fgmsa proposal

Federation of Ghana MedicalFederation of Ghana Medical Students’ AssociationStudents’ Association

(FGMSA)(FGMSA)

CARING FOR THE LUNG; BREATH IS LIFE.

Federation of Ghana Medical Students Association

(Information Sheet)

Address:

Clinical Students’ Hostel,

University of Ghana Medical School,

Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.

Telephone: +233-24-704897/ +233-24-3674628

Email: [email protected]

Website:

Member Associations:

1. University Of Ghana Medical Students’ Association, UGMSA,

Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra.

FGMSA NATIONAL HEALTH WEEK 2010 PROPOSAL

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2. KNUST- Medical Students Association, KNUST-MSA,Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi.

3. UDS- Medical Students’ Association, UDS-MSA,Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale.

Project Coordinators: 1. Mr. Emmanuel Kumi Osei, National Health Officer – FGMSA 2. Mr. Jones Ampofo Gyedu, President – FGMSA 3. Mr. Mervin Kwasi Boakye, Projects Officer – FGMSA 4. Mr. Gonu K. Yashima – Dep. National Health Officer – FGMSA 5. Ms. Eunice Apraku-Boadu – Dep. National Health Officer – FGMSA 6. Mr. John Godwill Gyasi Banin, SCOPH - FGMSA

Table of Contents

1. Federation and Project’s Information Sheet………………………………………….22. Project Overview

i. Theme………………………………………………………………………………………4ii. Time frame……………………………………………………………………………….4iii. Objectives………………………………………………………………………………..4iv. Activities…………………………………………………………………………………..5v. Expected Results……………………………………………………………………...6

3. Executive Summary……………………………………………………………………………….74. Health Week 2010

- Introduction………………………………………………..……………………………………….9-What we intend to do………………………………………………………………………….12

5. Budget…………………………………………………………………………………………………146. Statement of need……………………………………………………………………………...167. Benefit to Sponsors…………………………………………………………………………….178. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………….18


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1. Project Overview

1.1 Theme:

Caring for the Lung; Breath is life

1.2 Time frame:

18th – 24th September, 2010.

1.3 Aim:

To campaign and advocate for healthier lifestyles and also to highlight the devastating effects of various lung diseases and emphasize on ways of prevention and the benefits of adopting such measures.

Some key health problems to be discussed will include;

1. H1N1 influenza and other respiratory tract infections,2. Tuberculosis,3. Pneumonia,4. Lung cancer and smoking and,5. Other Lung diseases

1.4 Objectives:


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1. To highlight some of the lung diseases of public health concern especially those prevalent in this country and the burden it places on individuals, communities and the socio-economical implications it has on the nation at large.

2. To collaborate with the various District Health Management Teams to identify practical and easily implementable ways of advocating for better health seeking behavior of Ghanaians.

3. To identify some challenges to healthcare delivery in the communities and make recommendations to the appropriate authorities.

4. To give medical students hands-on experiences in public health care in Ghana and expose students to the modus operandi of the District Health Management Teams.

5. To give medical students from other nations on their professional exchange the opportunity to experience Healthcare delivery in Ghana.

6. To collaborate with various organizations and agencies to devise ways of solving some of the problems which shall be so identified in the course of the programme.

1.5 Activities:

1. Institutional and other outreaches

Health talks will be organized to various selected Senior and Junior High Schools and even Basic Schools nationwide to highlight on the theme chosen. The idea is also to inculcate in these students, the practice of good environmental and personal hygiene and their role in the prevention of various diseases.Other institutions shall be considered for this activity provided the logistics are adequate.These activities shall span a period of six (6) months and shall be coordinated by all the three member associations namely; UGMSA, UDS-MSA and, KNUST-MSA. It shall be organized at least twice every month.This shall be an antecedent to the main Week-long celebration.

2. Health Walk

There shall be an awareness walk through the principal streets of Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. This will be organized to publicize the programme and will be carried out on the 11th September, 2010.

