Ghana records zero guinea worm infection in November

Kumasi, Dec. 2, GNA - Ghana is winning the battle against the guinea worm disease recording zero infection rate in the month of November this year, Dr Andrew Seidu Korkor, Manager of the National Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GWEP), told newsmen in Kumasi on Wednesday. He said the record was the first time, since the disease was detected in the country in 1989 adding that it was an indication that the nation was steadily moving towards total eradication.

Only two regions, Brong-Ahafo and the Northern recorded new cases of infection during the first 10 months of the year. He said of the 240 cases recorded between January and October, Brong-Ahafo Region had five cases with the rest coming from the Northern Region. Central Gonja District in North was said to be the most endemic area.


Dr Korkor said about 50 per cent of the infections occurred in just a single community, Damango.


The prevalence rate, he added, however that had since 2007 been on a sharp decline.


In the year 2008, 501 new cases were recorded as against 3,358 cases in 2007 representing about 85 percent reduction. Dr Korkor said over the past two years, a number of interventions had been pursued including monitoring dams and other sources of drinking water in endemic communities to ensure that infected people did not contaminate the water sources.

Additionally, he said, filters and other water treatment equipment had been provided at both water pumping sites and homes to treat water before drinking.


Dr Korkor said the Programme, funded by the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), European Union (EU) and others, was on course to achieve total eradication of the disease.


He called for total vigilance from the public to ensure that symptoms of the disease were reported for early treatment. Dr Elias Sory, Director General of the Ghana Health Service, encouraged the programme Managers not to relent in their efforts but sustained the momentum to ensure that the nation records no guinea worm infection. He said the November achievement should inspired and bolstered their confidence that halting the disease's transmission was achievable.