District Assemblies Urged To Support National Programmes

Kumasi, - District Assemblies have been tasked to demonstrate a strong commitment to national efforts at eradicating guinea worms by practically supporting initiatives of water providing agencies in the provision of boreholes to rural communities. This apart, district assemblies should also liaise with endemic communities to help come up with more efficient maintenance packages for boreholes in such areas in view of their high level of poverty. Mr Asiedu Kwapong, Ashanti Regional Guinea Worm Co-ordinator, made the appeal at a one-day workshop on the eradication of the disease held in Kumasi today. It is to evolve strategies by which district assemblies could be

more supportive of the programme for the eradication of guinea worm. The workshop was attended by 136 participants made up of District Directors of Health Services, District Chief Executives, District Guinea Worm Co-ordinators and core members of the various District Health Management Teams from the18 districts of the Ashanti Region. Mr Kwapong disclosed that the region achieved 97 per cent reduction in guinea worm cases in 1996.