According to the Service, the man, who has been identified as James Yeboah, had not been authorised to offer such healthcare, and has been ordered to stop practising.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DORQHCQareOElHG59UhEJskAOgSknLbQ”]Speaking to Citi News, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Badu Sarkodie, said his outfit was still investigating the incident with the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).

“Indeed, he [James Yeboah] has been stopped from practising as he was not authorised by the Ghana Health Service at the national, regional or district [level] to conduct this activity in the facility. So he has been stopped from practising in that facility to make sure that he doesn’t put other people at risk,” Dr. Badu Sarkodie said.

Over the weekend, James Yeboah was arrested along with the manager of the facility, Simon Takeramah, who has since been granted bail.

The matter of suspected negligence resulted in the death of a 31-year-old man, a 42-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man.

FDA probe

The FDA has said its preliminary investigations indicate that the deaths may have been caused by contaminated medication.

The FDA noted that the deceased persons suffered adverse reactions described as injection site abscess, skin necrosis and ulcers leading to the deaths.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that these reactions may be due to contaminated 0.9% Normal Saline, the solution which was used to reconstitute (mix) the Benzathine Penicillin Powder for Injection. The 0.9% Normal Saline Solution was reported to have been opened and used repeatedly for several days which might have resulted in the contamination,” a statement from the FDA explained.

Since then, the District Health Directorate has ordered the centre to stop all injections at that facility until further notice.

Samples from the deceased patients have also been taken for investigations at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical research.

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By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Injection deaths: Senchi health worker was operating illegally – GHS appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The medication in question, o.9% Normal Saline, is believed to have been contaminated after being used multiple times, according to a statement from the FDA.

[contextly_sidebar id=”HwoIKeXY2LeKr7ke8tlOngIzQ8IFVful”]The deceased include a 31-year-old man, a 42-year-old woman and a 78-year-old man.

The deceased persons suffered “adverse reactions described as injection site abscess, skin necrosis and ulcers leading to the deaths,” the FDA said.

“Preliminary investigations revealed that these reactions may be due to contaminated 0.9% Normal Saline, the solution which was used to reconstitute (mix) the Benzathine Penicillin Powder for Injection. The 0.9% Normal Saline Solution was reported to have been opened and used repeatedly for several days which might have resulted in the contamination,” the statement from the FDA explained.

The FDA has also dispatched a team to Akrade to investigate the issue in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service.

The Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service, Dr. Badu Sarkodie earlier confirmed the developments to Citi News and said the service was in the process of compiling a situational report.

Find below the full FDA statement

SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTION REPORTS, NEW SENCHI HEALTH CENTRE, AKRADE

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has become aware of serious adverse reactions described as injection site abscess, skin necrosis and ulcers leading to the deaths of three (3) patients who had injections of Benzathine Penicillin from the New Senchi Health Centre at Akrade in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern region. These serious adverse reactions were reported during the 3rd week of March 2018.

Preliminary investigations revealed that these reactions may be due to contaminated 0.9% Normal Saline, the solution which was used to reconstitute (mix) the Benzathine Penicillin Powder for Injection. The 0.9% Normal Saline Solution was reported to have been opened and used repeatedly for several days which might have resulted in the contamination.

Benzathine Penicillin is presented as powder for Injection and should be reconstituted with STERILE water for injection and also used immediately to avoid contamination.

The FDA has dispatched the Pharmacovigilance team from the Eastern Regional Office to Akradie to investigate the issue in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and will keep you updated as more information becomes available.

Meanwhile, healthcare professionals and consumers are encouraged to be vigilant and report untoward effects of medicines and health products to the FDA by completing adverse reaction reporting forms provided in hospitals and Community Pharmacies designated as Patient Safety Centres across the country or through the contacts below:

HOTLINES – 0299802932, 0299802933,

TOLL FREE NUMBER – 0800151000 (free only on Airtel and Vodafone)

SMS SHORTCODE – 4015

SIGNED

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post ‘Contaminated’ drugs possible cause of injection deaths – FDA appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Two others are also in critical condition.

The Director of Public Health at Ghana Health Service, Dr. Badu Sarkodie confirmed the developments to Citi News and said the service was in the process of compiling a situational report.

“They have recorded some deaths over the past few weeks, I think since [March] 13 or so, and now the team is on the field going to see what is happening so we have to wait for a report from them first,” Dr. Badu Sarkodie said.

Account of affected family

The account of a family member of one of the deceased persons suggested that there may have been some negligence from a health professional.

The family member, Hajia Hawa Amidu, said her 78-year-old uncle reacted terribly to the injection which he had objected to, leading to his death on March 26.

She added that her uncle had visited the hospital for treatment of a skin condition and was given the injection by the health officer on duty.

“When he went to take the third [injection], he was telling the [health officer not to do it] but before he could finish telling the man, they injected on the swollen place again. So when they came home, the daughter went to the clinic to go and tell them what happened to the father and they told them to go and come back on Thursday.

“But when the man came back, the condition was just deteriorating so they had to take him to Akuse hospital and he died there,” Hajia Hawa Amidu narrated.

The other deceased persons include a 31-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman.

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By: Marie-Franz Fodjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post E/R: GHS probes mysterious deaths from injections appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.