Communicable diseases hit Nkoranza South Municipality

The Disease Control and Surveillance Unit of the Nkoranza South Municipal Health Directorate have identified Tuberculosis (TB), Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy, HIV and AIDS and Guinea worm as the most prevalent communicable diseases in the Municipality.

From 2006 to 2012, the unit recorded 78 Buruli ulcer cases and about 118 TB cases and from 2010-2012, leprosy cases have been identified at Dotobaa, Nkoranza, Dromankese, Kwafre and Donkro-Nkwanta.

This was made known by Mr Charles Kwasi Gyamfi, Municipal Disease Control Surveillance Officer to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Nkoranza.

He said all the affected patients are receiving treatment.

Mr Gyamfi said continuous scientific research into the diseases had proved that are curable and advised people suffering from them not to feel shy to report at medical centres for treatment.

He said out of 1,135 people tested for HIV and AIDS at the health facilities last year, 197 of them proved positive.

They comprise 127 women and 70 men with majority of them between 20-39 years.

Mr Gyamfi described TB and HIV cases as co-infection diseases and explained that HIV and AIDS infected victims could easily contract TB as the immune system of such persons become weak and non-resistance to diseases.

He therefore called on TB patients to take the drugs administered to them constantly.