Foundation to fund buruli ulcer treatment in Akuapem South District

Nsawam, July 21, GNA - Nana Akua Okyerewa I, Queen Mother of Aburi Nsakye and Presiding Member of the Akuapem South District Assembly is to establish a foundation to fund the treatment of buruli ulcer in the district.

Speaking at the first health durbar of the sub-district at Pakro, she described the disease, which results in various form of deformity on victims as agonising.

Nana Akua Okyerewa said buruli ulcer was on the increase in the area as a result of the lack of information and called on traditional rulers, opinion leaders and other well-meaning persons to join effort aimed at eradicating the disease.

She noted that the District Assembly and philanthropists were constructing health facilities in the district and urged the people to register with the District Health Insurance Scheme to benefit from the facilities.

The Presiding Member said the Akuapem Educational Advocacy Network was sensitising the people on the need to send their children to school. Dr Mawuli Gyakobo, District Director of Health Services said Pakro was chosen for the durbar because it was the only community in the sub-district with a health centre.

It was also selected because it was one of the buruli ulcer endemic areas, besides its inaccessibility due to poor road and yet reported serious medical cases.

Dr Gyakobo said the district recorded 80 per cent in the expanded programme of immunisation for the year 2002.

A Sub-district Health Committee was inaugurated at the ceremony alongside the launch of the Child Health Promotion Week.