TB patients in Mfantseman Municipality default free treatment

The Mfantseman Municipal Health Director, Ms. Georgina Graham Hayfron, has expressed concern about the increasing rate at which patients diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) in the municipality were defaulting treatment despite the treatment being free.

She said most of them, after being put on medication, either relocate or travel without notice, sought refuge at spiritual gardens or went fishing sometimes for weeks thus making it difficult to complete the six months treatment.

Mrs. Graham-Hayfron expressed the concern in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the end of a day’s Annual Performance Review Meeting of the Mfantseman Municipal Health directorate held in Saltpond.

The review meeting was attended by medical and non-medical staff from Anomabo, Dominase, Biriwa and Saltpond/Kormantse Sub-Districts, Mankessim Sub Municipal, Saltpond Hospital, Mercy Women Centre, Municipal Ambulance Service and Mfantseman Mutual Health Insurance.

She said even though TB patients were defaulting treatment, the disease was not part of the top 10 causes of death in the municipality and that there was a decrease in cases as 120 cases were recorded last year as against 133 in the previous year.

She appealed to TB patients to be regular at hospitals to save their lives and prevent the spread of the disease.

On the increase in teenage pregnancy in the municipality, Mrs. Graham-Hayfron said the directorate was doing its best to reduce it by setting up Adolescent Friendly Units at health facilities where youth who need counselling are referred to.

She said the directorate would team up with the Municipal Assembly and the Municipal Education Unit to set up adolescent clubs in schools and societies to educate the youth on teenage pregnancy and other challenges.

Mrs. Graham-Hayfron called on religious, traditional and community leaders and parents to help educate the youth on sex related issues to safeguard their future.