A 15-year-old mother on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has called on well-meaning Ghanaians to come to her aid after months of battling sickness.
Margaret, who became pregnant after being raped, has faced health complications during her pregnancy and after delivery.
This has placed a heavy financial burden on the teenage mother.
“Margaret was raped and out it got pregnant. This came with a lot of complications, even when her time was due for her delivery. Margaret is still suffering, but her mother is a poor woman. Sometimes, the good nurses here have to make contributions to get her some basic needs,” narrated Joana Adom Afrifa, a social welfare worker at KATH.
Margaret’s plight came to light when EKK Charity Foundation, a Kumasi-based non-governmental organisation, made a donation to women who delivered on Mother’s Day.
CEO of the Foundation, Evans Kofi Kwafo, supported Margaret with Gh1,000 and pledged to continue reaching out to her.
Margaret’s mother thanked the organisation and called for more support as the teenager continued to battle the sickness.
Margaret, who has been in the sick bed for weeks, has difficulty speaking.
The sub-divisional chief of Mepe Gbavie-Dekume, Togbe Kwasi Amedor III, has expressed concern over a communicable skin disease outbreak affecting many children and adults in Avetakpo enclave, a farming community in Ghana’s Volta Region.
According to the chief, the infected residents are experiencing sleep deprivation, acute, and prolonged bodily pains.
Despite the severity of the outbreak, he indicated that affected individuals are unable to access medical treatment due to a lack of funds.
Based on the request by the Queen Mother of the area, Mama Aku Seme II, officials from the Ho East District Health Directorate of Ghana Health Service (GHS) visited the area, but a budget of GH₵ 6,642.50 was set for the community to pay before treatment could begin.
Unfortunately, the community couldn’t raise the funds.
“We are pleading with the government to come to our aid because we are not able to raise the total of GH₵ 6,642.50 estimated budget,” Chief Togbe Amedor III stated.
He disclosed that the disease has spread to neighboring communities, with over 46 people affected so far.
Togbe Amedor III is calling for immediate government intervention to support the community with funds for mass medical treatment.
He emphasized the need for contingency measures to prevent infections and maintain residents’ well-being.
The chief expressed frustration that health officials didn’t provide the actual name of the disease or its source, leaving the community uncertain about the situation.
The lack of access to clean drinking water, with residents sharing sources with cattle and animals, may be contributing to the outbreak.
The chief’s appeal highlights the need for government support to address the skin disease outbreak in Mepe-Avetakpi.
The Anglogold Ashanti Malaria Control, AGAMal is to begin an 11-week indoor residual spraying campaign in 16 administrative districts in four regions of Ghana.
The campaign, a collaboration between AGAMal and the National Malaria Elimination Programme, NMEP with funding support by the Global Fund, seeks to protect about one point-four million children against malaria in line with the NMEP’s objective of 2024-2028 malaria elimination strategy.
A statement signed and issued by the Communications Manager of AGAMal, Isaac Kwakye-Appiah and copied to the GBC in Ashanti noted that, the indoor residual spraying, which has become an annual campaign, involves the use of WHO-approved insecticide in the interior walls of homes and identifiable public places where mosquitoes thrive.
According to the Statement, the insecticide will be efficacious in the beneficiary places for one year without staining the walls, it’s odourless and protects an entire community against malaria transmission. All the 11 districts in the Upper West region, three in Upper East, and two in Ashanti have been selected to benefit from the campaign which spans from 7th April to 20th June this year.
It noted that the campaign is to be done at no cost emphasizing that, beyond positive impact on public health, the Indoor Residual Spraying campaign will create temporary jobs for about one thousand four hundred (1400) people hired to form Spraying Gangs thereby contributing to the local economies of the regions and districts involved.
The statement urged all residents in the beneficiary districts to take keen interest in the exercise by supporting and cooperating with spraying gangs to ensure effectiveness of the campaign.
Ghana’s Ministry of Health has taken a decisive stance against the opioid crisis, destroying a massive consignment of illicit opioid-containing drugs valued at GH₵20 million. The destroyed shipment, which included 128 boxes of Tafrodol, 92 boxes of Timaking Tapertado, and 10 boxes of Rahol Tapentadol, posed significant risks to public health, particularly among the youth.
The destruction exercise, carried out at Vigour-DW Enterprise in Ashaiman, was supervised by key regulatory and legal authorities, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).
Minister for Health, Honourable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, emphasized that the action was not only to eliminate the harmful substances but also to send a strong warning to those engaged in the illegal drug trade.
“We will not stop here. After the safe disposal of this consignment, we will further investigate the clearing agent and the importer, and hand them over to the Attorney General for prosecution,” Akandoh affirmed.
The Minister also called on the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious drug-related activities to the authorities. “We all have a role to play in protecting our communities,” he said, urging citizens to join forces with the government in the fight against illicit drugs.
