Fifty (50) suspected cases of Buruli ulcer and (40) cases of Yaws have been reported in several communities in the Upper Manya Krobo District through a two-year project dubbed “Partnership for Eradication of Skin NTDs”.
These skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) have been partly attributed to a lack of access to safe drinking water, forcing residents to rely on polluted rivers and streams.
Nyakumase and Akormesu Noyeom, both farming communities in the district, have been significantly affected by these diseases.
The water scarcity in these communities worsens during the dry season when the only available streams dry up, exacerbating the spread of waterborne diseases.
“We fetch from polluted stream to drink since we don’t have any borehole.Unfortunately the stream dries up during harmattan season. When it happens like that the community is an eyesore. We drink anything we get. Children mostly get affected with waterborne diseases they complain of stomach pains also they get rashes ” Naomi, a resident shared their ordeal.
However, the situation is gradually improving through the “Partnership for the Eradication of Skin NTDs Project,” a two-year initiative by Ark Development Organization and Anesvad Foundation.
As part of the project, two mechanized boreholes have been installed in Nyakumase and Akormesu Noyeom to provide clean water for the communities.
Brand new generator was attached to the mechanized borehole facility at Akormesu to power the pumping of water due to lack of electricity.
“As part of the project we are to do case surveillance in various communities and we did a research and it came up that most of the disease that they are having is related to water borne so we drilled boreholes for some of the communities” said Emmanuel Kwarfo Minta,Executive Director, Ark Development Organization
He added “These boreholes may change the negative impact that they are experiencing in these communities so now they are getting mechanized borehole in these two communities I think it will reduce the incidents of skin NTDs in the district”.
The District Health Directorate is optimistic the mechanized borehole facility will improve the health of the people.
The Assembly Member for the area,Stephen Tetteh on behalf of the communities commended the Ark Development Organization and its partners stating that the mechanized borehole project will have positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people particularly children.
“In this electoral area we have water problem which many people do not have access to good drinking water. We fetch our water from the stream so many children get some sickness due to lack of portable water. During the harmattan season we don’t get water. The mechanized borehole is going to alleviate the plight of the people. It will help the school children. We will not suffer again during the harmattan season” said Stephen Tetteh.
During the commissioning of one of the boreholes, the District Chief Executive for Upper Manya Krobo, Joe Sam, faced difficulties due to the poor road conditions, as his vehicle got stuck in the mud.
In an interview with Starr News, he assured residents that efforts would be made to rehabilitate the roads and connect communities with no electricity to the national grid.
He commended Ark Development Organization and its partners for supplementing effort of the assembly in improving health of the people.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
