No treatment for Monkey Pox; prevention, early detection is key – DG, GHS

Ghana, according to the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye confirms first five cases on monkey Pox in the country. Dr. Patrick Kuma Aboagye on citi FMs Eye Witness News this evening says the virus is in three regions; Eastern, Western and Greater Accra region.
 
He explains that investigations reveal a total of 12 suspected cases since May 24, this year. Out of that number, five cases have been confirmed in Accra. None has lost their lives to this disease.
Monkey Pox is a disease transmitted from infested animals such as monkeys, squirrels rodents, etc into human.  Dr. Partrick Aboagye further explained that human-to-human transmission occurs through skin-to-skin contact, face-to-face or mouth-to-skin contact. “It can also be spread through touching of beddings, towels, clothes used by an infected person”. He said.

Symptoms:

Fever, swellings in the armpit, headaches, muscle aches and general body pains as well as skin rashes and blisters are the symptoms.

 

“There is clearly no treatment for Monkey Pox. Fortunately, it’s a mild to moderate case, especially the West Africa on is mild to moderate” The Director General said.

 

 

He cautioned the public to keep their skin lesions clean and hydrated.
 
He called for prevention and early detection among the general public to ensure this disease does not become a pandemic.

 

Monkey Pox is reported to be very endemic in Nigeria and Cameroon and has recently found its way into Ghana.

Protect yourself from monkeypox

  • Avoid contact with infected people.
  • Wear face mask if you are in contact with someone with symptoms.
  • Avoid contact with infected animals.
  • Practice good hand hygiene, especially after you come in contact with infected — or suspected infected — animals or humans. For example, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Use personal protective equipment when you care for patients with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infection.
  • Only eat well cooked meat. 

Teenage pregnancy: Upper East, Ahafo regions still lead prevalence rate

The Upper East and Ahafo remains top on list of teenage pregnancy prevalence rate in the country, according to statistics indicated by the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu.

 

 

The two regions have maintained this position since 2016.

 

 

The national prevalence rate is currently is 11.2 percent with Upper East leading the regional prevalence rate at 15.4 percent as against 15.9 percent in 2016.  The Ahafo region in 2016 had the prevalence rate of 14.6 percentage, which has come down to 11.2 percent in 2020.

 

 

These was shared at Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting when the Health Minister updated the house on health related issues.  

 

 
MP for North Tongu Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa on behalf of Thomas Apem Nyarko, MP for Asuogyaman, asked why the two regions continue to register high cases of teenage pregnancy and if there are measure to arrest the menace.  
 

 

Mr. Agyemang-Manu cited the lack of education on safe sex, adolescent dropping out of school due to financial constraints among other social challenges in these area and generally, as being responsible for the increase in the spate of teenage pregnancy and teenage motherhood.
 

 

Mr. Ablakwa implied that perhaps no efforts are made to identify and punish people who take advantage of minors.

 

 

In his response the minister said his ministry collaborates with the Social Services Department of the Ministry of Gender, in handling these cases and in some instances parents or relatives ask for “out of police stations settlements.”

 

 

On whether there is national elimination target that country is working towards, Mr. Agyemang-Manu says he would need to consult the Ghana Health Service.

 

 

Meanwhile, the minister read out some government actions taken to curb the growing trends in teenage pregnancy and teenage motherhood in Ghana.
 
1.      Developed a manual to build capacity of service providers to provide accurate health information to young people to enable them prevent having indiscriminate sex.
 
2.      Instituted Community Based Sexual Reproduction Health and Nutrition Program for out of school adolescents.
 
3.      Trained young people as Peer Support Service Providers to give non-clinical health services and information to their peers.
 
4.      There is also the You Must Know (YMK) Mobile App, which have social and behavior change communication materials and online counselors to provide real time education on pregnancy prevention and safe sex.

 

5.      Transcribed the adolescent health info pack into braille to for the visually impaired young people. There is also the social media among others platforms.
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