schools, for instance, he complained bitterly about how members of the community had been using the school's compound to play football and other sporting activities during classes and, thereby, disturbing the entire school because the compound was not fenced.
He complained that the activities of the footballers disrupted class activities as they reported as early as 5 am to play football and left around 8:20 am when school was in session “and they return in the afternoons at 3 pm when those in the afternoon session are in class,” he added.
According to him, sometimes the encroachers hide in their classrooms and engage in illicit activities leaving behind condoms which schoolchildren have to dispose of almost everyday.
"Encroachers on the school lands also make so much noise that sometimes while teaching is going on, instead of the pupils concentrating when their teachers were teaching, they dance to music being played.”
“During sporting activities in the school, some community members invade the school compound and even go to the extent of sometimes fondling female students. And no one dares complain for fear of their lives. Three pregnant female teachers on different occasions collapsed after being hit by balls during football matches played by the encroachers on the compound," he added.
At the Apenkwa Cluster of Schools, the situation was not different. A source there disclosed that the roofing of almost all the classrooms leaked because of the activities of the footballers.
The source said drug peddlers sold and smoked wee on the compound sometimes in the presence of the students adding that, "if you try to challenge them, they will harm you".
It said, because the school was not fenced, people often broke into the classrooms and sometimes eased themselves there.
Meanwhile, the Director of Basic Education, Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Stephen Adu, has stated that the GES would soon require all new schools to be fenced.
This directive would be part of a broader 'School-Friendly Environmental Guidelines' the GES was developing is meant to ensure security in schools as well as protect children and school lands.
"In urban areas and even some villages, people are taking over school lands. Some school compounds are also being used as football fields which we are aware of. People also go to schools when classes are still in session and pick up their children. If all schools are secured, all these things would be prevented," he noted.
Mr Adu, who said these in an interview said, "schools that do not have the resources to fence their buildings, especially those in the villages, can grow flowers or plants around them to serve the same purpose".
He explained that though the guidelines would not affect old school structures already in the system, "those who can afford can do so, but those who cannot, can plant hedges and also use wire mesh to secure the schools".
He stated that the school-friendly environment guidelines were still under discussion and when all was ready, it would be adopted by public schools in the country.
Ms Victoria Akrong, Headmistress of Apenkwa Presby Primary said the introduction of the guidelines would help a lot because it meant intruders who broke into schools would have to be arrested and it would check the activities of hawkers, motor riders and passers by who made so much noise while school was in session.
Friday, June 12, 2009
TEACH BOYS CHILD CARE AND HOME-MAKING SKILLS
Story: Augustina Tawiah
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
TEACH MALE CHILDREN HOME-MAKING SKILL
Story: Augustina Tawiah
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
THE Director of the Women's Division of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Madam Angelina Wood, has noted that male children should also be taught child care and home-making skills.
"The practice whereby girls alone do house work and help in child care should be discouraged. Such chores should be regarded as a shared responsibility within the family," she emphasised.
Mutual respect, she added, should be seen as being crucial to good family life and, therefore, boys should also be taught to respect women.
Madam Wood said this when she delivered a talk on the third Millennium Development Goal (MDG) — promote gender equality and empower women — to members of the Women's Fellowship of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church, North Kaneshie.
The talk formed part of activities to mark Women's Work Sunday which is observed by Methodists all over the world.
She called on the church and society to recognise God's gift of leadership in women and encourage them to be in leadership at all church and society levels.
"Those already in leadership positions should be supported with our prayers," she added.
She noted with concern the incidence of domestic violence in our communities and asked women to provide emotional and material support for the victims.
Madam Wood said it was time for women to know their rights and those of children.
She reminded the women of the other MDGs that had been selected for discussion and urged them to organise seminars to discuss them and take appropriate steps, where necessary, to bring them to fruition.
The other goals are the eradication of extreme poverty, achievement of universal primary education, reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
The week-long celebration was rounded off with a divine service at the church, during which funds were raised to support women's projects in the diocese.
One such project is the Hope for Teens Skill Training Programme situated on the premises of the Rev Thomas Clegg Memorial Methodist Church, Kaneshie.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Polio Immunisation successful
Story: Augustina Tawiah
The Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation(EPI) Dr Kwadwo Antwi-Agyei, has described as very successful the two rounds of nationwide polio immunisation organised for children under five years in the first quarter of this year.
He explained that in the first round, organised from February 12 to 14, 4,807,262 children were immunised as against the targeted 4,836,337.
The second round which was organised from March 26 to 29 had 5,007,789 children immunised as against the expected 4,807,262.
The Antwi-Agyei attributed the success of the campaign to the intensive awareness created. “Parents have also become more aware of the relevance of immunisation and were therefore bringing their children to be immunised,” he added.
The EPI programme manager, however, said despite the nationwide success, some districts had low coverage, adding that they were expecting 90 to 95 per cent coverage in all the districts.
