Buipe, (N/R), Nov. 8, GNA- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has donated a quantity of medical supplies valued over GHc3,500.00 to the flood hit Central Gonja District to provide for the medical needs of the people.

The medical supplies include; scalp vein infusion set, disposable hypodermic needles, scissors, surgicals, forceps, dressing trays and toilet soaps. Dr. Charles Fleischer-Djoleto, Country Advisor Family Health and Population of the WHO made the presentation to Mr. Issifu Salisu Be-Awuribe, the Central Gonja District Chief Executive (DCE) and Madam Habiba Amadu Daison, the District Director of Health, at Buipe on Sunday.

Other members of the WHO team at the presentation were Mr. Stanley Diamenu and Edward Gyepi-Garbrah, Country Advisor for Routine Immunisation and Advisor Guinea Worm Eradication respectively. Mr. Be-Awuribe commended the WHO and UNICEF for their prompt attention and assistance to the district in these difficult times. He said the floods had affected 55 communities of which 25 completely submerged while 30,000 people had been displaced and two people losing their lives. He said some public toilets had also submerged while over 1,119 livestock had been carried away by the floods with 65 schools and 15 boreholes seriously affected. The DCE said although there had been fears of the outbreak of an epidemic, the situation had been brought under control because arrangements had been made to supply the people with clean drinking water.

Madam Amadu Daison said so far, there had not been an outbreak of any water borne disease because the district health centre was managing and treating the people who had reported ailments promptly. She appealed to WHO and other organisations to assist the health personnel in the district with boats to reach the inaccessible areas to attend to the people's health needs. He said most of the displaced people had also gone to stay with their close relatives in Yapei, also in the Central Gonja District and some parts of the Brong/Ahafo region. Dr. Djoleto said the support from the WHO was to assist to alleviate the plight of the people and also prevent the outbreak of an epidemic. He said the WHO would continue to monitor the situation and mount surveillance on the outbreak of diseases so that it can quickly respond in emergency. 08 Nov.10