Mosquito  

Seventy-two Over the Counter (OTC) Medicine Sellers in the Pru, Sene east and Sene west districts of the Brong Ahafo region have undergone training in the prevention, control and treatment of malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) under the GSK malaria and NTDs project.

 

The 3 year project which began last year is a collaboration between FHI 360 a nongovernmental organization and its partners with support from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline with the objective of reducing the incidence of malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) like onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis and soil- transmitted helminthes STH (worms) which are prevalent in the four districts.

 

At one of the training sessions in Prang in the Pru district, Mr. Stephen Mensah program officer II of FHI 360 said the training of the Over the Counter Medicine Sellers is one of several activities they are undertaking to ensure the attainment of the overall goal of contributing to the reduction of malaria and NTDs related morbidity and mortality in Ghana.The Pru district disease control officer, Mr. Abraham Num took participants through the identification and diagnosis of complicated and uncomplicated malaria and the use of the rapid diagnostic test RDT to confirm it.

 

He also took them through the use of artemisin-based combination therapy (ACT) for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria and urged them to endeavor to refer cases of complicated malaria to the nearest health facility for prompt and appropriate treatment.

 

Participants received lessons on the clinical signs and symptoms of soil transmitted helminthes STH, schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis and the use the appropriate anthelmintic drug for the treatment of STH and were encouraged to refer cases of suspected schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis to health facilities for treatment.

 

They were also taken through the importance of records keeping and how to keep proper records and documentation.

 

Most beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the organizers and their sponsors for the new things learnt which they said will help them serve their people better since the incidence of malaria and NTDs abound in their communities.

 

Thirty more Over the Counter Medicine Sellers in the Atebubu-Amantin district are due to be trained before the end of September 2015.