Accra,(Greater Accra Region) 13 Oct. Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Minister of Health, said today Onchocerciasis (Oncho) control should be given the deserved attention to ensure its integration into the health delivery and research agenda. She said though Ghana has shown commitment to the control programme since 1970, its commitment stayed at the international programme level. ''Our service providers saw oncho control as a problem of the Ochocerciasis ( river blindness) Control Programme (OCP), while Ivermectin, the treatment drug was not part of their vocabulary'', she said. The Minister was opening a two-day seminar on oncho control in Ghana organized by the Ministry of Health for donor agencies, policy makers, technical agencies and the Ministry of Health. The 60 participants are discussing the disease which has grave socio-economic consequences and to come out with inputs for a national health development policy. Dr. Brookman-Amissah said though some health workers and other stake holders have been sensitized and educated in efforts to rectify the problem, ''the results are not yet satisfactory.'' She therefore asked the participants to discuss the socio- economic development in the oncho-free areas in the Northern regions to direct the ministry in its perspectives. The Minister recounted oncho activities since the 1970's when it contributed 250,000 dollars and established a national committee to advise on Oncho control. Ghana, she said, has also participated regularly in the annual Joint Programme Committee (JPC) and is scheduled to host its next meeting in 1988. Dr. Brookman-Amissah said the commitment on the part of the government of Ghana was significant as most of the rivers in the operational areas flow through Ghana. Commenting of the oncho-free areas, the minister said ''these areas are very fertile lands called 'Overseas' which now need to be opened up and acceptable socio-economic conditions established for the people. To date, three health centres have been constructed at Kubore, Fumbisi and Makarigu, 22 villages have been supplied with wells, two bridges have been constructed over the Kulpawn and Sissili rivers and a 43-kilometre road constructed in the area.
Accra,(Greater Accra Region) 13 Oct. Dr. Eunice Brookman-Amissah, Minister of Health, said today Onchocerciasis (Oncho) control should be given the deserved attention to ensure its integration into the health delivery and research agenda. She said though Ghana has shown commitment to the control programme since 1970, its commitment stayed at the international programme level. ''Our service providers saw oncho control as a problem of the Ochocerciasis ( river blindness) Control Programme (OCP), while Ivermectin, the treatment drug was not part of their vocabulary'', she said. The Minister was opening a two-day seminar on oncho control in Ghana organized by the Ministry of Health for donor agencies, policy makers, technical agencies and the Ministry of Health. The 60 participants are discussing the disease which has grave socio-economic consequences and to come out with inputs for a national health development policy. Dr. Brookman-Amissah said though some health workers and other stake holders have been sensitized and educated in efforts to rectify the problem, ''the results are not yet satisfactory.'' She therefore asked the participants to discuss the socio- economic development in the oncho-free areas in the Northern regions to direct the ministry in its perspectives. The Minister recounted oncho activities since the 1970's when it contributed 250,000 dollars and established a national committee to advise on Oncho control. Ghana, she said, has also participated regularly in the annual Joint Programme Committee (JPC) and is scheduled to host its next meeting in 1988. Dr. Brookman-Amissah said the commitment on the part of the government of Ghana was significant as most of the rivers in the operational areas flow through Ghana. Commenting of the oncho-free areas, the minister said ''these areas are very fertile lands called 'Overseas' which now need to be opened up and acceptable socio-economic conditions established for the people. To date, three health centres have been constructed at Kubore, Fumbisi and Makarigu, 22 villages have been supplied with wells, two bridges have been constructed over the Kulpawn and Sissili rivers and a 43-kilometre road constructed in the area.
