Birim Central Health Directorate appeals for more resources to fight yaws

The Birim Central Municipal Health Director, Mr James Atampiiga Avoka has appealed to government to allocate more resources to fight yaws in the municipality.

Despite the significant reduction in infection rate, the Health Director said the rate was not encouraging because the disease is still high in some parts of the municipality.

Mr Avoka made these known when he led a team of health professionals to treat some infected persons at the Badukrom SDA School in the Asene, Manso, Akroso District of the Eastern region.

He explained that the majority of those infected have either failed to report to the hospitals for treatment or are ignorant of its existence.

Explaining the history of the disease, Mr Avoka said, yaws is a common chronic infectious disease that occurs mainly in the warm humid regions of the tropics.

He said its main features are bumps on the skin, the face, hands, feet and genital area.

Mr Avoka indicated that, almost all cases of yaws are in children under 15 years of age.

Mr Avoka disclosed that 12 people tested positive to the disease between February and March this year in Badukrom hence the decision of the Asene, Manso, Akroso District Assembly to support them with the treatment of the infected children.

A Disease Control Officer of the Directorate, Mr Thomas Kissi attributed the worsening situation of the disease to the hygiene and sanitation in most communities.

According to him, Yaws thrives very well in insanitary conditions and people should, therefore, take the issue of sanitation seriously.

He further added that the rate of spread can be minimized only if government commits itself to strengthening the capacity of health professionals as well as undertaking a nationwide campaign to sensitize people about the dangers associated with the disease.

Ghana has not been able to undertake any nationwide exercise on the disease since the end of WHO assisted Yaws elimination campaign in the late 1960 hence the upsurge of the disease.

The prevalence rate estimated at around 87 cases in 100,000 puts the Eastern Region ahead of Central, Western, Volta and Ashanti Regions.