The destruction of the seized consignment is a significant step in Ghana’s efforts to combat the opioid crisis and protect public health. The FDA’s Chief Executive, Dr. Delese A. Darko, highlighted the dangers of opioid use, citing potential health effects such as nausea, vomiting, hypertension, hypotension, and tachycardia.
A 15-year-old Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidate, Mavis Agbo, from Takla-Tokor in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region, is urgently seeking financial support to undergo surgery for scoliosis, a severe spinal condition.
Mavis, who dreams of continuing her education despite her health challenges, needs GHC 413,869.00 for the surgery, with an additional estimated GHC 70,000 required for medication and post-surgical care. Her condition, which began when she was in Primary Six, has worsened over the years, affecting her ability to prepare adequately for the upcoming BECE in June later in the year.
According to Mr. Edem Wisdom Nkornoo, a teacher who has been championing efforts to raise funds for Mavis, only GHC 5,000 has been raised so far through his efforts despite widespread appeals. He recounted that after initial consultations at the Ho Teaching Hospital in February this year, Mavis was referred to the FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital in Accra for specialized treatment.
Mr. Nkornoo highlighted the financial struggles of Mavis’s parents, who are farmers and have so far managed to contribute only GHC 500 towards the treatment costs. He made a passionate appeal to individuals, corporate bodies, and benevolent organizations to assist Mavis in getting the urgent surgery she needs.
A medical report from the FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital detailed the financial requirements and provided bank account details for donations:
Mr. Nkornoo urged the public to support Mavis’s journey to recovery, emphasizing that any contribution, no matter how small, could make a life-changing difference.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has called on the Private Health Facilities Association of Ghana (PHFAoG) to reconsider its decision to suspend services to National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) cardholders over delayed claim reimbursements.
The PHFAoG announced the suspension in a statement issued on 4 April 2025, citing what it described as persistent delays in the payment of claims owed to its member facilities.
In a press release dated April 5, 2025, and signed by its Chief Executive, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, the NHIA acknowledged the concerns raised by the association and indicated that measures had been taken to address the issue.
“Modalities for the payment of outstanding claims have been fully concluded, and disbursement has commenced since Friday, 4th April 2025,” the statement said.
Dr Bampoe added that further payments were being processed and would reflect in the accounts of affected providers in the coming days.
“We are focused on continuing to work with all service providers while ensuring the sustainability of the scheme,” he stated.
The NHIA also appealed to the PHFAoG to reverse any action that could disrupt access to healthcare for NHIS members.
“We urge the PHFAoG to rescind any decision that may compromise access to healthcare for our cherished NHIS members,” Dr Bampoe said, stressing the vital role private health providers play in delivering healthcare across the country.
He further noted that the Authority remained open to dialogue and was committed to engaging constructively with all stakeholders to resolve any outstanding issues..
Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) recently convened with officials from Ghana’s Ministry of Health to discuss its ongoing initiatives within the country’s healthcare framework.
The visit also aimed to outline GAVI’s objectives for 2025 while evaluating the progress made in previous years.
Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Hafiz Adam, welcomed the GAVI delegation, highlighting the alliance’s commitment to improving immunization programs and ensuring sustainable financing for vaccines. He reiterated Ghana’s commitment to guaranteeing that every child has access to essential vaccinations.
Alhaji Adam recognized significant challenges, such as the need for ongoing financing for immunization and the acceleration of initiatives like the Cold Chain Equipment Optimization Platform (CCEOP) and Expanded Access to Immunization Financing (EAF).
He mentioned that the upcoming days would involve high-level discussions with government officials, development partners, and civil society organizations. These talks are deemed vital for reinforcing Ghana’s commitment to sustainable vaccine funding, monitoring GAVI-supported programs, and addressing any implementation challenges.
Health Minister, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh expressed appreciation for GAVI’s efforts in tackling vaccine disparities, particularly among vulnerable populations, including women and children.
He underscored Ghana’s proactive measures to prevent vaccine shortages and reaffirmed the country’s dedication to fulfilling its co-financing responsibilities despite financial challenges.
“We understand the significance of sustainable domestic financing, and we are implementing strategic measures to ensure timely payments and uninterrupted immunization services,” he remarked.
Mr. Akandoh also noted that as Ghana prepares to transition away from GAVI support, discussions are in progress to secure long-term funding for immunization efforts.
The government is currently working through the Interagency Coordinating Committee (ICC) to develop an Investment Case for Immunization aimed at enhancing vaccine coverage and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
Regarding procurement strategies, the Minister highlighted Ghana’s focus on improving cold chain infrastructure, enhancing disease surveillance systems, and addressing challenges such as the underestimation of birth cohorts, which affects vaccine planning.
He concluded by stressing that collaboration with GAVI and other global health partners is crucial for achieving universal immunization coverage and safeguarding the health of all children.
