Health service put in measures to contain H1N1 (Page 13)

THE Ghana Health Service (GHS) has put in place measures to contain the massive spread of the pandemic influenza H1N1 in the country.
This is because cases of the virus, which was first reported in the country in August this year, have risen to 18 by November 3, 2009.
The service has, therefore, advised all health facilities, both public and private, to be ready to receive and manage cases that will be reported to them.
The facilities have also been advised to put in place the necessary logistics and human resource for the management of cases.
In a statement providing an update on the current situation of the influenza in Ghana as of Tuesday, November 3, the GHS announced that the total number of recorded cases of the disease had increased to 18.
It stated that the 18 positive cases were out of a total of 249 specimen investigated at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) as of November 3, 2009.
It pointed out that all the 15 earlier cases which tested positive to the virus had been well managed and the patients discharged, while the last three were under treatment.
So far, no deaths has been recorded in Ghana since the first case of the disease was recorded in August.
To help prevent massive spread of the disease in the country, the GHS had recommended that staff at both the regional and district levels should be given proper orientation as to how to handle the situation.
It also announced that consequently, holding rooms and isolation rooms had been identified at the regional and district levels ready to receive all suspected cases for management.
“Anti-viral drugs for H1N1 and materials for collecting specimen from suspected patients have been distributed to all the regions,” it pointed out.
The health service also indicated that the communication strategy had been activated and posters on the influenza distributed to all the regions for use.
In addition, it said all health directorates had been directed to work with all media houses at the local levels to secure free airtime and space to enhance public education on the disease.
It further urged the public to support the management of the situation by observing personal hygiene, especially hand washing with soap after visiting the toilet and before handling food.
Pandemic Influenza H1N1 2009 is a disease that is caused by a virus that affects the respiratory system.
According to the Ministry of Health, a person is suspected to have the disease when he or she develops fever, cough and or sore throat. Such an individual is advised to immediately report to a health facility.