3. Grand Durbar and Launching

The Grand Durbar and Launching will take place on the 18th September, 2010. This will be the official launch of FGMSA National Health Week 2010. The venues will be in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale. Expected at the Launching will be The Minister of Health, The Programme manager, National TB Control Programme, Representatives from World Health Organization, Minister of Education,


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Public Health Departments of all the three medical schools, Deans and staff of the various medical schools, supporting agencies and sponsors of Health Week.A free medical screening exercise will be carried out for the selected communities within which the programme will take place.

4. District Tours

This is the highlight of the health week. It will take place between the 19th and 25th September, 2010. It is during this week that volunteers/ medical students will embark on a one-week intensive health campaign. Students will be drawn from all the three MSA’s, namely; UGMSA, UDS-MSA and KNUST-MSA.By working with the District Health management teams, students will go on outreaches to Hospitals and Clinics within the community, schools and colleges, talk to women groups and also hold radio talk shows. A major component of our campaign will be to educate High School pupils on H1N1 infection and also the importance of washing hands with soap and water.Findings from the community will be relayed to the District Health Management Teams.

1.6 Expected Results:

By the end of National Health Week 2010, we hope to educate and reinforce the knowledge

about certain lung diseases. And also to emphasize on ways of preventing spread of some of

these diseases. We expect to do this by using visual aids, posters, fliers and other others.

Recognizing the power of the media; Local radio stations and TV stations shall also be a means

of disseminating our information.

Highlight on the importance of recognizing common respiratory diseases and also seeking early

treatment.

The FGMSA hope that by the end of the programme, all medical student participants will have

an experience of working in the districts is like. Students are expected to familiarize and

acquaint themselves with the modus operandi of the DHMT.

We shall administer questionnaires to find out the depth basic knowledge in our communities.

The results of these will be collated and disseminated to the appropriate authorities (DHMT,

District Assemblies, GHS, MOH, etc) for consideration.

The free medical screening exercise shall serve as our corporate responsibility to the community

in a bid to giving back to the community what it has invested in us.


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Last year, FGMSA donated about 800 Insecticide Treated Nets to Pregnant women and Nursing

mothers and also made a donation of some items to the La General Hospital. It is our hope that

with the necessary support, we can even do more this year.

1.7 Executive summary:

The FGMSA is a body of medical students with membership encompassing almost all medical students in

Ghana. Member Student Associations include The UDS-MSA, KNUST-MSA and the UGMSA.

REALISING the need by our generation that a new type of student with a sense of patriotism is required

to fulfill the aspirations of our country by participating meaningfully, purposefully and actively in

national and international health affairs that affect the masses of our people;

The FGMSA has instituted and executed many programmes over the years chief among which is the

celebration of National Health Weeks and also the Professional Exchange. Students through the

generations have had the opportunity of engaging in Health Campaign in local community settings. This

programme offers the student the opportunity to bring to bear the knowledge and acumen they have

acquired in medical school to improve healthcare delivery in the country.

Annual National Health Week is a programme organized by the FGMSA in collaboration with the Public

Health Departments of the member associations namely; UGMS and KNUST-SMS and UDS-SMS. It is also

made possible by the technical assistance of state agencies like the MOH and GHS. Over the years, The

FGMSA has partnered with corporate entities like Nestle Ghana Ltd, Zoomlion Company Ltd, Ghana


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Ports and Harbours Authority (GHAPOHA), IPAS Ghana, Ghana Medical Association, Pharmaceutical

Society of Ghana, just to mention but a few to execute this all important programme.

Our efforts over the years have been concentrated in the rural communities because of the following reasons:

People in these areas have limited access to health information via TV, radio, newspapers, and the other major means of health information dissemination.

High illiteracy rate in these areas and therefore special tactical approach is required in offering them health education.

Some traditional practices turn out to be detrimental to their health, therefore, the need for education.

Ghana’s effort to achieve effective Primary Health Care (PHC) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and to globally promote health for all by the year 2020 in order to attain middle income status.

National Health Week has over the years evolved to gain international recognition and hence the selling

of the name of Ghana within the frontiers of medical education.

