Health facilities in Northern Ghana lacks pathologist

13-09-13       

Symptoms of Leukemia

Health facilities in the three regions of the north cannot boast of a single pathologist to examine samples of body tissue for diagnostic or forensic purposes. The situation coupled with inadequate diagnostic equipment as well as specialised human resource, had resulted in facilities inability to identify certain health conditions that require diagnostic procedures to treat. The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor-Williams, who confirm this to Radio Ghana said health service delivery in the Northern Ghana, particularly, the Upper East had over the years suffered a major setback and had over time, remained handicapped in producing the needed human resource to man the various health facilities. He said unlike pneumonia, typhoid, and malaria related cases, certain conditions require careful examination to be able to confirm a particular illness. He cited Leukaemia, which is also known in medical terms as the Cancer of the Blood, as one of the conditions since its discovery has to do with blood examination and bone marrow aspirations among other specialised diagnostic processes. Dr Awoonor-Williams admitted losing two of his staff to Leukaemia infection and attributed the cause of their death to the lack of diagnostic equipment and a pathologist specialist to confirm their case. He said though the region’s major health facility could boast of a medical laboratory, research facilities to detect such diseases is absent, hence the need for practical intervention to address the challenge.  For him, it was imperative for the health sector to prioritize the establishment of outreach pathological services to enable them conduct surgery and identify affected tissues and organs. With this, specimens could be sent to bigger health facilities by express means for diagnosis and histology. According to him, consultations to that effect have been held with the Former Director -General of the Ghana Health Services, Prof Badu Akosa, during his recent visit to the region. Prof Akosa, he revealed has expressed his resolve to partner the region attract the needed specialists including surgeons and haematologists to support the few doctors in the region and called on the ministry to assist in that regard. Moreover, strategic plans have also been mapped out to woo doctors into the region, touching on the provision of workable framework within which motivation was the key factor. As a way forwards in dealing with certain conditions, Dr Awoonor- Williams underscored the urgent need for early detection and timely referral and advised residents of the region to report any condition to the nearest health facility for prompt attention. He however cautioned against stigmatization, which he noted had the tendency of worsening the plight of patients, especially persons living with Leukemia and other related illnesses.

GBC                                                           END                                                                IA/