Agroyesum (Ash), Aug 10, GNA -, A Spanish Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Anesvad, has since 2003, supported the Saint Martin's Hospital at Agroyesum in the Amansie West District of Ashanti. It has so far spent about 3,000 dollars towards the improvement of facilities at the hospital for the prevention and control of Buruli Ulcer.

The amount went into the construction of a theatre, the purchase of a vehicle, computer and its accessories, bicycles and the training of health personnel.

Mr Joseph Adomako, Amansie West District Director of Health Services, said this at the opening of a five-day workshop on the treatment of Buruli Ulcer at Agroyesum on Wednesday.

The workshop organized by the District Directorate of Health Services and sponsored by Anesvad, was aimed at equipping the 17 participants made up of doctors, midwives, nurses and other health personnel with skills towards the treatment of the disease. He said the District Directorate of Health Services has since 1993 recorded 3,000 cases of Buruli Ulcer.

Mr Adomako said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended that two anti-biotics namely Streptomycin and Rifampicin should be used in treating the disease and appealed to the participants to adhere strictly to the directive.

He said the disease could be treated when it is at the nodule stage and advised people to report cases early at health centres and hospitals for treatment rather than waiting for a long period, which could result in a surgical procedure on the victims.

Mr Adomako expressed concern about the inadequate number of doctors and medical assistants at the hospital and health centres in the district and appealed to the government to remedy the situation to improve health delivery.

Dr Richard Phillips, a physician specialist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), who was the resource person, said the disease if not treated early could results in complications including ulcers, cancer, eye problems and disability among others. He appealed to the participants to use their skills and knowledge acquired at the workshop to promote health delivery. Dr Kingsley Asiedu, Global Co-ordinator for Buruli Ulcer of the WHO in Geneva, said he was impressed with the facilities at the hospital, saying it has improved considerably and appealed to the people in the community to report cases early for treatment. 10 Aug 07