Regional News of Tuesday, 29 July 2003

Source: GNA

Community records dysentery outbreak

Forikrom (B/A), July 29, GNA - There is an outbreak of dysentery in Forikrom in the Techiman District of Brong Ahafo with the local health centre so far recording 24 cases within the last few weeks.

Madam Seraphin Asoji, Midwife in-charge of the centre, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency said the area experienced a similar outbreak last year and recorded 35 cases.

She said victims reporting at the centre normally have blood in their stool, samples of which had been referred to the Holy Family Hospital at Techiman for further laboratory analysis.

The midwife, however, said no death had so far occurred but advised the people to boil their water before drinking.

Mr James Kwabena Osei, Assembly Member, attributed the outbreak of the dysentery to the pollution of river Asukatia.

As a measure to prevent the annual occurrence of the disease, the people are paying a flat rate of 5,000 cedis each towards the extension of a 100 million-cedis water project from Fiaso to Forikrom under the World Bank and Techiman District Assembly programme.