In 2005, the project focused on using the DOT Strategy to stop TB. This gained recognition by the WHO

country office in Ghana.

At a meeting in Tunisia in 2009, National Health Week then celebrated under the theme “Make every

mother and child count” won a prize for being the best presented project at the Projects fair of the

IFMSA. In March 2010 at a 59th General Assembly of IFMSA in Bangkok - Thailand, the FGMSA

competed for the most prestigious award of the IFMSA; The Rex Crossley Award. National Health Week

2009 then celebrated under the theme “Prevent malaria; save a mother and a child” came second in

winning this most coveted Prize. This was in recognition of the impact and the far reaching nature of

such an initiative. This also made it possible for NHW 2009 to be featured in the IFMSA Projects’ bulletin

issue 7.

Surely, the FGMSA is motivated to work harder to receive more honors and also to make our impact felt

in a more positive way whiles we are still students. Most importantly, we are committed to helping

improving the health of all Ghanaians in line with the Ministry of Health’s ‘Health for all agenda.’


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This year, the FGMSA chose a theme that seeks to address a common problem that is often neglected

that has also received relatively little attention in the country. The FGMSA wants to use the influence

and impact National Health Week to address this menace.

2. National Health Week 2010 – Theme Background

2.1 Introduction:

Caring for the Lungs; breath is life was chosen as the theme for this year’s Health Week in view of the

fact that Lung diseases are usually neglected with the exception of TB yet these remain a high cause of

morbidity and mortality in all age groups but most especially in children.

A closer look at the effects of some of these health problems we intend to address justifies the need for

everybody to concern themselves with CARING FOR THE LUNGS.

2.2 Why CARING FOR THE LUNGS?


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At the 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Cancún, Mexico on 6 December 2009, The Forum

of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) declared the year 2010 as ‘THE YEAR OF THE LUNG’ and

made the following remarks;

WE (FIRS) NOTE WITH GRAVE CONCERN THAT:

Hundreds of millions of people struggle each year for life and breath due to lung diseases, including tuberculosis, asthma, pneumonia, influenza, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, and more than 10 million die.

Chronic respiratory diseases cause approximately 7% of all deaths worldwide and represent 4% of the global burden of disease;

Lung diseases afflict people in every country and every socioeconomic group, but take the heaviest toll on the poor, the old, the young and the weak;

Deadly synergies exist between diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, influenza and asthma, COPD and lung cancer;

Diseases once primarily found in industrialized countries, such as asthma, COPD and lung cancer, are now major problems in low- and middle-income countries and threaten to overwhelm public health services;

The cost of lung disease runs to billions of dollars each year in lost productivity and increased health care expenses – to say nothing of diminished and ruined lives;

Yet public demand and political commitment remain inadequate to effect significant change.

The declaration goes on to implicate the following:

WE RECOGNIZE THAT:

The connection between breath and life is fundamental, yet the evidence shows that lung health is not high on the public health agenda:

Tobacco use remains legal, although it kills more than 5 million people each year, including 1.3 million who die of lung cancer, and it affects the health of hundreds of thousands of others who are exposed to its effects secondhand;

No new drugs have been developed for tuberculosis in more than 5 decades and the only vaccine is nearly a century old, yet there were more than 9 million new cases in 2007, and this curable disease kills 1.7 million each year;

Pneumonia kills more than 2 million children under 5 each year – one child every 15 seconds -- despite the fact that it can be treated effectively and inexpensively;

Most of the 250,000 deaths from asthma each year can be attributed to lack of proper treatment.

Although it will be the 3rd leading cause of death worldwide by 2020, COPD is frequently not diagnosed;

Nearly half of the world’s population lives in or near areas with poor air quality.


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The FGMSA shares in the view of the FIRS and are committed to contribute to heighten the awareness on the much-less publicized devastating effects of lung diseases on individuals and the nation at large.

2.2.1 Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the inflammation of one or both lungs with consolidation. Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough with sputum production, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

This is the single largest cause of death in children worldwide. Every year, it kills an estimated 1.8 million children under the age of five years, accounting for 20% of all deaths of children under five years old worldwide. There are some 155 million cases of childhood pneumonia every year in the world. Pneumonia affects children and families everywhere, but is most prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It can be prevented with simple interventions, and treated with low-cost, low-tech medication and care. (WHO, August 2009.)

