Metropolitan Health Service Directorate (MHSD)

The Health services in the Metropolis are managed at three (3) levels namely: Metro. Health Administration level, Sub-district level and the Community level.

Metro. Health Administration

At the administration level, the Metropolitan Health Management Team (MHMT) is responsible for overall planning, monitoring, supervision, evaluating, training, co-coordinating of all health programmes in the Metropolis. It is also responsible for conducting operational research and linking up with other agencies and NGOs in health provision and promotion.

Under the Health division, the Metropolis is sub-demarcated into six (6) sub-districts, each with a management team known as the Sub-district Health Management Team (SDHMT). The six sub-districts are:
•    Bilpela Sub-district
•    Choggu Sub-district
•    Sagnerigu Sub-district
•    Taha/Kamina Sub-district
•    Tamale Central Sub-district
•    Vittin Sub-district

 
Health services provided in the Metropolis are both curative and preventive. The methods used are mainly orthodox and traditional.

Health Facilities

The number of health facilities within the Metropolis is quite satisfactory. However, most of these, which are in the rural areas are poorly equipped. The Tamale Regional Hospital and the West End Hospitals are the only well equipped facilities. Even though efforts have been made to improve access to health service delivery, patronage of these facilities have been low particularly in the rural areas due to poverty, illiteracy and ignorance.

Staffing

The staff strength of the health sector in the Metropolis is 54. This is made up of 3 doctors. The staff – client ratio is 1:5901 12 times higher than the national figure of 1:500. Similar to the problem of inadequate equipment in rural health facilities the distribution of medical staff is equally skewed in favour of urban Tamale.

Disease Situation

Life expectancy in the Metropolis is about 50 years compared to the national figure of 55 years. The high level of illiteracy and poverty as well as limited access to safe drinking water and poor Sanitation have combined to expose many people to health hazards which accounts for the low standard of living of the people.

The prevalence of diseases such as malaria, diarrhoea, anaemia, acute respiratory infections and gynaecological disorders as well as out break of epidemics such as cholera, anthrax, CSM can be traced to the above factors. The Statistics given below show an increasing trend in the outpatient attendance at health facilities in the Metropolis for the period 1999 – 2000 and started declining from 2001 – 2002.

These top 5 common diseases observed in the Metropolis have severe effect on the lives of the people. Malaria, diarrhoea and anaemia are said to have contributed greatly to most deaths in the Tamale Metropolis especially among infants. Malaria alone accounts for nearly 25% of all deaths in the Metropolis.

HIV/AIDS

The Tamale Metropolis is as vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS pandemic as any other district in the country. The prevalence rate is increasing by the year as indicated by the following statistics. The main contributory factor to the spread of the virus in the Metropolis is the high prevalence of poverty that compel people especially females into behavioural patterns which expose them unduly to infection.

The long dry season when traditional farming is at its lowest ebb also encourages a greater proportion of the youth, particularly young women, to move down south in search of non- existing jobs (Kayaye phenomenon)

Population Management

The Tamale Metropolis Assembly has over the years put in place measure’s to check population growth rate of the Metropolis within manageable levels.

Family Planning

Even though efforts have been made on family planning education acceptance levels remain low as shown in the table The main contributory factor to the spread of the virus in the Metropolis is the high prevalence of poverty that compel people especially females into behavioural patterns which expose them unduly to infection.

The long dry season when traditional farming is at its lowest ebb also encourages a greater proportion of the youth, particularly young women, to move down south in search of non- existing jobs (Kayaye phenomenon) The number of supervised deliveries in the Metropolis is rising steadily with increased awareness due to a sustained public health education.

Metro Epidemic Committee Assures Public

The Tamale Metropolitan Epidemic Committee met recently to review the epidemiological situation in the Metropolis as part of measures to ensure the safety and health of the general public.

Membership of the committee include the Metropolitan Chief Executive/Mayor; Chairman the Metro Director of Health Services, the two Medical Superintendents in charge of the West and Central Hospitals, a representative of the Metro. Directorate of Education, a representative from the Metro. Directorate of Agriculture, the Metro. Disease Control Officer  and a representative each from the Information Services Department and the National Disaster Management Organization.

The meeting discussed a series of issues but top on the agenda was the pandemic Human Influenza HINI (Type A) disease which is now being reported in certain parts of the country.

1. After discussions on how to ensure public safety and prevent the disease from spreading the committee recommended the following measures.
2. Report immediately to the nearest health facility when on has Fever, Cough and Sore threat.
3. Cover nose and month with a issue paper or handkerchief when you cough or sneeze in public(in vehicle, mosque, church, stadium lorry station, market, etc)
4. Avoid indiscriminate handshake to general public especially in public places like the Mosques, churches, Funerals and out-dooring grounds
5. Both adults and children should wash their hands thoroughly with soap wash water for a while.
6. Both adult and children should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water anytime one handles some foreign material for a while.
7. The culture of hand washing in schools should be intensified.

Viral Hapatitis

Hepatitis is simply a disease of inflammation of the liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases, heavy alcohol use, bacterial and Viral infections that affect the liver. The most common type in the U.S is hepatitis A, B and C.

Types 

Hepatitis A

This is an acute liver disease caused  by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) lasting from a few weeks to several months.  It does not lead to chronic infection.

Transmission

Ingestion of fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, from close person–to-person contact or ingestion of contaminated food or drinks.

Vaccination

Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all children starting at age 1 year, travelers to certain countries and others at risk.

Hepatitis B

It is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) ranging in severity from a mild illness, lasting a few weeks (acute) to a serious long-term (Chronic) illness that can lead to lever disease or liver cancer.

Transmission

Contact with infectious blood, Semen and other body fluids from having sex with an infected person, sharing contaminated needles to inject drugs, or from an infected mother to her new born. 

Vaccination

Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for all infants, other children and adolescents who were not vaccinated previously and adults at risk for HBV infection.

Hepatitis C

It is also a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV infection sometimes results in an acute illness, but most often becomes a chronic condition that can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer.

Transmission

Contact with the blood of an infected person, primarily through sharing contaminated needless to inject drugs.
Vaccination: There is no vaccine for Hepatitis C.

Hepatitis D

It is a serious lever disease caused by the Hepatitis D virus (HDV) and relies on HBV to replicate. It is uncommon in the United State.

Transmission
Contact with infections blood, similar to how HBV is spread.

Vaccination

There is no vaccine for Hepatitis D.

Hepatitis E

It is serous lever disease caused by the Hepatitis E virus (HEV) that unreally results in an acute infection. It does not lead to a chronic infection. While rare in the United States, Hepatitis E is common in many parts of the world. 

Transmission

Ingestion of fecal matter, even in microscopic amounts, outbreaks are usually associated with contaminated water supply in countries with poor sanitation.

Vaccination

There is currently no FDA – approved vaccine for hepatitis E.

Source

Division of National Centre for HIV/AIDS, viral Hepatitis, STD and TB prevention (U.S).