Savelugu (N/R), Sept. 27, GNA - Ghana spent 777 million dollars annually for the treatment of malaria while the country's health facilities recorded 30 million cases of the disease last year. Major Courage Quarshigah (Rtd), Minister of Health, disclosed this at a meeting of Health Workers and Assembly Members in the Savelugu/Nanton District on Wednesday.

The Minister was in the region to assess the impact of the recent floods in the three Northern Regions on health facilities in the affected communities with the view to identifying the needs of the people.

Maj Quarshigah said the cost of treatment of malaria included not only medication but also the loss in productivity due to the debilitating effect of the disease on people. He expressed fears that there might be an upsurge of guinea worm cases in the Savelugu/Nanton district because sources of drinking water in the area had been contaminated as a result of the floods. He called on all stakeholders involved in the eradication of the disease to collaborate effectively to contain the situation. Major Quarshigah appealed to the people to cooperate with the various agencies to eliminate the guinea worm disease by drinking from safe water sources.

"This is the time to plan a new strategy to re-launch an attack on the guinea worm disease", he said.

Mr. Gilbert Dery, the Regional Coordinator of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, said from January to August this year, the Northern Region recorded 2,001 cases of the disease as compared to 802 cases recorded within the same period last year. He said nine of the most endemic guinea worm infested districts in the region now had safe water facilities to help in the eradication effort.

Dr. Anthony Eric Ashong, a doctor at the Savelugu Government Hospital, said from January to August this year, the district recorded 6,894 cases of malaria as against 3,805 cases within the same period last year.

He said from January to August this year, the district recorded 332 cases of diarrhoea as against 224 cases within the same period last year.

Dr Ashong expressed regret that government institutions in the District were defaulting in the payment of their water bills adding that this was hampering the efficient management of the Savelugu Water system.