Guinea worm disease drops drastically in Savalugu/Nanton

Nyoglo, (N/R) Nov. 3, GNA - Miss Vivian Y. Okia, Deputy Director of Nursing Services at the Public Health Directorate of the Savelugu/Nanton District, has said guinea worm disease in the area has reduced in the last 10 years.

She said the district in 2000 recorded 2,049 cases, which was the highest figure in the country, but the figure has decreased immensely to only six cases as at October 2010. "This is the district that was rated the second to Sudan in the whole world," she stated.

Ms Okia said this at a ceremony in Nyoglo, in the Savelugu/Nanton District, on Tuesday, during the inauguration of a 35-centimeter capacity rain water harvest tank for the Nyogolo Basic School. Childreach International Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation, (NGO) handed-over the tank, which seeks to assist the school with potable water to forestall an outbreak of water-borne diseases. The rain harvesting tank has a simple structure with a water purifier that is connected to the roof of the school, which collects rain water into the tank and filters it for use. Ms Okia, urged parents, guardians and caregivers to make sure that children from nine months to five years under their care are immunized in the National Measles Vaccination Campaign, slated for November 3 to 6.

She said because measles is one of the child killer diseases in Ghana, every child should be immunized to prevent the spread of the disease, adding that, measles has health complications that tend to have negative effects on children. Mr. Fredrick Safor, Country Director of Childreach International, said the project was in fulfillment to a request by the authorities of the school to assist them to get potable water. He said the initiative was part of efforts by his outfit to complement the government's quest to provide potable water throughout the country to facilitate development. Mr. Osafor said a management team had been instituted to ensure that regular maintenance was done to prolong the lifespan of the project, adding that, plans were advanced to replicate similar projects in six additional schools in the district. Mr. Alidu Haruna, headmaster of the school, said the lack of potable water on the school compound was one of the challenges that hindered the efficient running of the school. "Our school is benefiting from the school feeding programme but the children had to walk about 400 meters before getting water," he complained.

Mr. Haruna commended the NGO for its support, saying, "The water problem was affecting the education of children". 03 Nov. 10