Bongo (UER), Oct. 4, GNA - The Bongo District Assembly in the Upper East Region has spent 19 million cedis from its share of the common fund on payments for hernia operations.

In all, about 300 people who underwent the operations at the Bongo Health Centre had their bills absorbed by the Assembly as part of its healthcare programme.

The Bongo District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Clement Apikiya, disclosed this when he took his turn at the Regional Review Meeting where all districts and development partners presented papers on their state of development.

Mr. Apikiya said like other districts, Bongo had its fair share of health problems, which included guinea worm, skin rashes and malaria. The DCE said as part of the Assembly's effort to provide potable water for the people, 48 boreholes had been drilled, but that nine of them were found to have high fluoride content and cannot therefore be used.

He suggested the provision of small stand-pipes or a mechanised pump system for the area.