Medical assistant calls on people to take malaria seriously

Jamasi (Ash), Jan 25, GNA - Mr Osman Norgah, the Senior Medical Assistant in-charge of the Jamasi health centre, a senior medical assistant at the weekend called on Ghanaians to discard the notion that malaria is not a killer disease and should fully co-operate with the government the disease.

Speaking at a day's seminar, organised for over 100 Muslims at Jamasi last weekend, Mr Norgah advised them to avoid creating stagnant water situations, dispose of empty tins and broken bottles properly and not to throw them around their compounds to help prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

The Roll Back Malaria Programme, Global Fund and the Ghana Health Service sponsored the seminar. Mr Norgah took them through the major causes of malaria and urged them to prevent mosquito bites by using insecticide treated mosquito nets.

He assured them that it was the wish of the Health Ministry to improve the lives of the less privileged in the society and will therefore continue to organize such seminars in the various communities to ensure that the people practice sound hygienic living. The Senior Medical Assistant urged Muslims to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), which, he said, has come to replace the 'cash and carry' system to guarantee the provision of adequate health service for them.

Miss Sophia Nyamekye, a midwife at the health centre, advised the women to go to hospital immediately they become pregnant to avoid child mortality and maternal deaths.

She also urged the mothers to send their children between eight and 10 years to hospital when they are attacked by malaria, which usually develops into convulsion, which can affect their brains and can lead to death.