Kulkpong (UW), Jan. 23, GNA - The people of Kulkpong, a farming community in the newly created Wa East District have over the years resisted taking the preventive tablets for elephantiasis and trachoma. Apart from claiming that they feel dizzy, the people also refused the drug because they had to forgo alcohol for about 24 hours, which to them was a great worry.

Madam Grace Baaro, a Senior Nurse in-charge of the Loggu Health Centre, which oversees the Kulkpong community, announced this during the launch of Kulkpong Community-based Health Planning and Service (CHPS). She said as a result, most diseases such as trachoma; elephantiasis, hernia and even guinea worm are so endemic in the area, although health officials are often there to give them pieces of health talks.

"Is it not better to feel dizzy and forgo alcohol just for one day and save your life than to spend so much on a disease when it gets you?" she asked them.

She said the fact that they felt dizzy when they took it meant the drug was effective and encouraged them to take it.

"What is wrong if you have to forgo alcohol just for one single day. You have come to meet alcohol and will definitely die one day and leave it," she concluded.

Madam Crescentia Duopar, Deputy Director of Nursing Service in-charge of public health in the Wa Municipal Health Directorate entreated the community to support health personnel and the community health volunteers to exhibit a high level of professionalism through the newly launched CHPS programme.

"The CHPS programme is to bring health service to your door steps as the nurse would be moving from house to house and I entreat you not to molest them or do anything that will mar your relationship," she cautioned.

She advised the health personnel and their collaborators not to exploit the people but to get closer to them with innovations that would reduce the high incidence of diseases in the area.

Madam Crescentia Duopar later inaugurated a CHPS block at Kulkpong valued at 158 million cedis.

The block is made up of a bedroom, hall, kitchen, storeroom, bath and toilet for the resident nurse.