2.2.2 Pandemic Influenza H1N1

Pandemic Influenza H1N1 (PIH) 2009 is a disease that is caused by an influenza virus that affects the respiratory system. Symptoms include fever, cough or sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue and in some cases vomiting and diarrhea. This disease has spread to become a pandemic (has a global distribution, affecting people everywhere)

In a weekly update on the WHO website as at 16th April 2010, the following was contained in a report on the current state of spread;

“As of 11 April 2010, worldwide more than 214 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, including over 17798 deaths.”

The report goes on to report the following;

Situation update:

“The most active areas of pandemic influenza virus transmission currently are in parts of the tropical zones of the Americas, West Africa, Eastern Africa and South East Asia. In sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa continues to see community transmission of pandemic influenza virus with Ghana currently being


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http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=450

the primary focus of transmission (45% of all clinical specimens tested were positive for pandemic influenza) but smaller numbers of cases were also seen in Senegal and Niger.”

(Credit: World Health Organization, update on H1N1)

Helping combat the menace…

Influenza viruses are mainly spread from one person to another through droplets released during coughing or sneezing. Public awareness and Education can help reduce the risk of infection.

2.2.3 Tuberculosis

Ghana is not among the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) 22 high-burden tuberculosis (TB) countries, yet the disease is a major health problem in the country. With an estimated 47,632 new TB cases in 2007, Ghana ranks 19th in Africa for the highest estimated number of new cases per year, according to WHO’s Global TB Report 2009. Nine percent of the 7,786 TB patients registered in 2007 died before completing TB treatment. According to the WHO, more than two billion people, equal to one third of the world’s total population, are infected with TB bacilli, the microbes that cause TB. One in every 10 of those people will become sick with active TB in his or her lifetime. Also people living with HIV are at a much greater risk.

Worldwide;

There were 9.4 million new TB cases in 2008 (3.6 million of whom are women) including 1.4 million cases among people living with HIV.

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is a form of TB that does not respond to the standard treatments using first-line drugs. MDR-TB is present in virtually all countries surveyed by WHO and its partners. MDR-TB usually develops when sufferers of TB do not comply with the treatment regimen.

2.2.4 Smoking and Lung Cancer.It is a well known fact that smoking is associated with lung cancer. Although not a very common problem in our setting, Lung cancer still remains one of the commonest causes of death related to malignancies in Ghana. In the Global Burden of diseases report, 2004, Cancers related to Trachea, Bronchus and Lung ranked 8th among the leading causes of death globally. With fast modernization and the tendency to rising incidence of smoking in the country, lung cancer may become a major health concern if not addressed.

3. What we intend to do


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As stated earlier on, National Health Week is the only programme on the Federation’s calendar that allows Medical Students all over Ghana to be excused from the usual lectures and ward sessions to contribute to Health Promotion in the country.

With the various outlined programmes, our main business will be that of advocacy at all levels. By using various means such as the multimedia (Newsprint, Television, Local FM stations, Information vans, etc), it will be the duty of the FGMSA to educate the general public and heighten the awareness on our chosen theme and also to encourage positive health seeking behaviors.

By direct interaction with the general public at the district level at market places, in schools, churches and mosques and also schools, the FGMSA shall have the opportunity of identifying some lapses in the methods already put in place to check Lung diseases and also make recommendations to the appropriate authorities viz; Local government authority, the District Health Management Teams, The Ghana Health Service, and if it becomes necessary, to involve the Legislature by forwarding our findings and recommendations.

Our business will be advocacy for strict compliance to treatment plan and also to encourage relatives and friends of TB sufferers to help in the management of such patients. We also realize the many myths surrounding this disease and it will be an opportunity for us to demystify these misconceptions and encourage healthy living. Overcrowding is a major risk factor in the transmission of TB and the FGMSA intends to use National Health Week to play the advocate’s role at all levels (National, District and at community levels) to address this issue. TB is very common in HIV patients hence message on its prevention is never complete without addressing HIV/AIDS. This will also be an integral part of our message and campaign.

