TB, Oncho and Buluri ulcer on the rise in Amenfi East

Wassa-Akropong (W/R), July 10, GNA - The incidents of Tuberculosis, Onchocerciasis or river blindness, Buluri ulcer and other water borne diseases in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region is on the increase, says Dr. Maame Pokuwaa Amo-Addae, District Director of Health Services.

She said many people pay little or no attention to their health needs to the extent that "they find it difficult to visit health facilities even when their condition deteriorates".

Dr. Amo-Addae was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Wassa-Akropong on Saturday on health problems of the people and the impact of health education programmes of the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders among the people of the area.

She said in spite of many educational programmes, many people continue to drink untreated water to compound the health problems and refuse to procure insecticide treated nets to check the prevalence of malaria, the number one communicable disease in the area.

Dr. Amo-Addae disclosed that her outfit had completed the training of more than 20 community health educators to sensitise the people on health issues including the need for clean and healthy environment. They would be educated to keep their sources of water clean at all times and adopt more positive health practices like reporting symptoms of diseases at the hospital early for treatment.

She said the recent cholera outbreak in parts of the district during which two people died had been brought under control and urged the people to observed strict personal hygiene.