KPONE-KATAMANSO MUNICIPAL HEALTH DIRECTORATE UNDERTAKES GENDER-BASED INITIATIVE PROJECT ON IMMUNIZATION.
The Municipal Health Directorate in collaboration with JSI Research and Training Institute organized a Dissemination Meeting focused on GENDER-BASED INITIATIVE PROJECT ON IMMUNIZATION. The project aimed at addressing gender disparities in accessing immunization services, increase community awareness and ensure equitable access for all individuals, particularly children. The meeting brought together key stakeholders to discuss strategies, share insights and foster collaboration to make the initiative a success.
Rebecca Chase, the Senior Programs Officer, JSR-USA, in her presentation gave a brief background about JSI. She said that, JSI is a nonprofit organization that works to create and strengthen sustainable systems that enables people of all ages to receive vaccines through local providers.
Rebecca Chase; Senior Programs officer, JSI-USA
She also said, across the globe, including Ghana, women are predominantly perceived as the primary care givers responsible for bringing children for vaccination. Existing strategies to boost demand for vaccination commonly target mothers, however mothers may not be the only care decision-makers in the household regarding immunization but adopting a family-focused approach by involving men as equal partners, addressing gender-specific barriers and promoting male engagement in the immunization process has increase immunization rates among children in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality.
Dr Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah; the Municipal Health Director – KKMA
Dr Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah, the Municipal Health Director of health service at Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly shared the Kpone-Katamanso Experience with Gender-based intervention. She said that Kpone-Katamanso Municipality was placed third(3rd) to last amongst top 20 Districts with Unvaccinated children using Penta-3 as a proxy in 2023. She noted that through the collaboration with JSI and adoptions of their strategies has helped increase the number of children vaccinated and the involvement of men in the vaccination process.
She also noted that, with assistance from JSI three (3) CHPs zone with low immunization coverage within three (3) Sub Municipals were selected, considering the diverse nature of communities involved namely; Shanghai CHPs Zone, Kpone; Unban Settlement, Switzerland CHPs Zone, Zenu; semi urban settlement and Appolonia CHPs Zone, Appolonia; Rural settlement. Health personnels were trained and deployed to embark on community engagement to educate community members on the need for men to be involved in vaccination activities. She was excited and touted some achievements of the intervention; increase in male participation, increase community participation and involvement in immunization service, improved relationship with community, mothers are now empowered by their husbands, increased knowledge on the importance of childhood immunization, increase CWC sessions, data validation, enhance supportive supervision and capacity building of staff and she also noted some challenges encountered during the period, which are but not limited to periodic shortage of some vaccines e.g. yellow fever, Meningitis A (MEN-A), inadequate staff – fewer outreach point, poor road network and vehicle accessibility. Etc.
She further expressed her gratitude to JSI for choosing Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Assembly to undertake such interventions to improve and expand vaccination among children. She said like Oliver twist, the Municipality need many more of such interventions to improve upon the health delivery.
Group Picture
KPONE KATAMANSO HEALTH DIRECTORATE HOLDS 2023 ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW – 3-3-2024
The Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Health Directorate has reviewed its 2023 performance scorecards to assess its improvement or otherwise in service delivery in the year under review.
Dr Esther Priscilla Biamah-Danquah, the Municipal Health Director, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the performance assessment against the previous years was very important in ensuring efficient and quality health service delivery.
It would also help in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the Directorate and how to maximise its gains to meet the health demands of the people, she said.
Dr Biamah-Danquah said though 2023 was very challenging, the Directorate made sorte gains on some selected Out- Patients Department (OPD) indicators compared to 2022.
Whereas 169,273 OPD cases were seen in 2022, a total of 181,907 were attended to in 2023, representing per capita cases of 0.39 and 0.41, respectively.
Acute urinary tract infection cases were 7,983 in 2022 and 13,638 in 2023, with uncomplicated malaria cases shooting up from 9,966 in 2022 to 12,271 in 2023
Dr Biamah-Danquah said institutional maternal death within the municipality had seen a sharp decline from 51 per cent per 10,000 births in 2022 to 46 per cent per 10,000 births in 2023.
Stillbirths also reduced from 3.8 per cent in 2022 to 3.6 per cent in 2023.
She noted that health delivery services were evolving, therefore, the workers must acquaint themselves with the modern trends in health delivery services to meet current demands.
“The performance review will bring out the areas where staff would have to be given continuous training to build their capacity to improve quality healthcare in the municipality,” the Municipal Health Director said.
She called on the Kpone-Katamanso residents to support health institutions and workers in their localities to ensure a conducive environment for health delivery.
Some hard-working staff were presented with plaques in appreciation of their commitment to service delivery within the municipality.
