Sanitation-related diseases accounted for about GH¢8.6 million [US$ 5.8 million] of money spent in the treatment of diseases reported to health facilities in the Upper West Region [in 2008] and thereby strained the finances of the various Mutual Health Insurance schemes. Out of this amount about GH¢7,427,351 [US$ 5 million] was spent on patients on admission while GH¢1,254,117 [US$ 0.85 million] took care of out patients. These diseases are malaria, acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea.
Alhaji Abu Yahaya, Chairman of the Upper West Regional Health Committee who disclosed this at Wa on [13 June 2009] said during the period, 208,309 patients reported at these facilities with malaria while 29,494 patients and 10,537 patients suffered from acute respiratory infections and diarrhoea respectively.
Speaking when he presided at the closing session of a one-week course for Sanitation Guards drawn from the Wa Municipality, Wa East, Wa West and Sissala East Districts, he noted that these diseases were 90% preventable if the people changed their behaviour and attitude to sanitation. He called on the government to invest heavily in sanitation in order to arrest the huge money that was constantly expended on medical care and the man-hours lost as a result of diseases that could be prevented.
Mr. Emmanuel Volsuri, Regional Operations Supervisor of Zoom Lion Ghana Limited said 90 Sanitation Guards had so far been trained in the region and provided with the necessary logistics and bicycles and uniform to enhance their work. He said Zoom Lion organized the training programme to impart in the participants the relevant skills and knowledge to carry their duties effectively. The Guards are expected to assist Environmental Health Officers in hygiene education and promotion, premise inspection, dissemination of sanitary information, supervision and monitoring of sanitation services.
Waste collection bicycle. Zoomlion Ghana Ltd.
Source: GNA, Ghana Business News, 14 Jun 2009
1 response so far ↓
Christi // July 2, 2009 at 6:06 pm |
Zambikes is another group developing bikes & carts for the people of Africa. Check out: http://www.abikes.org for more information.