Dalive-Torzikpota community members sensitized on dengue fever

Dalive-Torzikpota CHPS Health officials organized a clean-up exercise to raise awareness about the recent Dengue Fever outbreak.

This event was spearheaded by the Assembly Member, Hon. Peter Narteh, following the detection of nine out of 36 confirmed cases in Ghana.

The health officials emphasized the importance of early detection and treatment, advising against self-medication if symptoms of fever appear, as it could be Dengue Fever. They stressed the need to report to the CHPS for proper diagnosis and treatment.

"The focus is on early detection. When you have a fever or feel unwell, don’t assume it’s malaria and opt for self-medication. Come to the Community-Based Health Planning and Service (CHPS), where we will take your blood sample to determine if it's malaria. If it isn't, we will refer you to the Dabala Diagnostic Center for further examination," stated Hon. Peter Narteh.

Dalive CHPS health officials also highlighted the importance of ongoing public education on environmental cleanliness to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds and the use of treated mosquito nets. They emphasized that not all fevers are malaria.

Hon. Peter Narteh acknowledged Hon. Kobena Mensah Woyome, the Member of Parliament for the South Tongu Constituency, for establishing a diagnostic center at Dabala Polyclinic, which has greatly improved healthcare access. He expressed hope for a similar initiative at the Dalive CHPS compound in the future.

The Dalive CHPS Compound was awarded the 2023 Best Performing CHPS compound by the South Tongu District Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service. The citation from the 2023 Excellence Awards recognized Dalive CHPS as the ‘Most Outstanding CHPS Compound of The Year 2023,’ noting its excellence in all major performance indicators and its commitment to providing sustainable, affordable, equitable, and accessible healthcare services.

The Dengue Fever confirmation followed cases of clinical malaria that did not respond to antimalarial treatment, prompting further investigation. The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) confirmed the Dengue Fever cases after analyzing samples from patients with acute febrile illnesses. The outbreak has now spread beyond the Eastern Region, with new cases reported in the Central Region.

Dengue Fever, a severe flu-like illness caused by a virus spread by Aedes mosquitoes, poses a significant health risk if not managed properly. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rashes.