WORLD AIDS DAY AT KPONE KATAMANSO
As part of efforts to increase awareness and sensitization on HIV/AIDS, and measures to curb the disease, Kpone Katamanso Municipal Health Directorate planned series of activities to mark World AIDS Day. These activities include sensitization program at Obonu FM at Tema community 1, a screening program with adolescent unit, where all adolescents present were counselled and tested with the permission of the teachers. On the 4th of December 2023, the day was marked with a health screening activity at Gbetsile Number 1 station and selected sub districts. Prior to that, there was mobile van announcement creating awareness about the disease and inviting people to get screened. The assembly men for the various sub districts, and other HIV committee members from assembly were also invited.
The screening exercise included blood pressure monitoring, weight and height (body mass index), eye screening, ear, nose and throat screening, and a counsellor at the end to educate all participants. Talk on HIV and AIDS was given during the screening, and participants were allowed to ask questions which were answered.
Total number screened was seventy-seven (81), out of that 3 tested positive for HIV, 2 new cases and 1 known positive. 10 had high blood pressure level and 6 with low levels. Everyone was counselled on their body mass index, the eye unit saw cases such as kerato conjunctivitis, dry eyes, and allergic conjunctivitis. The Ear nose and throat unit also had participants coming in with diseases such as impacted wax and some were given referral to the facility for further management. All participants were counselled on their body mass index, the eye unit saw cases such as Kerato conjunctivitis, dry eyes, and allergic conjunctivitis. Participant ages range from 11 to 71.
During the farmers day Celebration on 8th December, 2023 the Municipality also celebrated the world HIV Day. This was successful activities carried out include eye screening, ENT screening, HIV screening, TB screening, BP, BMI nutrition counselling and consultation
CELEBRATION OF WORLD AIDS DAY AT KPONE BAWALESHIE HEALTH CENTER
SENSITIZATION OF WORLD AIDS DAY AT OBONU FM
ADOLESCENT HEALTH WEEK
The Adolescent Health Week, is an annual health campaign consisting of dynamic events to inspire adolescents, their health care providers, teachers, parents and their communities to come together and celebrate young people and advocate for a successful transition into adulthood.
In line with this, the Ghana Health Service has set aside a week in the month of November as the Adolescent Health Week. The week was observed from 27th – 30th November 2023 in the Municipality under the theme “Every adolescent counts: accessible health care for all” and the sub theme “maximizing the potentials of adolescents; a skill building approach to preventing teenage pregnancy” to highlight the importance of preventing teenage pregnancy and its negative consequences.
This year’s adolescent health week was climaxed with series of activities including forum, health screening, inter-school debate and skills training. This was held at the auditorium of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Kpone Kokompe on 30th November 2023. This program brought together stakeholders from various sectors to advocate for a successful transition of the adolescent into adulthood. Participants included students from Smart Kids International School, Mt Olivet Methodist School, St. Michael Preparatory School and Perez International School.
Dr. Esther Priscilla Biamah Danquah (Municipal Director of Health Service) welcomed all who were present to the program. In her address, she emphasized on the need for adolescents to visit health facilities and share their concerns and other health problems with our adolescent friendly service providers who are always welcoming and are always ready to offer them solutions to their presenting complaints.
She stated that over 1.5million adolescents and young adults age 10-24 years died in 2021, about 4500 every day. Survival chances for adolescents and young adults vary greatly across the world (WHO 2023). These factors may range from biological to environmental and system (ie health system). Main health issues confronting adolescents include injuries and violence, alcohol and drug use, communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS early pregnancy and birth, obesity and overweight.
Access to health service plays a key role in mitigating the negative health outcomes confronting adolescent and this in line with this year’s theme every adolescent counts- accessible healthcare for all. According to the World Health Organization (WHO 2009), some basic factors need to be considered for health services to be adolescent and youth-friendly. The health services should be accessible, acceptable, equitable, appropriate, and effective from the adolescent’s, healthcare provider and health system’s perspectives.
The sub theme for this year’s adolescent health week: Maximizing the potentials of adolescents: A skill building approach to preventing teenage pregnancy is as a result of a careful review of data on the health status of adolescents in the municipality which showed a record of a steady decline in teenage pregnancy (5.8% in 2020 to 5.5% in 2022). Hence the need to highlight the on the prevention of teenage pregnancy and its negative impact on both the adolescent girl and boy.
Among the many interventions to prevent teenage pregnancy, one key intervention which provides maximum impact but it is yet not given the needed attention is capacity building in the form of skill training.
The adolescent health and development program seek to have well-informed adolescents adopting a healthy lifestyle and one the means to achieve this is through initiating complementary programmes such as self-care and building life skills (eg skills training).
It is for this reason and many more that most adolescents are lured into having unprotected sex which results in teenage pregnancy and STIs. When adolescents are given the opportunity to acquire some basic skills through such trainings, it does not only make them somewhat financially independent and support themselves with basic items. It also adds to their knowledge, builds their confidence and become more assertive. This act empowers them to become self-reliant though still under the supervision of parents and caregivers.
The Municipality has over the years recorded adolescent pregnancies which but for the sake of the GES School re-entry program they would have ended their education at the time they got pregnant. For such reasons and more, building the capacity of adolescents in diverse ways including economically cannot be overemphasized. This is because it has direct relationship and effect on their health outcomes.
