"Old diseases continue to kill children"

The state of the former outpatient department of Korle Bu Children's Emergency Unit. Image: BENEDICT OBUOBI

Ghana still loses a significant number of newborns to "diseases of antiquity" because of its inability to prioritize investments in child health education, said Professor Ebenezer Department of Child Health, Korle Bu University Hospital (KBTH). Badoe, said.

He mentioned rabies, respiratory infections, jaundice and malaria among the most deadly diseases that were almost unknown in developed countries but still killing children in Ghana.

In an interview with The Daily Graphic, Professor Badoe blamed the prevalence of these preventable diseases on limited facilities and trained staff in health centers, lack of prompt care and education on how to manage the disease. 39, to improve children's health and a general lack of interest in the health of children among Ghanaians. the government in particular.

He said that it was worrying to find that about 60% of the children in the country were suffering from iron deficiency. One condition, he said, is easy to prevent but has been allowed to worsen.

As a result, he called for deliberate efforts to increase children's iron levels so that their immune systems are strengthened against diseases.

Dog bite

Professor Badoe said that although the infant mortality rate in Ghana has fallen to 25 deaths per 1,000 births, this number was still a blot on the country's health sector after thorough questioning.

"Let's take the example of motherhood. A month ago 17 people died, but if you are in England, it is possible that you have only one or two deaths a year.

"So when you compare, you realize that there is something wrong with your system," he said.

Professor Badoe said that although he has been confronted with all kinds of diseases in children, "seeing things like rage has hurt me".

"Rabies is like a disease of antiquity. In the Western world, all over Europe, not a single case of rabies is recorded, but here, it happens sometimes that a child comes and dies of rabies.

"That one, when I see it, it hurts me because it's preventable," he said.

This, he said, is a factor of lack of education and therefore calls on parents to vaccinate their dogs and their children appropriately to avoid unnecessary deaths.

Taking advantage of the lack of interest in child health in the country through the child emergency service, Professor Badoe said that it was "shocking" that the outpatient department (OPD) of the child 's health service. Korle Bu pediatric emergency operates from a capacity of 22 beds in spite of recording an average of 30 to 50 cases per day.

"It's because kids do not come first," he said.

"Maybe because you did not bring children here, but if you took them here, it's when you find yourself in the face of reality," he said. declared.

Professor Badoe explained that unlike in other countries where child health was a top priority, it was unfortunate that the government does not produce children first when it comes to to invest in the health sector.

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