2012 Holistic Assessment of Health Sector POW - Ministry of Health

4.4.1 Improve upon prevention, detection and case management of non-communicable diseases
In the 2012 POW, the Ministry was expected to facilitate or advocate for incorporation of healthy lifestyles
into basic school and teacher training curricula and support the alcohol/substance abuse facility at Pantang.
While healthy lifestyles were incorporated into the curricula, the ministry was not able to support the
alcohol/substance abuse facility at Pantang.
The scaling up of the detection and management of non-communicable diseases through the
implementation of the national strategy for cancer control and expansion of screening program for
hypertension, diabetes and sickle cell were also not done. Though the guidelines for the cancer programme
have been developed they are yet to be printed. Screening is going on in the regions for hypertension,
diabetes and sickle cell, but such routine screening is unstructured. The 2012 Programme of Work requires
that screening centres for NCD be set up. This objective has not been achieved.
4.4.2 Implement national strategic plan to increase TB case detection and cure rate
It was planned to increase the TB case detection and cure rate during the year. To achieve this, regional and
district teams were trained on identifying cases among vulnerable groups. Capacity of laboratory staff was
built in doing sputum microscopy. To improve outcome of treatment, Nutritional assessment, counselling,
and food were provided for TB and HIV clients.
4.4.3 Implement national strategic plan to reduce malaria case fatality among pregnant women
and children
To reduce malaria case fatality for the vulnerable groups, ACTs for treatment were procured and
distributed through the AMFm programme. LLINs Hang Up campaign was organized in all the regions.
Indoor residual spraying was carried out in Ashanti and Northern Regions with some limited larviciding in
Accra. Public education on malaria prevention was also continued
4.4.4 Prevention, detection and management of diseases of epidemic potential and those
targeted for eradication
The plan for the year was to maintain the polio free status of the country and validate eradication of guinea
worm and polio. To achieve this, surveillance activities including case searches were intensified; Public
education was continued with monetary reward being advertised for anyone reporting a case of Guinea
Worm. As at December 2012, no case of Polio or confirmed Guinea Worm was seen.
4.4.5 Increase coverage of community activities for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)
especially onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, trachoma, yaws and leprosy.
The plan for the year was to increased case detection for NTDs. To achieve this, the Ministry finalized the
NTD Master Plan for Ghana for the period 2011 to 2015 in collaboration with WHO. The plan was shared
with the relevant stakeholders. Mass drug administration was conducted for Onchocerciasis,
schistosomiasis and Lymphatic Filariasis in communities and schools. An Intra-Country Coordinating
Committee (ICCC) for the NTD program was constituted and two meetings were held. Although some
activities aimed at reducing the prevalence of yaws by 50% were performed, poor contact tracing and
treatment still remain a major challenge for the yaws control programme.
4.4.6 Improve prevention, detection and management of non communicable diseases
The plan for the year was to Implement the national strategy for cancer control and expand screening
program for hypertension, diabetes and sickle cell in all regional hospitals. The cancer control strategic
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