Ghana News

A national survey on the prevalence and social consequences of the substance use among second cycle and out of school youth

Drug abuse has become a global phenomenon affecting almost every country though the extent and characteristics vary depending on the country in question. The most commonly used and abused substances are cigarettes, cannabis, cocaine and alcohol. Alcohol and other related problems are becoming more and more a public health concern and they represent one of the leading causes of preventable death, illness and injury.

20 November 2002 - His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana has urged Ghanaian citizens to exhibit a high sense of responsibility in ensuring environmental cleanliness which is a perquisite to good health.

He said Ghana does not need a World Bank loan or grant to stop the indiscriminate use and disposal of waste, particularly plastic which chock gutters and cause stagnant waters that provide breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

24 May 2002-- An electronic media campaign on Home Based Care for Malaria has been launched in Accra. The national campaign dubbed "He-Ha-Ho" which stands for Healthy Happier Homes is aimed at equipping mothers and care givers with basic skills and knowledge to correctly and promptly manage children less than five years of age with malaria at home. Additionally, the campaign aims at ensuring that chemists provide accurate information and dosage to their clients.

In July 2001, the Countryside Children's Home at Bawjiase in the Central Region of Ghana had 73 children most of them below the age of 10. For their sources of food, the Home had a little garden of vegetables, an acre of food crop farm, a chicken coop with a dozen of chickens, less than 10 goats and sheep in an open pen; and had to rely on handouts from benevolent individuals and organizations.

Female Functional Literacy and Inter Sectoral Action In furtherance of its objective of supporting the vulnerable rural poor communities to improve their health status and livelihoods, WHO supported the Department of Community Development in November to organize a joint programme for the commissioning of a corn-mill and a two-day health workshop for women leaders in the Hodzo cluster of villages in the Volta region.