AIDS cases on the rise in Tema Manhean
A Snr. Physician Assistant at the Manhean Health Centre in Tema, Ms. Ruby Aboagye says there is an alarming rise in reported AIDS cases to the facility.
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She is therefore calling for more effective educational campaigns to cause real change in attitudes in the community of mainly settlers.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Graphic Online after she led a team from the facility to receive a donation of assorted items by the Tema New Town congregation of the Church of Christ, Ms. Ruby Aboagye said it was unclear what is accounting for the sudden high numbers of reported AIDS cases.
“We used to record one or two cases weekly previously, but now it is a daily affair and it is alarming”, she emphasised.
She also urged strict adherence to good personal hygiene in order to reduce hospital attendance, saying skin infections, chronic conditions as typhoid, diabetes, hypertension, vomiting, malaria and diarrhea are among the commonly reported cases at the facility.
Ms. Ruby Aboagye also wants cases reported to health centres early for timely professional interventions or they could become fatal.
The laboratory of the facility with rudimentary equipment
A cry for help
The Manhean Health Centre is in serious disrepair and urgent need for support.
The facility with a wide catchment area has only an 8-bed ward for male, female and child patients.
“They are all in the same room but we don’t have a choice”, said a dejected Dr. Ruby Aboagye, who added that patients are routinely sent out for basic tests because the facility lacks basic laboratory equipment for tests such as Full Blood Count and chemistry tests.
She expressed gratitude to the Tema New Town Church of Christ for the godly act, saying such kind gestures are critical for health care delivery and called on other voluntary organisations and businesses to go to the aid of the centre.
Members of the Tema New Town congregation of the Church of Christ pose with staff of the centre
Clean-up and donation
Members of the church had cleaned up the health facility, scrubbing the floors of the various rooms, cleaning and washing mosquito nettings, as well as weeding and sweeping the compound.
Among other items donated were an oxygen cylinder, medical regulators, detergents, bed sheets, T-rolls, latex examining gloves and cotton.
Nana Tsibu Danso and Evangelist Timothy Mills who led the church members, said the gesture was to support the operations of the facility.
The 'one-for-all' ward for male, female and child patients