By Saaka Mohammed
The Nanumba Municipality in the Northern region of Ghana has recorded high cases of Hernia.
Out of the 650 surgical cases in half a year, 390 were Hernia related. This was revealed to GBonline at a surgical outreach programme in Bimbilla organised by the Northern Regional division of the Medical Superintendent Group.
The surgical outreach programme is an annual event that brings Specialist Care to the doorsteps of every district within the region and to build the capacity of staff working in the districts to ensure easy accessibility to quality health care delivery.
The Medical Superintendent at the Bimbilla Hospital, Dr Barihama Adam attributed the rise in cases of hernia in the area to hard work. According to him, the area is a predominant farming community which requires hard work to cultivate crops. He said the gesture is free and meant to give hope to poor patients who cannot afford surgical fees.
He said the Nanumba Municipality with a population of 160,000.00 has two medical doctors with poor facilities as well as few other health staff.He appealed to government and the Municipal assemblies to provide accommodations for health staff to attract them to the district.
The President of the Medical Superintendent Group, Dr Abdulai S. Ayuba said the event is the beginning of the group’s initiative to ensure that surgical cases are reduced to the nearest minimum.
According to him the Doctor Patient ratio in the region is not the best hence the initiative. He said the outreach programme of the group will be extended to other districts quarterly. Dr Ayuba appealed to the MMDs to support the programme for its sustainability.
