Nkawie (Ash), Sept 2, GNA - Some 19,868 cases of malaria were recorded in the Atwima District for the first half of this year as against 18,212 cases recorded in 2003.

Mrs Beatrice Appah, the Atwima District Director of Health Services, attributed the increase in malaria cases to unhealthy surroundings and not sleeping under mosquito nets.

She said her outfit would mount an education campaign on the importance of keeping the environment clean and sleeping in mosquito nets.

Mrs Appah said 105 buruli ulcer cases were also recorded in the district in the first half of this year as against 44 cases in 2003. She said the directorate spends a lot of money on the treatment of Buruli Ulcer since patients do not pay anything for treatment and therefore appealed to the Atwima District Assembly to support her outfit financially in the treatment of the disease.

The District Director of Health Services said 55 cases of tuberculosis (TB) were detected during the first half of this year while the district recorded 3,171 births.

Mrs Appah said 5,059 children were immunised and 4,971 cases of measles in children were treated for the period. 02 Sept 04