Ghana near total eradication of Guinea worm

Accra, July 27, GNA - Ghana has achieved 99.99 per cent reduction of the Guinea Worm disease since the inception of the Guinea worm eradication programme in 1989.

From a high of 4,136 cases recorded during the peak of its outbreak in 2006, only eight cases have been reported in Ghana since the beginning of January 2010, the last case was recorded in May.

Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor, National Programme Manager, Ghana Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GGWEP) announced this when addressing the opening session of a two-day annual mid-year review meeting on the programme in Accra on Tuesday.

In comparison, around the same period of May 2009, 210 cases were reported, Dr Korkor explained, adding that all the eight reported cases for 2010 were from the Northern Region.

Dr. Korkor said the success story to the attainment of such dramatic reduction of the disease was that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the GGWEP did respond swiftly to the situation by not only intensifying all programme interventions to contain the situation but also worked with the district assemblies and partners to improve water supply to the townships of all endemic areas.

He explained that the disease was now limited to few spots in the Northern Region, particularly in the central Gonja District but since access to and use of potable water was not universal, the risk of re-infection could not be ruled out until the last case had been detected and contained.

"The major challenge is how to ensure a national awareness and maintaining vigilance to recognise and report any suspicious case to the health authorities for immediate investigation and containment as well as continue to improve water supply for the risk and endemic areas", Dr. Korkor said.

He said what needed to be done was to continue and step up surveillance nation-wide to detect and report, promptly and properly manage all suspected cases to ensure full containment, continue a nation-wide awareness creation among health staff and the people and continue to advocate for safe drinking water.

"It is only when Ghana has reported no indigenous transmission for a minimum of three years after breaking transmission that Ghana can be certified free of Guinea worm disease and eradication declared", Dr. Korkor added.

Dr. Benjamin Kunbuor, Health Minister, said Ghana and her partners had since 23 years ago made strong commitment to attain the current status of reduction of the disease, particularly by making substantial financial commitment to intensify all interventions including free treatment of Guinea worm cases, providing targeted water supply and hospitalisation in health facilities and containment centres to improve containment.

Other interventions like engagement of dam guards to police dams and prevent contamination, provision of logistics, transport and supervisions had all been pursued.

He said presently, World Health Organisation (WHO) was supporting government to strengthen surveillance for Guinea worm and other related diseases throughout the country as well as the national communication campaign and awareness creation effort to ensure that 93Ghana find and contain any remaining cases that might be hiding somewhere".

Dr. Kunbuor announced that with immediate effect anyone who would provide information to the authorities leading to the detection of a Guinea worm case anywhere in Ghana would receive a reward of GH¢30.

He said a 13-member National Certification Committee (NCC) chaired by Dr. Sam Bugri, Department of Community Health, University for Development Studies, Tamale, had instituted to assist the Ministry and GHS implement the remaining projects on Guinea worm and ensure that Ghana fulfilled all statutory requirement for certification by WHO during and up to three years of zero case reporting.

Dr. George Amofa, Deputy Director-General, GHS, expressed joy that Ghana was almost at the threshold of eradicating the disease, and said the meeting would help identify what was left to be done to enable Ghana attain the Guinea worm free status.

Ghana's Guinea worm eradication partners; WHO, UNICEF, Carter Centre, JICA and European Union, commended her for achieving such a feat from a recorded case of about 180,000 cases in 1989, to eight cases by June 2010.

"This is no mean achievement", they said, and urged the Government to fight to attain a zero free status.