In conclusion, she stated emphatically that regardless of the above, the Municipal Health Directorate has enormous challenges with regard to adolescent health spanning from societies reluctance in discussing issues concerning sex and sexuality to funding. Hence she appealed to all stakeholders to assist the Unit in reaching out to adolescent in the municipality. She mentioned that some of the adolescent corners needs to be refurbished with basic equipment to facilitate service delivery.
She expressed profound gratitude to all stakeholders the Municipal Health Directorate for their support all these years to see adolescent become responsible adults – GES Kpone, Adom Zoe Foundation, Rotary Club of Tema Comm 23, management of all schools present and parents, NYA and Social Wefare.
Ms Henrietta Agyeiwaa Gyebi (The Municipal Adolescent Health Coordinator) also highlighted on some of the key achievements and activities being conducted at the adolescent unit in line with making health services accessible to all also on its achievements over the years.
- The unit has increased adolescent corners from 1 in 2021 to 4 in 2023 as well as trained service providers to mane the corners.
- Increased adolescent family planning from 3.2% in 2019 to 9.6% in 2022
- Opened 1 community adolescent health club (2022) and increased in-school clubs from 2 in 2018 to 20 in 2023.
- Undertook a gender transformation project with Women Media and Change (NGO) under which 400 adolescent were taken through gender, leadership and mentorship training. Ten students from different schools were also trained as peer educators
- Reduced teenage pregnancy from 5.8% in 2020 to 5.5% in 2022 though it is steady.
- World menstrual hygiene has over the years been celebrated with awareness creation, distribution of sanitary pads, detergents and hematinic with support from Rotary Club of Tema Com 25, Sanita Company and Shalina Company.
- The Municipality has collaborated with Sanford Health Ghana Clinic to vaccinate over 1200 adolescents from 2022 and still ongoing.
- Adolescent health advocacy week for the past 2years been celebrated with series of activities including healthy competitions and health screenings for adolescents and it has received great support from Rotary Club of Tema Com 25, Adom Zoe Foundation(2023) and other Key Personalities who wouldn’t want their names to be mentioned.
Other stakeholders who were present (National Youth Authority, Department of Social Welfare and the HIV Coordinator at KKMA) also gave their solidarity messages and they all advised the adolescents to remain focused on their studies, their dreams and future aspirations.
The Chairperson, Mr. Jonathan Biaku (Rotary Club) gave his closing remark and he expressed gratitude to all participants and stakeholders for taking time off their busy schedule to attend the ceremony. He also pleaded with all the stakeholders to make adolescent health a priority because healthy adolescents will make a healthy nation. A student from St Michael Preparatory School gave the vote of thanks and the closing prayer was given by a representative of Adom Zoe Foundation (NGO).
A resource person Mrs. Helena Okuma-boyd took the adolescents through the local preparation of two detergents thus bleach and antiseptic. They were taken through the importance and the uses of detergents. She started with a step by step preparation of the antiseptic and the bleach. They were then were grouped into 4 and given the all the materials needed to prepare the solutions. They were made to put on protective clothing (nose mask, hand gloves, waterproof apron etc) to prevent inhalation of the chemicals used, spillage on clothes and irritation on the hands.
Health screening was conducted for adolescents who were present at the celebration. Screening included Weight, Height, Body Mass Index, Hepatitis B, HIV and Syphilis. One-on-one counselling was conducted for adolescents on the screenings results and on their personal hygiene. In all a total of 125 students were screened. Below is a table showing the number screened and outcome of the screening.
|
BODY MASS INDEX |
HIV |
SYPHILIS |
HEPATITIS B |
||||||||
|
Underweight |
Normal |
Overweight |
Obese |
Pos |
Neg |
Pos |
Neg |
Pos |
Neg |
||
|
2 |
120 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
125 |
0 |
125 |
0 |
125 |
||
|
TOTAL SCREENED – 102 |
|||||||||||
|
10 – 14yrs |
15 – 19yrs |
|
|||||||||
|
88 |
37 |
|
|||||||||
Adolescent Health Week in Kpone Katamanso Municipality was a period to bring together stakeholders in adolescent health to take a second look at how to improve on the health status of adolescents in the Municipality. Adolescents must be given age appropriate comprehensive sexuality education and also opportunities to develop like skills. This will guide them as they journey in life. The celebration also created a platform for sharing information, ideas and concerns with adolescents in the. This celebration also created a platform for socialization and for students to have fun.
The Municipal Assembly and other Institutions and Industries in the Municipality should consider adolescent health as an issue of concern because healthy adolescents will grow up to become healthy adults to take up work positions in these areas. Hence it is necessary to pay attention to how these adolescents grow up and turn into and what that means for businesses and the nation at large. Adolescent health programs should be supported financially or in any other way that will help in reaching out to all adolescents in the Municipality.
Government should allocate resources into Adolescent Health and build capacity of more health staff in handling adolescent health issues and problems
REPORT IN PICTURES
