General News of Friday, 7 May 1999

Source: null

Ahanta west declared guineaworm free

Agona-Nkwanta (Western Region) 7th May ?99 ?

Guineaworm infections in the Ahanta West has been eradicated and the incidence of elephantiasis is gradually being reduced.

Mrs. Esther Lily Nkansah, Western Regional Minister made this known to the Ahanta West District Assembly at Agona Nkwanta on Wednesday.

She said the achievement is due to the provision of 23 boreholes and 11 hand-dug wells to reduce the spread of guineaworm and other water borne diseases.

Mrs. Nkansah said the second phase of the Butre, Princess Town and Akatakyie coastal protection works would start soon.

She called on assembly members, district chief executives, prominent citizens and opinion leaders to step up public education on the need to patronise the boreholes to reduce the incidence of guineaworm and elephantiasis.

The Regional Minister asked the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure that its limited resources are effectively utilised to improve the general environment of farmers.

She said the district would benefit from a 1.5 billion- cedi Village Infrastructure Project (VIP) to support communities to identify, plan and implement projects to improve their lives.