Savelugu-Nanton tops in guinea worm cases

Datoyili (N/R), Jan. 19, GNA - Savelugu-Nanton District in the Northern Region recorded the highest number reported guinea worm cases, registering 1,182 in 2006 as against the total national figure of 4,130 last year.

Six districts in the Northern Region also recorded high cases with Tolon-Kumbungu recording 827, followed by Tamale Metropolis 462, East Gonja 382, Yendi 335, and Nanumba North 116.

The Savelugu-Nanton District has already recorded 213 provisional cases in January, indicating a freighting situation for the year. This was made known by Dr Andrew Seidu Korkor, the National Coordinator of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme in Tamale during the dedication of a guinea worm containment centre at Datoyili near Tamale where persons with the disease would be treated.

Dr Korkor attributed the high-recorded cases of the disease to the inadequate provision of potable water in most of the communities. He said most people in the communities depended on dams as their source of drinking water where persons with the disease either knowingly or unknowingly infest the water.

Dr John Abenyeri, Tamale Metropolitan Director of Health Service, said the government had made the treatment of guinea worm cases free and appealed to persons with the disease to attend the centres for treatment.

He said at the centres beds, bed sheets, breakfast, lunch and super were provided free of charge to encourage those with the disease to report at the centres for treatment.

Miss Lamisi Imbila, Ghana's 2005 Beauty Queen who also won Miss World Beauty with a Purpose award commended the community members for their efforts at reducing the prevalence rate of the disease and urged them to work harder to eradicate it. 19 Jan. 07