There are nine health facilities in the district; a district hospital, 5 health centres and 2 clinics. Two of the health centres are newly established and still lack the necessary infrastructure for their full operations. They are located in the Area Council Building of Mandari and Mankuma sub-districts.

All the facilities with the exception of two offer a 24 hour service to the communities they serve. The district hospital serves as the highest referral point for patients in the district and has a catchments area extending beyond the borders of the country into La Cote D’lvoire.

The Assembly has also completed three CHPS compounds in Maluwe, Carpenter and Gbenfu. These are yet to be furnished for their full operations. The provision of quality health care delivery remains the goal of the District Assembly. During the period under review, immunization programmes coverage on the following increased: The six killer childhood diseases namely Diphtheria, Diarrhea, Polio, Tetanus, Measles and Malaria, Hepatitis B and Hib3.

There was a slight drop in malaria related deaths from 2002 to 2003 but from 2003-2005 the number of deaths show an upward trend. Meanwhile the number of deaths due to malaria for under 5 years group is on the increase.

Guinea Worm

The district is among the non-endemic districts in the country for guinea worm. It was due to the hard work of the DHMT. There are isolated but imported cases from Brong-Ahafo and Upper West regions. As a result the district trained the Zonal Co-ordinators on how to do extraction and dressing of cases and to report weekly any found case.

Households, health education and filters distribution were made in the entire sub district. The DHMT worked closely with the District Assembly for the provision of potable water for most communities with water problems.

National Health Insurance Scheme

As at 30th August, 2005 2006 TOTAL

Distribution/Categories 28525 20154 48,679

Informal Sector

Health Staffing Situation

There are two Medical Doctors. Below is the staffing-patient ratio:

2003 2004 2005

Doctors/Patient ratio 1:3000 1:3463 1:7878

Nurses/Patient ratio 1:46232 1:35500 1:31513

Action

•The distribution of bed nets increased during the period under review

•The table below depicts graphical presentation of bed nets

•DA shall continue the provision of health infrastructure

•Intensify health education.

•Sponsor students pursuing health related disciplines

Nutrition

During the period under review significant strides were made on the Nutrition of children and mothers as follows:

The use of lodated salt saw an increase. No. of health facilities which designed baby friendly, programmes increased, Vitamin A Coverage for children 6-59 months also increased.

1.Similarly, Vitamin A Coverage for women within 8 weeks of Post partum also increased

2.Children with stunted growth decreased

3.Also % of children wasted increased and underweight reduced

Use of Iodated Salt by Households

Percentage of households using iodated salt with adequate level of iodine (25ppm and above)