28th and 29th October, 2010
Jane explains to the children about home management of fever
Fever is an abnormal high body temperature or a disease characterized with abnormal body temperature. Under normal conditions the body temperature ranges from 36.6 oC to 37.2 oC. Mild or moderate fever (40.55 oC) causes weakness or exhaustion but when it reaches 42.2 oC it may cause convulsion or death if not attended to.
This abnormal rise in body temperature may be due to Malaria, Typhoid Fever and many other diseases. Malaria transmission is endemic and perennial. The species responsible for severe malaria is Plasmodium falciparum, a dominant parasite. Malaria is also the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana and the Navrongo District not exempt.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that between 1.5-2.7 million people die of malaria, while 300-500 million clinical cases occur annually (WHO, 2003). It contributes to poverty and inequalities in the developing world. It also contributes largely to anaemia in children and pregnant women.
Populations at risk such as children and pregnant women need rapid diagnosis and timely treatment hence early detection of signs and symptoms of fever as a result of an erupting disease such as malaria is essential and the first aid to control the disease.
Cheerful Hearts Foundation therefore saw the need to educate school pupils in selected schools within the Navrongo District on the appropriate home management of Fever to help provide first aids to children or people show sign of a disease condition characterised by Fever.
In our strong and sincere desire to improve the standard of education in the Awutu Senya District, we organize regular quiz competitions and award prizes to successful candidates as a means of motivation to the students.
Cheerful Hearts Foundation launched an official project to support Orphans, Education, Malaria and HIV/AIDS Projects on the 6th of December 2009 at the Royal Dede Caesar Hotel, off Accra-Kasoa main road. Dignitaries present were Hon. Huhu Adams (the District Chief Executive), Nana Obeng Wiabo V (The Chief of Gomoa Nyanyano Traditional Area), Mrs. Greta Kataha (Founder of Women Ablaze worldwide Ministry, Canada), Very Rev. Daniel Percy Omanano (Superintendent Minister of the Kasoa Circuit Methodist), Mrs. Naomi Asemani (Proprietress of Peculiar Child Academy) and many others from the media and other organizations in Ghana.
Women Ablaze is a worldwide Christian Women organization based in Canada. It was founded in 2002 by Mrs. Greta Kataha. These organizations for the past years of existence have supported and build orphanages in Africa, especially Uganda. They also organize programs to empower women, children, youth and men all over the world.
Our research conducted from April to September 2009 in the district showed that, most of the youth and children of school going age have very little knowledge about the disease and there is a strange superstition attached to the disease. Some groups of people believe that the disease is not real and also caused by witches. Moreover, most people who contracted the disease are always seen as evil and most often rejected by the community. This mentality has made it even more difficult for people to participate in HIV/AIDS free voluntary testing exercises organized within the community.
