Stop false health messages on airwaves – Health Officer
Misinformation and conflicting health messages on the airwaves have been identified by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as issues of great concern that impedes smooth health care delivery.
Mr Matthew Ahwireng, Central Regional Health Promotion Officer, bemoaned the rate at which radio stations allowed quacks to misinform the unsuspecting public with half truths and false health messages which had led to the death of some people while others developed serious complications.
Mr Ahwireng expressed these concerns at the inauguration of the Central Regional Inter Agency Committee in Health Promotion (ICCiHP) in Cape Coast on Wednesday.
It is to serve as an advisory body to oversee and guide health promotion in the region through co-ordination, monitoring and evaluation to foster behavioural change.
The 12-member committee is made up of health stakeholders from different Governmental Agencies and social organizations in the region.
Mr Ahwireng gave an example that a false radio advertisement that “Lion Ointment” could be used to treat snake bites led a victim to develop serious complications after using it on the sore and was taken to the hospital when it was too late.
He said health education was not the preserve of the GHS but all stakeholders and urged the public to take responsibility of their own health by adhering to information given by health officers and seek early medical care.
He said the paradigm shift of the GHS was on “communication for development” with the aim of getting the entire society to be part of public education.
Members of the committee should, therefore, use all opportunities and leverage to promote consistent and appropriate health messages in the mass media.
They should explore public and private partnerships on matters relating to health promotion and social and behavioural change, he said.
Kwame Oppong, Regional Co-ordinating Director, who inaugurated the Committee, urged members to commit themselves to the work to ensure a successful implementation of all its programmes to help bring the desired behavioural change.
The ICCiHP Committee, which will be reciprocated in all the districts, will receive financial support by UNICEF in its first year of operation.
Source: GNA