28-05-20111 s
Narration: The Food and Drugs Board among other regulatory bodies have been entreated to be extra vigilant in ensuring that unapproved malaria drugs are not produced nor imported into the country. The Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Lucy Awuni who made the call at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region said the use of such unapproved malaria drugs by consumers poses a serious health challenge to health service delivery in the country since they are costly and ineffective medicines for simple malaria treatment. Mrs. Awuni, who was speaking at the Regional launch of the affordable medicines facility for Malaria, also recommended the use of Artemisinin–based Combination Therapies (ACTs) as the first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria. Isaac Asare has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
CUE IN
END CUE
ANCR V/O
Report
Malaria still remains one of the leading causes of deaths in the country accounting for over 38 percent of total Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) in public health institutions. It is also the leading cause of workdays lost and school absenteeism among others. The diseases since its discovery has been at the top of the agenda of the Ministry of Health , the Ghana Health Services and other development partners since it has caused the death of many particularly pregnant women and children under five years. In the Upper East Region 53.3 percent of the OPD cases at both public and private health facilities were due to malaria and its related cases in 2010. It also constitute 41.4 percent of the total admission in health facilities in the region thus calling for immediate interventions to curb the menace before it assumes an alarming proportion. A number of initiatives as part of efforts to combat the disease has been implemented and integrated into the various communities across the country. Notably among them is the Roll Back Malaria Initiative, which is a malaria control strategy based on the principle of early recognition of the disease and prompt treatment using appropriate and effective anti-malaria drugs. The regional launch of the affordable medicines facility for malaria on the theme: “ACTs Affordable and Quality Medicines for Malaria” was organized to draw the attention of the public on the usage of ACTs as the first line treatment for uncomplicated malaria as compared to the conventional way of treating the disease with mono-therapies such as ‘chroloquine’ among other ineffective drugs. Addressing participants including chiefs, departmental heads, health professional s and representatives from the health Ministry, the Deputy Upper Regional Minister, Lucy Awuni, recommended the use of ACTs in the treatment of malaria. The drugs, she noted are a combination of Artesunate and Amodiaquine, which also comes in two forms, namely, Artemether Lumefantrine and Dihydroartemisinin Piperaquine. These effective malaria drugs, she further said, are being introduced into the country to eliminate the ineffective mono-therapies in the system since they are of better quality and above all affordable for public use. Mrs. Awuni, moreover drew the attention of the public not to buy the drugs above the approved price of Gh¢1.50 pesewas. She said about 1.7 doses of the ACTs have arrived in Ghana and can be purchased in all pharmacy and chemical shops throughout the country. Mrs. Awuni later charged the various regulatory bodies to halt the sale and importation of all unapproved malaria drugs into the country.. The Deputy Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. James Akpablie, touched on the preventive methods of treating malaria through the proper use of bed nets and the adoption of good sanitary practices and called on the public to focus on the prevention of malaria rather than spending time and money to fight the disease. He also encouraged the general public to stick to the use of the ACTs since they stand as the preferred and approved drug for treating uncomplicated malaria. Dr Akpablie in his later submission urged the public to properly monitor and ensure that the prices and use of these drugs with green leave logo are not abused.
END
No comments:
Post a Comment