Sixty percent of hospital beds occupied by Buruli patients

Manso-Agroyesum (Ash), May 24, GNA- About 60 percent of beds at the Saint Martin's Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum is occupied by Buruli Ulcer patients who spend a minimum of three months at the hospital. Besides that, reimbursement for cost of treatment to patients does not come regularly as it should thereby making it difficult for the hospital to meet its commitment to its creditors.

Dr Kwaku Boateng Arthur, the Deputy Medical Superintendent of the hospital, who made this known, said reimbursement for the treatment of patients since the beginning of the year had not been received yet. He was speaking at a day's training workshop for 60 teachers in the Amansie West district in the early identification of the disease at Agroyesum last Friday.

The workshop was organised by the district health administration with sponsorship from AVESVAD, a Spanish Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO).

Dr Arthur pointed out that the disease was spreading fast and that from the beginning of the year, the hospital had hosted four training programmes for medical staff across the country under the auspices of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He commended the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Kofi Asare and Dr Edwin Ampadu, the National Buruli Ulcer Programme Co-ordinator as well as the district health directorate for the drugs and equipment for management of the disease.

Mr Joseph Adomako, the District Director of Health Services, said the on-going research into the disease was yielding some positive results.

He said AVESVAD had provided a four-wheel pick-up, two motorbikes, a generator and other teaching materials to the district for education programmes on the disease.