GUINEA WORM CASES REDUCE IN PRU DISTRICT (MIRROR, PAGE 35)

From Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Yeji

The health system in the Pru District in the Brong Ahafo Region recorded a reduction in guinea worm cases from 169 in 2005 to 97 cases in 2006 and down to 12 in 2007.
Only two cases were recorded by June, this year.
The Pru District Director of Health Services, Dr Prince Quarshie, explained that the two were “imported cases” as the patients had contracted the disease from outside the district before relocating somewhere in January, this year. Three years ago the district was leading in guinea worm cases in the country with 169 cases. Ghana is second to Sudan in Africa in terms of guinea worm infections.
Dr Quarshie, who disclosed the statistics at the second annual general meeting of the District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme, said if by the end of December no more cases had been recorded then it would be understood that the disease had been eradicated in the area.
On tuberculosis (TB) control, he said 115 and 117 cases were recorded in 2006 and 2007 respectively and 119 thus far in 2008, while 9,494, 14,194 and 16,945 malaria cases were recorded in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.
In the case of treatment of malaria, Dr Quarshie read statistics to the effect that 9,494 cases were handled in 2006; 14,194 in 2007 and 16,945 cases thus far in 2008, adding that, to reduce the burden of malaria infection, the district carried out intensive education on the preventive treatment of pregnant mothers.
He also mentioned the sale of insecticide treated bed nets (ITBNs) to prevent pregnant mothers and children under five from being infected; re-treatment of bed nets during the National Child Health Promotion Week celebration as well as monitoring of the use of some malaria treatment drugs by pregnant mothers as some of the programmes organised to help reduce the incidence of malaria in the district.
On HIV/AIDS, Dr Quarshie said 90 patients were screened in 2006 with 40 positive cases; 547 in 2007 with 80 positive cases and 191 so far this year with 46 testing positive.
Presenting the operational report, Alhaji Oathmah Adams, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the scheme, said the scheme had a total active membership of 59,539 of the district’s population of 98,304, realising a total premium of GH¢78,883.05.
He said the total health attendance recorded was 49,205 with 46,965 being Out-patients while patients below 18 formed more than 50 per cent of the total attendance followed by clients from the informal sector.
He said GH¢436,665.86 was paid to service providers of the scheme.