DAILY GRAPHIC

The Graphic reports of malaria outbreak in Northern Region which is killingly mostly children. The paper says the children, most of whom are anaemic, are sent to the hospital when the disease is in the terminal stage. The Graphic says the Medical Superintendent of the Tamale Regional Hospital, Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, announced this when President Jerry John Rawlings visited the hospital at the weekend to find out conditions at the place. Dr Asare told the President that between 50 and 60 per cent of cases reported at the out-patients' department (OPD) are malaria- related. He said the malaria outbreak is so serious that an educational campaign has been mounted in the various communities to sensitise the people on the prevention of the disease. GRI

"Nkoranza Omanhene under pressure to marry JSS pupil", is the headline of another story in the centre spread of the the Graphic which says the Omanhene of Nkoranza Traditional area, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom the fourth, is reeling under intense pressure from a section of the kingmakers to marry a 14-year-old JSS Two pupil as his stool wife. According to the Graphic the family of the girl, from Busunya, near Nkoranza, is reported to have withdrawn her from school into confinement where she is receiving marriage counselling. She is expected to be delivered to the Omanhene on November 14, this year, to start her marriage life. GRI

In an inside page story the Graphic reports that anyone who reports pre-emergent cases of guineaworm in the conflict areas in the North, will be rewarded by the government. It says persons afflicted with the disease who report before the worm breaks through the skin, will also be rewarded in addition to free treatment. The Graphic quoting President J.J. Rawlings, says such afflicted persons will also be paid transport expenses to the clinic or hospital where they reported. According to the paper, President Rawlings announced this incentive package when he re-launched the guineaworm eradication campaign at Gushiegu in the Northern Region at the weekend. GRI