Ga West schoolchildren sensitised to dangers of TB

The National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP), in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Education Service (GES), has embarked on a TB campaign drive, with focus on schoolchildren, in an effort to stem the rising spate of tuberculosis (TB) in the Ga West municipality.

The year-long programme, being undertaken on the theme: "Zero TB Death, Starting with the communities", is being organised in conjunction with Integrated Development in Focus (DIF), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

As part of the campaign drive, the stakeholders have organised a TB awareness quiz for four junior high schools (JHSs) in the Ga West municipality —  the Sacred Heart JHS, the Amasaman M/A 1 JHS, the Amasaman  M/A 2 JHS and the St Joseph's RC JHS.

According to the founder of DIF, Madam Josephine Agbo Nettey, the whole idea was to sensitise communities in the Ga West municipality to the dangers of TB and how to prevent it from spreading further.

She said the death rate for TB in the area was nine per cent, with 40 per cent being HIV/AIDS-related.

Madam Nettey added that despite efforts being made by the GHS to address the problem, the death rate kept rising, with children and persons living with HIV/AIDS being the worst victims, hence the need to target schoolchildren in the educational campaign.

During the competition, the contestants answered questions on the history, causes and prevention of tuberculosis. The four-round competition also had questions on politics, religion and policy issues in the health sector.

The programme had sections during which representatives of the GHS, the GES, NTP and the Ga West Municipal Assembly gave talks on how TB could be prevented or detected for early treatment.

An assembly member, Mr Thomas Aryee, entreated the students to be agents of change in their various communities by spreading the knowledge acquired during  the programme.

He thanked the organisers of the quiz for the programme and urged them to do more in educating the public on the disease.

After a keen competition, the Amasaman M/A 2 JHS, represented by Anita Asiedu, Kaku Rovel and Enoch Eduful, emerged winners. They were given a trophy, certificates, stationery and beverages as their prize.