The districts that recorded low coverage included Ashiedu Keteke in the Greater Accra Region with less than 80 per cent coverage in the first round of immunisation. In the second round, Sunyani West in the Brong Ahafo Region had 72.5 per cent; Talensi Nabdam in the Upper East Region, 67.1 per cent and Ketu in the Volta Region, 63.3 per cent.
Afram Plains and Ayawaso, in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, respectively had between 80 per cent and 90 per cent coverage.
He said the low coverage in those districts meant that the children were not completely covered which rendered them susceptible to the disease.
On the next line of action, Dr Antwi-Agyei said “We are still not safe. That is why we have to do another round of immunisation from May 28 to 30, 2009.”
He explained that the disease was still spreading in other West African countries with 843 recorded last year in the sub region.
Dr Antwi-Agyei assured parents that getting extra doses of the polio vaccine was not injurious to children, “Rather, they offer better protection against the disease”.
The Programme Manager of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation(EPI) Dr Kwadwo Antwi-Agyei, has described as very successful the two rounds of nationwide polio immunisation organised for children under five years in the first quarter of this year.
He explained that in the first round, organised from February 12 to 14, 4,807,262 children were immunised as against the targeted 4,836,337.
The second round which was organised from March 26 to 29 had 5,007,789 children immunised as against the expected 4,807,262.
The Antwi-Agyei attributed the success of the campaign to the intensive awareness created. “Parents have also become more aware of the relevance of immunisation and were therefore bringing their children to be immunised,” he added.
The EPI programme manager, however, said despite the nationwide success, some districts had low coverage, adding that they were expecting 90 to 95 per cent coverage in all the districts.
The districts that recorded low coverage included Ashiedu Keteke in the Greater Accra Region with less than 80 per cent coverage in the first round of immunisation. In the second round, Sunyani West in the Brong Ahafo Region had 72.5 per cent; Talensi Nabdam in the Upper East Region, 67.1 per cent and Ketu in the Volta Region, 63.3 per cent.
Afram Plains and Ayawaso, in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions, respectively had between 80 per cent and 90 per cent coverage.
He said the low coverage in those districts meant that the children were not completely covered which rendered them susceptible to the disease.
On the next line of action, Dr Antwi-Agyei said “We are still not safe. That is why we have to do another round of immunisation from May 28 to 30, 2009.”
He explained that the disease was still spreading in other West African countries with 843 recorded last year in the sub region.
Dr Antwi-Agyei assured parents that getting extra doses of the polio vaccine was not injurious to children, “Rather, they offer better protection against the disease”.
Restricted Drugs List to be expanded
Story: Augustina Tawiah
THE Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Board are discussing the possibility of increasing the number of restricted drugs in the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, disclosed this during interactions with members of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG).
He said the move was meant to support the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
He, however, stated that the expansion of the restricted drugs list did not mean that the local manufacturers should lose focus and produce sub-standard drugs.
"So far as you keep on manufacturing quality drugs, we will continue to expand the number of restricted drugs into the country," he assured.
Currently, the number of restricted drugs list stands at 66.
The minister noted that the time had come for the local pharmaceutical industry to develop in order to make its products more competitive on the international market.
"I urge you to grow your businesses, market them and penetrate other markets. By doing that, the economy of the country also grows".
During question time, the Director of M & G Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr Gopal C. Vasu, stated that the biggest problem facing the local pharmaceutical industry has to do with the delays associated with the claims they send to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
He explained that most of the manufacturers borrowed money from the banks in order to manufacture the drugs but said it was frustrating when drugs supplied to the scheme were not paid for on time.
Mr Vasu called for the representation of the association on the NHIS board.
The President of MPAG, Dr Michael Agyekum-Addo, also asked the minister to do something about the delays in the payment of their claims from the NHIA to sustain the local pharmacuetical industry.
THE Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Board are discussing the possibility of increasing the number of restricted drugs in the country.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, disclosed this during interactions with members of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Ghana (PMAG).
He said the move was meant to support the local pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
He, however, stated that the expansion of the restricted drugs list did not mean that the local manufacturers should lose focus and produce sub-standard drugs.
"So far as you keep on manufacturing quality drugs, we will continue to expand the number of restricted drugs into the country," he assured.
Currently, the number of restricted drugs list stands at 66.
The minister noted that the time had come for the local pharmaceutical industry to develop in order to make its products more competitive on the international market.
"I urge you to grow your businesses, market them and penetrate other markets. By doing that, the economy of the country also grows".
During question time, the Director of M & G Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr Gopal C. Vasu, stated that the biggest problem facing the local pharmaceutical industry has to do with the delays associated with the claims they send to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
He explained that most of the manufacturers borrowed money from the banks in order to manufacture the drugs but said it was frustrating when drugs supplied to the scheme were not paid for on time.
Mr Vasu called for the representation of the association on the NHIS board.
The President of MPAG, Dr Michael Agyekum-Addo, also asked the minister to do something about the delays in the payment of their claims from the NHIA to sustain the local pharmacuetical industry.
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