Dr. Frank Bonsu
THE GHANA Health Service (GHS) has expressed its commitment to partner with health care providers in the private sector to contribute significantly in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in the country.
It has also indicated its readiness to provide TB drugs, supply the needed equipment and funds as well as offer training to health workers in private health facilities to help deal with cases of TB in the country.
Dr. Frank Bonsu, National TB Programmes Manager at the GHS who disclosed these at a meeting with some public and private health care providers in Takoradi noted that the Public, Private Partnerships in the provision of health care had become necessary because about 40 to 60 per cent of urban patients patronized private health facilities.
He added that close to 50 per cent of TB patients also visited private hospitals before attending public health facilities for diagnosis.
As part of efforts to scale up PPPs in some parts of the country, Dr. Bonsu noted that the GHS would undertake the mapping and listing of private health care providers, institutions and laboratories, take inventory of major stakeholders in new districts and establish their track record in public health issues.
He stressed that there would also be capacity building among clinical stakeholders in the public and private sectors and district training workshops for public sector staff.
On his part, Dr. Kweku Karikari, Deputy Western Regional Director of Health Services explained that proper coughing etiquette among the populace was one of the measures of reducing or avoiding spread of the TB virus.
He indicated that though many people had not checked their TB status, covering one?s mouth while coughing especially in public and open spaces could go a long way to control the TB virus.
He said the country was one of the high burdened countries across the globe regarding TB which was the leading cause of preventable deaths particularly among people with HIV.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
