Bechem, Dec. 28,- A Public Health
Specialist, Dr Raphael Adu-Gyamfi has advised the general public to boost their
immune systems by eating enough fruits and vegetables to be able to fight the
H1N1 and other diseases.
Dr Adu-Gyamfi mentioned physical
activities, drinking more water, eating vegetables and fruits as some of the
practices that could help to build the immune system to fight diseases.
One must also have enough rest to
reduce stress and abstain from tobacco and alcohol consumption, he added.
Dr Adu-Gyamfi gave the advice
when educated people with hearing impairments on how to protect themselves and
others from getting the H1N1 disease at the opening of the 2017 Church of
Christ Deaf Ministries’ annual conference at Bechem in the Tano North District
of Brong-Ahafo Region.
Under the theme, “The Deaf Shall
Know”, the four-day conference aimed at educating the hearing-impaired on the
word of God, current issue, financial management's, marital issues and training
skills to help them develop both physically and spiritual.
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi observed that
there was the need for all to work on improving health service delivery for the
hearing impaired because of the anxiety and discomforting experience they have
to go through at health facilities.
He appealed to the managements of
health facilities to institute and implement measures that would not only
enable, but make effort easier for the hearing-impaired to have access to
quality health services.
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi advised the
general public not to see the HINI disease as a curse but must look out for
early warning signs and seek medical treatment immediately at any qualified
health centre.
He stated that even though the
disease was so dangerous and puts everyone at risk, seeking immediate medical
care could help to prevent its spread and dangers associated with it.
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi emphasised that
“the H1N1 disease is not spread by food and is not acquired by eating pork or
big products.
"Eating properly handled and
cooked pig product is safe", he said and advised the public to always
protect their noses and mouth with a disposable tissues, clean handkerchiefs
and use upper sleeve when coughing or
sneezing.
He urged all to help in the fight
against the disease since the influenza primarily infected the respiratory
tract and could cause severe illnesses leading to life threatening
complications.
Dr. Adu-Gyamfi observed that
pregnant women, children under five years and the aged were mostly at risk and
therefore needed special attention to protect them from acquiring the disease.
He asked participants to develop
a preventive behaviour and not to panic since there was a vaccine for
protection against the virus.
Evangelist Patrick Cudjoe Mortey,
Head Pastor of the Bechem Branch of the Church of Christ Deaf Ministry, advised
parents not to hide their children with disabilities at home, but must educate
and help them to develop their talents since they were equally important in
contributing to the nation’s building.
Some of the participants during a
focus group discussion expressed the view that they preferred herbal medication
to the orthodox medication because of the negative attitude of some health
workers, particularly nurses towards them at health facilities.
The participants mentioned
communication barriers as their major challenge whenever they visited the
health facilities and therefore stressed the need for the presence of
well-trained sign language interpreters, especially at public health
facilities.
GNA
No comments:
Post a Comment