Buruli ulcer training ends in Takoradi

Dr. (Mrs) Linda Vanotoo, Deputy Western Regional Director of Health, said adequate information on buluri ulcer could help the public to effectively check the spread of the disease.

She noted that the disease adversely affected the social and economic activities of people in endemic areas.

Dr. (Mrs) Vanotoo was speaking at the end of a training programme on early detection and management of buluri ulcer and non-surgical treatment of the disease in Takoradi on Wednesday.

About 50 participants selected form the Western and Central regions attended the programme, organised by the National Buruli Ulcer Control Programme and the World Health Organisation.

Dr. Vanotoo called on health workers and people in buruli endemic areas to co-operation with government in efforts to eradicate the disease.

Dr. Edwin Ampadu, a medical officer at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi and National Co-ordinator for buruli ulcer, a facilitator of the programme called on participants to help disseminate information on buluri ulcer to prevent its spread.

Similar training programmes had been held for selected health workers in the Eastern, Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Brong Ahafo regions.

Asutifi district in Brong Ahafo region, Amansie West and Ahafo Ano North districts in Ashanti region and Upper Denkyira district in Central region were among the most endemic areas in the country, recording between 400 and 622 cases of buruli ulcer between 2003 and 2006.