Our education on H1N1 Pandemic influenza shall be mainly focused in institutionalized bodies such as schools and colleges.

By engaging in an intensive Health Education/ Campaign, our task will be to bring to the fore, the knowledge about the spread of this disease and also ways of preventing acquiring the infection.

Our work shall be done in collaboration with the DHMT and the various District Assemblies.4. Budget

Below is a tentative budget for the organization of National Health Week 2010. The estimation covers

for the participating three (3) MSA’s; UGMSA, UDS-MSA and KNUST-MSA.

{For the district tours, five hundred (500) Medical Student Volunteers are expected to partake}

ItemCost

(GHC)Total (GHC)

A. Transportation

1. Initial Preparation (sending out proposals,


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follow-ups, preparation at district level, mailed

letters to DCEs and DDHS)

2. Health Walk in three regions

3. Grand Durbar and Launching

4. Transportation of 500 volunteers to and from

the districts.

5. Total

1,000

50

50

20

1,000 x 3 MSA’s

=3,000

50x3 MSA’s = 150

50x3 MSA’s = 150

20x500 students =

10000

=13,300

B. Telecommunication

1. Phone calls

2. Internet time

3. Total

100

20

100x3 = 300

20x3 = 60

=360

C. Refreshment

(for both participants and general public where applicable)1. Health Walk in three regions

2. Training Sessions

3. Grand durbar and launching

4. Total

GHC2x300 students

GHC2x150 students

GHC1.5x 500

people

600x3 MSA’s = 1800

300x3MSA’s = 900

750x3 MSA’s =2,250

=4,950

D. Per diems for 500 volunteers

1. Per diem for 5 days

2. Contingency monies for team leaders

3. Total

5GHC x 5 days

10GHC per team

x500 students =

12500

x125 teams= 7500

=20,000

E. National Health Week materials and logistics

1. Banners, posters and placards for health walk

2. Brochures and other information tracts

3. T-shirts

4. Plaques for sponsors

5. Total

300

500

5x4pieces

200

300x3 MSA’s

500x3 MSA’s

20x 500 Participants

200x 3 MSA’s

= 13,000

F. Media coverage

1. Publicity in Newsprint, Radio and TV stations 200 200x3 MSA’s


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2. Health Walk media coverage

3. Durbar and Launching media coverage

4. Total

200

200

200x3 MSA’s

200x3 MSA’s

=1,800

G. **Institutional and other Outreaches

1. Transportation

2. Lunch for participating volunteers

3. Total

240

120

240x3 MSA’s

240x3 MSA’s

=1080

H. Miscellaneous Expenditure =50

TOTAL =53,460

**The Institutional and other outreaches to schools and colleges and other corporate bodies is the latest

addition to our scope of activities marking National Health Week. It does not necessarily include

activities marking the Week itself (18th – 26th September, 2010) but is outlined to take place over a six (6)

months period within host regions of the different Member Associations (MSA’s). The thematic areas of

our work will be teaching basic hygiene practices and also teaching about communicable diseases and

also about ways of preventing such communicable diseases.

5. Statement of need

The FGMSA is looking for partnerships at all levels to bring to bear our rich experience of health advocacy/ campaigning to reduce the level of ignorance when it comes to respiratory diseases and also to change the perception about the causes of some common contagious diseases prevalent in the country.

Creating a healthy nation with a vibrant workforce to drive the economy demands a health conscious

population, people well informed and empowered to make the right choices with regards to health


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issues. This will certainly require the effort and commitment of dedicated human resource with

experience in such a field. This is where the FGMSA comes in as a reliable partner with vast experience.

Ghana could move closer to achieving her Millennium Development Goals if there are commitment at all

levels of leadership. It is everyone’s business when the matter concerns health.

Benefits to sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

The status of Platinum sponsorship will be conferred on any NGO, corporate body or Agency that shall sponsor the FGMSA to the tune of GHC 10,000.

