Health News of Monday, 24 October 2005

Source: GNA

Volunteers receive bicycles to facilitate work on buruli ulcer

Offiriho-Kwanchiabo (Ash), Oct 24, GNA - ANESVAD, a Spanish non-governmental organization (NGO), has presented bicycles valued at 120 million cedis to 86 buruli ulcer volunteers at Offiriho-Kwanchiabo in the Amansie West District.

The bicycles will facilitate the work of the volunteers in monitoring the disease especially among children so as to reduce the deformity it causes to its victims.

Speaking at the ceremony Mr Joseph Adomako, the Amansie West District Director of Health Services, said intra-public transport system was virtually non-existent in the district.

This made it difficult for the volunteers to submit reports to the zones and sub-districts and as such the presentation of bicycles was a welcome relief.

Mr John Bawa, the Administrator of the Saint Martin's Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum, said the main goal of ANESVAD was fighting poverty and had a special interest in buruli ulcer control, hence the donation of the bicycles.

Mr Ben Kwakye-Adeefe, the Amansie West District Chief Executive, said the provision of quality health care was one of the major concerns of the government and therefore would continue to improve upon health delivery.

Dr Kofi Asare, Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, urged all those who have not yet registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to do so to enable them benefit from health care delivery. He said the directorate would not give free treatment and services to people who refuse to register with the scheme. 24 Oct 05