Health

It is important that the health condition of the people within the District is given good attention for sustained development locally and nationally at large. Health care delivery is therefore provided through hospitals, maternity homes, health centers and other health facilities. Within the Obuasi East district there are a number of health facilities both private and public that caters for the health of the people.

Spatial Distribution of Health Facilities

The healthy living of the people largely depends on the existence of health facility coupled with quality delivery of services. These facilities provide both preventive and curative services. The district can boast of eleven (11) number of health facilities located across the length and breadth. Out of these, only three (3) of the health facilities belongs to Government and the rest belongs to private entities. It is obvious that at all levels of the health facility can be found in the district ranging from higher order of services to the least order of services but considering the range of accessibility, the problem has got to do with distribution though some of the facilities is established for certain purposes. This has to be resolved through proper mechanisms to enhance and intensify the Public Private Partnership to ensure easy accessibility especially in the rural communities.

The table below shows the various types and number of health facilities in the district.

Table 1.45: Spatial Distribution of Health Facilities

Ten Top OPD Diseases in the district (2016)

From 2013-2016, Malaria top the list of Ten (10) diseases despite preventive measures put in place but the number of the reported cases reduced as the years went by. Other top diseases include Hypertension, ARI, URTI and Rheumatism. Much attention should be paid to the eradication of malaria since it has been top of the top ten (10) diseases in the district.

Table 1.46 shows the list of the Top Ten (10) diseases in the district.

Table 1.46: Ten Top OPD Diseases in the district

Table 1.46 presents the frequency of top ten diseases in the District with 2013 as the base year. It is observed that the incidence of malaria still remains as the number one cause of death in the District. It is seen as the highest leading cause of admission in the district. The incidence of malaria is also a reflection of a poor environmental sanitation such as stagnant waters, unkempt surroundings within settlement, improper refuse disposal, poor drainage systems and other conditions that promote the breeding of mosquitoes and other diseases.

Noticeable amongst malaria prevention and control activities included the use of long lasting Insecticide Treated bed nets and free distribution of mosquito nets in the community and households, training of all community based health volunteers in home management of malaria, fever etc.

Health personnel in the district

The district is also fortunate with respect to availability of health personnel especially doctors. The current population require Eight (8) doctors thus with respect to the standard population/doctor ratio of 1:20,000. There are however 25 doctors both public and private. The efforts of these doctors are supplemented by 20 medical assistants, 101 nurses/midwifes, 268 paramedics and 68 CBSV.

Table 1.47: Staff capacity in Public and Private Health facilities, 2016

Table 1.48: Sex distribution of health personnel in the district from 2014-2016

Table 1.49: Doctor-Patient/Nurse-Patient Ratios

Family Planning

Uncontrolled birth and large household sizes has a bearing on the quality of life of the people. This is because in large families’ parents would not have sufficient incomes to cater for the needs of every member in the household particularly the children. Some of the consequences of uncontrolled births are malnourished and unhealthy children owing to poor diet, infant mortality, school drop outs, high room occupancy rates and above all extreme poverty. Family planning practices are therefore needed to bring the rate of population growth and family sizes to manageable limits.

Challenges in Health Sector

· Lack of proper office for staff

· Inadequate equipment and logistics

· Increase in Maternal deaths

· Inadequate of official accommodation for health personnel

HIV and AIDS

HIV/AIDS is one virulent disease that has a negative impact on productivity. HIV/AIDS has an adverse effect on productive assets, high treatment costs and the break in the transfer of valuable livelihood knowledge from one generation to the next. This has moved the district to adopt a strategic framework to strengthen the implementation of the Multi Sectoral HIV/AIDS Programme (MSHAP) being sponsored by Ghana AIDS Commission. Some of the programmes that have been put in place as intervention purposes are; the donation of money and relieve items to HIV victims and orphans and organizing Multi-Retroviral Therapy (MRT) treatment for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

Knowledge of HIV/AIDS is high, except that it has not been translated into positive Behavioural change. People still engage in high risk sexual behavior. However, the practice of high risk sexual behaviour still remains high with low condom use and multiple sexual partners. Indeed, there is a big gap between knowledge on HIV/AIDS and its effects and the people’s readiness to change their negative lifestyles. Behaviourial change takes a long time to effect. It is a difficult and a gradual process achieved through vigorous and a sustained education over a long period of time

Obuasi East district still have a challenge in terms the spread of the disease considering measures put in place in the previous years to address the situation. This therefore calls for intensified and concerted effort by all stakeholders in the creation of awareness through regular durbars to demystify the condition. Awareness creation should be carried out amongst herbalists, bone setters and spiritualists on the disease. The table below shows the trend of screened patients conducted over the past year three years.

HIV/AIDS infection affects the development of an area in terms of social, economic and political development. People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAS) are normally stigmatized because of the perception people have for them.

Table 1.50: Trend of screened patients conducted over the past year three years

Nutrition

Eating a healthy and a balanced meal is necessary to provide energy for human growth. Women and children are most vulnerable therefore, the need for them to consume adequate nutritious food to maintain health and ensure proper growth and development. The district has over the years performed various activities aimed at improving the nutritional needs of these vulnerable population. These activities include: Vitamin A supplementation, Iodized Salt Survey, Exclusive Breastfeeding, Child Health Promotion, Nutrition Surveillance, Adolescents Advocacy, Healthy Life Style and School Health.

Trend in child welfare services has remained consistent over the years for all age groups. Children 0- 11months continue to record the highest proportion of registrants. However, the proportion of children registered at child welfare clinics reduced when the child turns to 12-23months age range and continues to reduce to 24-59 months. Services are delivered through the child welfare clinic organized at both static and outreach points. It is important that children attend child welfare clinics until the age of five (5) to benefit fully from the services given, particularly, growth promotion and Vitamin A supplementation. It is recommended that children should be weighed every month or twice yearly up to 5 years in the district, community health nurses and health providers make sure all children 0-59 months.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the normal way of providing young infant with nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. All sub-districts regularly organized health education programs on breastfeeding for pregnant women and lactating mothers under the following heading.

· Early initiation of breastfeeding within 30mins after delivery.

· Breast milk alone is the best food for the baby from birth up to 6months.

· Breastfeed exclusively from birth to 6 months.

· Breastfeed the child as often as the baby wants, day and night.

· Allow the baby to suckle for as long as he/she wants at each feed.

· The more the baby suckles the more breast milk is produced