NO CASE OF GUINEA WORM RECORDED SINCE MAY 2010

The National Programme Manager of Ghana Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (GGWEP) Dr. Andrew Seidu Korkor has disclosed that since May 2010 the country has not recorded any report of guinea worm cases.
He explains that the eight month absence does not mean the country is guinea- free but the GGWEP is monitoring the situation will come out with the records after 14 month.
Dr Andrew Korkor says Ghana has moved from second position to fifth position in the world making Sudan, Mali, and Burkina Faso leaders in the world records.
Dr. Korkor said the success story to the attainment of such dramatic reduction of the disease was that the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the GGWEP did respond swiftly to the situation by not only intensifying all programme interventions to contain the situation but also worked with the district assemblies and partners to improve water supply to the townships of all endemic areas.
He explained that the disease was now limited to few spots in the Northern Region, particularly in the central Gonja District but since access to and use of potable water was not universal, the risk of re-infection could not be ruled out until the last case had been detected and contained.
"The major challenge is how to ensure a national awareness and maintaining vigilance to recognise and report any suspicious case to the health authorities for immediate investigation and containment as well as continue to improve water supply for the risk and endemic areas", Dr. Korkor said.

Speaking on Adom news he said what needed to be done was to continue and step up surveillance nation-wide to detect and report, promptly and properly manage all suspected cases to ensure full containment, continue a nation-wide awareness creation among health staff and the people and continue to advocate for safe drinking water.