1ST QUARTER PHEMC/STAKEHOLDERS ENGAGEMENT MEETING ON 2024 MASS DISTRIBUTION CAMPAIGN

In his opening remarks, the Hon. DCE of South Dayi District Hon. Godwin Kwame Dadzawa, took turns to acknowledge the health workers in the district for their great commitment towards improving the health delivery in the district.

He said the primary goal of our public health care is not only to prevent disease but also to promote good health and prolong life among the population as a whole.

He further tasked the District Health Directorate to target the vulnerable, specifically the drug addicts who do not make themselves available for medication.

He therefore wishes all stakeholders to come up with measures to address public health issues affecting the district and wishes them a peaceful deliberation .

Addressing the stakeholders in the meeting, South Dayi District Director of Health, Mr. Jonas Timbere said despite the numerous challenges facing the district, health care service delivery has improved tremendously.

Explaining the purpose of the meeting, he noted that strengthening collaboration among stakeholders is crucial in their quest to provide quality health care services to the public.

During his presentation, Mr. Jonas Kolog Timbire disclosed that the number of patients who were reported to our health centers increased tremendously as while as health insurance coverage improved to 82% coverage based on the 52,234 district population.

Access to Facilities: The directorate is taking a lot of measures to bring health delivery to the doorstep of the people, He placed emphasis on the operationalization of the GOVCO clinic, the use of mobile vans to deliver health services to people in remote areas, and the establishment of new health centers in our two giant markets, Dzemeni and Kpeve.

Mr. Vadis Adesi presented information on point mass distributions (LLINs) in the district.

He said the exercise would be in three phases.

Phase 1: Training of Registration Assistants with identification tags and Ghana Health Service branded T-shirts would be deployed to undertake the exercise. The exercise will run from February 22 to 23, 2024.

2. Registration of persons in the target group 34,013/15,306 households; 11 March to 15 March 2024 in 68 communities

3. Distribution of nets 22nd–25th April 2024

He also presented the malaria case management plan for 2023, as follows:

Uncomplicated malaria suspect 36,110

Uncomplicated malaria test: 34,853

Uncomplicated malaria positive: 15,130

Proposition of malaria: 96.4%

Mr. Gideon Norvor updated the priority diseases suspected in South Dayi District, 2020–2023.

as follows

For 2020; cholera 2, measles 8, meningitis 2, yellow fever 7, AFP 1, and COVID 271

2021; cholera 0, measles 7, meningitis 0, yellow fever 3, AFP 2, COVID 158

2022; cholera 0, measles 8, meningitis 1, yellow fever 4, AFP 1, COVID 66

2023; cholera 0, measles 12, meningitis 2, yellow fever 1, AFP 3, COVID 0

He further listed the way forward to mitigate issues that affected the unit in previous years.

To organize a quarterly PHEMC meeting

To engage PHEMC members frequently

To intensify yellow fever surveillance

To organize refresher training for staff on disease surveillance

To solicit for support in transporting to labs in Accra.

Mrs. Happy Alonu took on social and behavioral changes in communication during LLIN registration and distribution/risk communication.

She said theres a need to clarify and dispel the false rumors linked to the distribution of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. She therefore tasked stakeholders with educating their members to desist from selling the net, using it to fence and protect their gardens, or as a fishing net.

But rather, it should be used after being aired for 8 hours in ashady areas.