Management of Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with United Nations Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) have presented some items to support health volunteers in Mfantseman Municipality to implement the Integrated Management of Children Illness (IMCI) and growth promotion.
The IMCI is an initiative to reduce morbidity and mortality rate among children less than five years.
The illnesses include malaria, measles, diarrhoea, malnutrition and acute respiratory infection.
Dr Kwabena Sarpong, Mfantseman Municipal Director of Ghana Health Service presented 18 health volunteers also known as Community-Based Growth Promoters (CBGP) with their package, which included bicycles, Wellington boots, rain coats and first aid boxes at Biriwa.
They are trained by GHS to serve as a link between their communities and health facilities in detecting symptoms of the illnesses and helping to refer patients to health facilities.
Dr Sarpong said the package was to facilitate their work in outreach activities and submit monthly reports to health facilities.
He cautioned them to ensure that cases detected were referred immediately to the nearest health facility and ensure prudent use of the items given to them.
Mrs Margaret Morrison, Mfantseman Municipal Public Health Nurse appealed to the communities to provide incentives for the volunteers to encourage them to work effectively as they received no remuneration from the GHS.
Miss Helena Tibiru, Mfantseman Municipal Disease Control Officer said GHS was committed to create appropriate health conditions to promote growth of the country's future leaders.
A total of 174 health volunteers benefited from the package presented at five locations within the municipality.