1. Promotion on the Federation’s website ; www.fgmsa.org. as a socially responsible company/ corporate body.

2. Plaque to acknowledge sponsorship granted.

3. Opportunity to display advertisement materials during the launching of Health Week in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.

4. Opportunity to be involved in helping promote health in Ghana and also helping Ghana achieve her MDGs related to health.

5. Opportunity to be engaged in training medics that are aware of global health issues.

6. Display of company logo on all T-shirts and other paraphernalia to be used for the durbar and district tours.

7. Display of company brochures and paraphernalia at our project fairs during IFMSA August Meeting in Canada and The African Regional Meeting of IFMSA in Nigeria in December.

8. Acknowledgement during our publicity talk shows on radio and TV stations.

9. Acknowledgement in all materials, brochures, banners, posters, etc to be used for National Health Week 2010.

Gold Sponsors

The status of Gold sponsorship shall be conferred on any corporate body, NGO, Agency, etc that shall sponsorship the FGMSA to the tune of GHC 5000.00





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http://www.fgmsa.org/




6. Display of company logo on all T-shirts and other paraphernalia to be used for the durbar and district tours.

7. Acknowledgement during our publicity talk shows on radio and TV stations.


Silver sponsors

For sponsorship up to GHC 2500.00







7. Display of Company logo on the T-shirts and other paraphernalia to be used for the launching of National Health Week 2010.

Others Other sponsorship monies shall be duly acknowledged subsequently.

6. ConclusionThe evidence is there to prove that Lung diseases impose a significant burden on the health of the nation as a whole not to mention the devastating effect it has on the sufferers of such diseases and their families. Sadly however, these diseases do not receive that much public attention as some other important diseases do.

Due to the far reaching nature and by the direct interaction volunteers have with the various communities, National Health Week has been an effective tool in reaching out to millions of Ghanaians especially those in the rural areas where our activities are usually targeted. The FGMSA has proven itself a competent organization in Health advocacy and campaigning.


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What Ghana needs now is the unwavering commitment of leadership at all levels to mobilise the society by providing an enabling environment in households, communities, districts, sector and institutional levels for the battle against respiratory diseases to be won. Ghana could move nearer to achieving her Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

What the FGMSA needs is the support from all levels of leadership to help make this achievable.

With the needed support and partnership, the FGMSA can achieve more and Ghanaians could be more enlightened about the relationship between the environment and Health and also be enlightened on diseases that are prevalent in such communities.

Thank you.

Proposal compiled by:

Mr. JOHN GODSWILL GYASI BANIN, BSc (Med. Sci)

University of Ghana Medical School.

[email protected]

Appendix

I. List of Key Abbreviations

1. WHO – World Health Organization2. IFMSA – International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations3. MOH – Ministry of Health4. GHS – Ghana Health Service


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mailto:[email protected]

5. FGMSA – Federation of Ghana Medical Students’ Association6. UGMSA – University of Ghana Medical Students’ Association7. UDS-MSA – University of Development Studies Medical Students Association8. KNUST-MSA – Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Medical Students’

Association9. NHW – National Health Week10. DHMT – District Health Management Team11. DCE – District Chief Executive12. DDHS – District Director of Health Services13. GDHS – Ghana Demographic and Health Survey14. MSA – Member Students’ Association15. COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases16. FIRS – Federation of International Respiratory Societies

II. Bibliography

1. Ghana Health Service, NTCP Report, 2009.2. World Health Organisation3. WHO Global TB Report 2009.4. Stedman's Electronic Medical Dictionary v5.0, Copyright 2000, Lippincot Williams and Wilkins 5. Global Burden of disease report, WHO, 20086. Health Service to take steps to manage Influenza H1N1 2009, allafrica.com7. United States Centre for Disease Control, Preventing H1N1, 2009.8. "Year of The Lung Declaration,FIRS, Cancun, December 2009.


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fgmsa proposal

Documents

national health officer

health week

public health care

key health problems

clinical students hostel

projects officer fgmsa

lung breath

president fgmsa