Guinea worm cases drop in Ghana

There has been a sharp reduction of guinea worm cases in Ghana from last year?s peak of 7,000 to a low current of 1,300.

Mr Hackman Owusu Agyeman, minister for works and housing, who announced this, attributed this positive results to the provision of boreholes in endemic communities with substantial HIPC funds.

The minister, who granted audience to the World Health Organisation (WHO) country director, Dr Melville George, said the endemic communities were not asked to make any financial contribution in the provision of the facilities. He said that was because the Government was determined to eradicate the disease in the country.

He noted that the reference to Ghana as the second most endemic country in the world was not a good image for the country.

The minister acknowledged the assistance of WHO to Ghana in the ?seemingly intractable problem of guinea worm eradication in the country.?

He said the Government had realised that the provision of boreholses without corresponding attitudinal and behavioural change was not sufficient.

The minister said his ministry was collaborating with the ministries of health and local government and rural development on the issue of education and advocacy to the endemic communities.