Northern Region sets up Ebola Centre

The Northern Regional Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has set up an Ebola Centre to enable suspected cases of the disease to be reported to there for swift action.

Madam Yakubu Rahinatu, a Health Promotion Specialist at the Northern Regional Directorate of the GHS, announced this on Wednesday, at a Patrons’ Reproductive Health Conference, organised by the Youth Advocacy on Rights and Opportunities (YARO), a pro health NGO, in the Northern Region.

Madam Yakubu said those who see symptoms of Ebola in others should call the Ebola Centre on 0244727958 or 0244417911 to report but advised the public not to make their own diagnoses or tag those who exhibit the symptoms with the disease.

She appealed to the public to stop intimate kissing, while they wash their hands with soap and hand sanitizers so as to prevent the spread of the disease.

The two-day programme, which is on the theme: “Enhancing Teacher Mentorship on Sex and Reproductive Health”, is being attended by select teachers from some basic schools within the Tamale Metropolis who will be given education on how to discuss issues of sex with teenagers.

Mr Douri Bennin Hajei, Executive Director of YARO, said the contribution of teachers towards educating adolescence on unsafe abortion, STDs, HIV and AIDS and also discouraging harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation, are critical hence the special education to equip them to be effective.

He said there was some clear disconnection between national policies on sex education and what is on the ground so the conference was also meant to help find solutions to bridge the gap.

The conference would among others goals, identify challenges faced by teachers in addressing adolescent reproductive issues in schools and look at new trends of behavioural change among young adolescents.

It would also create friendly linkages with health service providers to promote a safe and confidential environment for young people.