SILENT KILLER DISEASES IN NORTHERN GHANA 
         MATERNAL MORTALITY, TB AND MENTAL HEALTH

The media in the Northern Region have been sensitized on the current state of maternal mortality, Tuberculosis TB and mental health in the region in a workshop organized by the Northern regional health directorate. This gave an opportunity to the media to have accurate information on maternal mortality, TB, and mental health. Speaking at the occasion the deputy DDN nurse in charge of maternal health nurse madam Rebecca Atalia said the Ghana health service have put in place drastic measures to curb maternal mortality in communities far from hospitals. These she said includes the EPICCS project which trains pregnant women, the giant community boards, community emergency transport committee made up of motor riders, the council of champions thus chiefs and elders and the Traditional Birth attendants who support the midwives in the delivery process. She said regardless of the efforts made there were challenges such as bad road network, inadequate infrastructure and logistics, broken down motorcycles, and inadequate pediatricians among others. A senior lecturer at the University for Development Studies medical school Dr. Abdallah Iddrisu Yahaya who spoke on the state of Tuberculosis said the region and the world at large is plagued with silent killer diseases known as hypertension, diabetes militates and cancer. He said sixty percent of deaths are caused by non communicable diseases due to the rate at which Ghanaians smoke tobacco and eat unhealthy diets. And without exercise it contributes to the increment in these diseases. He said massive education is needed to create the awareness of these silent killer diseases.  A mental nurse at the central hospital Mumuni fuseini also brought to light the current state of mental health in the northern region. Mr. Fuseini said though the staffing situation has improved with currently 120 mental health nurses in the region and four in each district the mental health still faced some challenges such as inadequate drugs, lack of transportation, discrimination, and inappropriate attitudes by staff. He added that 60 percent of mental illness is caused by epilepsy. And others by depression, unemployment, child abuse, spouse abuse, loss of loved one, repression, birth process and accidents.