Major Health stories in 2015 Accra, January 1 Ebola death toll nears 8,000 – WHO The death toll from the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa reached 7,905, out of a total 20,206 confirmed, probable and suspected cases, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. Accra, January 23 Estimated 58,000 neonates die annually A study published in The Lancet medical journal revealed that despite progress in maternal and neonatal health; globally, an estimated 58,000 neonates and an unknown number of mothers die every year from tetanus. Accra, January 28 Jimmy Carter Commends Ghana for Guinea Worm elimination Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and The Carter Center congratulated Ghana for eliminating Guinea Worm (Dracunculus medinensis), a water-borne parasitic disease that causes guinea worm. Tamale, January 28 Tamale Teaching Hospital investigates cause of fire Authorities at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) began investigations into a fire incident that occurred at one of its five laboratory consumables stores. Accra, January 29 Health expert commends Ghana for Newborn Action Plan Professor Cyril Engmann, Global Director of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Nutrition of PATH, commended Ghana for adopting the “Every Newborn Action Plan” to end preventable stillbirths and newborn deaths. Sunyani, January 30 About 8,000 people in Ghana have kidneys problems Dr. Philip Fobi Kakari, Medical Officer at the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Sunyani, advised the public against self-medication to prevent kidney damage. He said there is the need for people to seek medical advice to facilitate thorough investigation and diagnosis of their conditions, before taking drugs in order to prevent renal kidney failure. Accra, January 30 Front line Health workers trained on Ebola A day’s training workshop on the early detection and prevention of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was held for more than 200 frontline health workers and volunteers in the Central Region with a call on them to be vigilant and action ready. Accra, February 16 WHO to launch neglected tropical diseases investment report The World Health Organization (WHO), on February 18, launched in Geneva, Switzerland its report: “Investing to overcome the global impact of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)” Accra, Feb. 19 Over 800 health workers infected with Ebola The World Health Organization (WHO) said a total of 833 confirmed health worker infections had been reported in the three intense-transmission countries; of which there had been 488 reported deaths. Accra, March 27 Japan supports health sector with $1.66 million The Japanese Government is to provide a grant of $1.66 million to the country to support the health sector. Accra, April 24 GHS to introduce two Child Protection Vaccines The Ghana Health Service introduced two vaccines – Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) and Meningococcal Conjugate Vaccine through the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in September 2015 Accra, May 16 Ghana’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate declines Ghana’s HIV/AIDS prevalence rate continued to decline standing at 1.37 per cent, while proportion of women living with HIV/AIDS being 57 per cent compared to 43 per cent for men. Accra, May 17 Stakeholders launch Pan-African Pharmacovigilance Conference in Accra The World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Advocacy and Training in Pharmacovigilance (WHO-CC), University of Ghana, hosted a media encounter in Accra, as a prelude to a Pan-African congress on Medicines Safety in Ghana. Geneva, May 19 Ghana certified as Guinea worm-free country Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the stride to eradicate guinea-worm, had chalked another milestone with Ghana, which once saw 180,000 cases now certified free of the disease in January. Accra, June 10 FDA gives approval for Ebola Vaccine Clinical Trials The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) gave approval for the commencement of clinical trial of Ebola Vaccine in Hohoe in the Volta Region. The test was intended to prove its safety, effectiveness and prevention against deadly Ebola Virus Disease. Accra, June 10 Parliament calls for suspension, stoppage of Ebola vaccine trial Parliament on Wednesday passionately expressed displeasure against the Ebola vaccine trial in Hohoe in the Volta Region, and called for the immediate suspension and stoppage of the trial for further consultations. Kumasi, July 4 Ghana finds treatment for Onchocerciasis and Elephantiasis The Faculty of Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), working in partnership with Bonn University, Germany, and selected international universities, found a treatment for Onchocerciasis (river blindness) and Lymphoedema (Elephantiasis). Accra, July 29 Ghana develops national policy on viral hepatitis The Ghana Health Services marked the celebration of the World Hepatitis Day, which fell on July 28, with the launch of a National Policy on viral Hepatitis in Accra. Accra, Aug. 20 Ghanaian scientist wins 2015 Royal Society Pfizer Early Career Award Head of the Department of Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Ghana, Dr. Gordon A. Awandare, became the first Ghanaian to win the Royal Society Pfizer Early Career Award. Accra, September 16 Over 50,000 women worldwide get Fistula annually - UNFPA The Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Mr. Babatunde Ahonsi, indicated that over 50,000 new cases of Obstetric Fistula, which affects women globally were recorded every year. Sekondi, September 17 Government invests billion dollars in health infrastructure President John Dramani Mahama, inaugurated the National Medical Outreach Services at the Western Naval Command in Sekondi, announcing that government has invested more in the facility. Bolgatanga, September 19 The Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. John Koku Awoonor-Williams, observed that the Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) was a major public health issue, requiring stakeholders support to prevent an outbreak in Ghana. Accra, September 28 Bill Gates/WB launch new Primary Health Care program The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Bank Group and World Health Organization launched a new partnership to support countries improve the performance of primary health care. Accra, October 8 Deaths from Heart Disease to rise globally by 2025 Premature deaths annually from cardiovascular disease are expected to rise from 5.9 million in 2013 to 7.8 million by 2025 worldwide, if the current trends for hypertension, tobacco smoking, diabetes, and obesity continue according to health experts. Accra, November 28 Ghana hands over baton to Kenya to host ASoP 2016 Ghana at the weekend passed the baton to Kenya to host the 3rd prestigious African Society of Pharmacovigilance (ASoP) Conference in 2016. Kumasi, November 20 KATH now ready to perform heart surgeries The lives of 13 children born with heart defects were saved through a collaborative corrective heart operation at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi. Accra, November 19 About 2.6 million Ghanaians living with diabetes About 2.6 million Ghanaians are living with the diabetes disease. The President of the National Diabetes Association, Mrs. Elizabeth Esi Denyoh said 10 per cent of the urban and 8 per cent of the rural population were suffering from the disease. Accra, December 9 From MDGs to SDGs, WHO launches new report The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a new comprehensive analysis of global health trends since 2000 and an assessment of the challenges for the next 15 years. New global framework to eliminate rabies Accra, Dec. 11, GNA – A new framework to eliminate human rabies and save tens of thousands of lives each year, was launched by four United Nations bodies. WHO declares Guinea Ebola free Accra, Dec. 29, GNA – The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared an end of Ebola virus transmission in Guinea. Complied by the Ghana News Agency, (GNA)