Bilharzia outbreak in six Mfantseman communities

Saltpond, April 11, GNA - There is an outbreak of schistosomiasis (BILHARZIA) in six communities in the Abeadze Dominase sub-District of the Mfantseman District in the Central Region.

The communities are Akobima, Ohenkwa, Kawonsen, Korado, Akropong and Dwendama.

Mr. Francis Zuradam Saareson, Mfantseman District Disease Control Officer, who briefed the GNA at Saltpond, described the situation as serious.

He said urine samples from 11 randomly selected children between the ages of eight and 12 years tested, nine children produced visibly bloody urine, whilst all the 11 samples were positive of schistosomiasis. Mr. Saareson said boreholes in the communities had broken down and the people had had to rely on water from a stream, which had broken into segments due to the dry season.

According to Mr. Saareson, cattle from the surrounding villages and the villagers themselves compete for water from the segments. He said the Regional Biologist and the Disease Control Officer accompanied the District Director of Health Services to the villages to ascertain the situation.

Mr. Robert Quainoo-Arthur, the District Chief Executive, who also visited the communities ordered immediate repair of the boreholes. Dr. Simpson Anim Boateng, District Director of Health Service said he had applied to the Disease Control Unit at Korle-bu for drugs for treating about 4,000 people in the communities.

He commended the DCE for taking prompt action to get the boreholes repaired.

Dr. Boateng advised the people to boil water from the stream before drinking to avoid being infected with other water-borne diseases.