As the death count of students in senior high schools nationwide rises to at least eight, with many being hospitalized, the Ghana Medical Association has called for the setting up of two infectious disease centres.
In its first comments on the escalating health concerns in the senior high schools, the Association also called for better links between schools and health facilities.
[contextly_sidebar id=”VV2BB9lrtiLKQjziFTbD495xAmF24tgq”]”We reiterate our previous call to the government for the setting up of at least 2 national infectious disease centres – one in the southern sector, and the other in the northern sector to facilitate prompt diagnosis, service delivery, research and teaching.”
“The linkage of the school health system to specified facilities must be strengthened, the statement added.
SHS deaths
The diseases that have been noted in afflicted senior high schools so far are meningitis and the H1N1 pandemic strain of Influenza, also known as swine flu.
The deaths have occurred in both in the northern and southern zone of the country, starting with the suspected outbreak of swine flu at Kumasi Academy in the Ashanti Region where four students died.
This was followed by another death at the Koforidua Secondary Technical School in the Eastern Region, and another at the Damango Senior High School in the Northern Region from meningitis.
Health officials in the Ashanti Region and the Eastern Regions have since said they have contained the spread of the various diseases.
The latest death has been recorded at the Bawku Secondary Technical School, also from meningitis.
A final year student of the Kpone Community Senior High School in the Kpone-Katamanso District of the Greater Accra Region has also been reported dead but the cause is unconfirmed.
Protocols for emergencies
The Association expressed further concern with the country’s emergency preparedness, and noted that, “the inadequate supply of personal protective equipment and other medical logistics needs to be improved.”
Of concern to the GMA is also the public engagement on the various outbreaks, which it said must adhere to protocols so as to avoid fueling panic.
“Politicians and the media should be circumspect in the handling of technical issues and allow professionals to, as much as possible, handle such matters. The communication of conflicting positions during such emergencies fuels panic and unnecessary anxiety in the public, and this hampers scientific work.”
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana