Opinion leaders asked to support guinea worm eradication

December 11, 2009
Busunya (B/A), Dec. 11, GNA - Mr. David Menkah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Disease Control Officer, has called on opinion leaders to support community-based surveillance volunteers in combating diseases among the people.

He said that the Ghana Health Service appreciated services of the volunteers "as they make the work of nurses and health workers easier in promoting the good health of the people."

Mr. Menkah, who was addressing a workshop on guinea worm surveillance project at Busunya, commended the volunteers in Nkoranza North District for their hard work in combating communicable diseases their diseases.

The workshop that was organised by the District Directorate of Health Service, aimed at educating participants on signs and symptoms of guinea worm for early treatment.

Mr. Peter Paul, Nkoranza North District Disease Control Officer, said that it was the vision of the World Health Organisation and Ghana Health Service to eradicate guinea worm from Ghana by the year 2014.

He said: "It is upon this vision that the guinea worm eradication surveillance project has been launched to sensitize the people about the signs and symptoms of the disease so they will detect an outbreak early for immediate attention".

Mr. Paul said special packages and incentives had been arranged for the volunteers who would detect the outbreak of the disease in any community.

He said the treatment of the disease was free and asked infected persons to go to the hospitals for immediate treatment.

Mr. Paul advised people who use water from water bodies to boil it before usage.

GNA