NGO donates items for treatment of Buruli Ulcer

Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - ANESVAD, a Spanish Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), which supports countries in the control of Buruli Ulcer on Friday, donated surgical equipment and instruments valued at about 500,000 Euros to selected hospitals in areas where the disease is endemic.

The selected health care facilities are Tepa and Agogo Government Hospitals and the Amasamaan, Nsawam and Dadieso Health Centres. The donation by ANESVAD, which is to enable doctors to perform better surgery on Buruli patients, forms part of a package for case management, early case finding and reporting and strengthening of health facilities.

Dr George Amofa, Director of Public Health, Ministry of Health (MOH), said since the national Buruli Ulcer Programme started collaborating with ANESVAD in 2001 it had benefited immensely in the control of the disease.

He said the St. Martin's Hospital at Agroyesum, in Ashanti had been supported with surgical equipment while funds had been provided for the construction of a surgical theatre at the cost of 200,000 Euros. Dr Amofa said that there were still plans to support Atwima and Upper Denkyira Districts with infrastructure and equipment to manage the disease.

Dr Edwin Ampadu, Programme Manager for Buruli Ulcer, thanked the donors and gave the assurance that the items would be used to fight the disease.