Sunyani, Aug. 30, GNA - Available statistics from the Sunyani Municipal Health Directorate indicated that, a total of 146,608 people representing 86.8 per cent were immunised against elephantiasis in the municipality from January to June this year.

Dr David Opare, Municipal Director of Health Services, who disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Wednesday, said the directorate recorded 82 cases of yaws. Dr Opare said malnutrition increased by 62 per cent, hypertension by 56 per cent, diabetes by 67 per cent, while psychiatric cases reduced by 43 per cent.

He explained that the directorate had taken steps to scale-up tuberculosis control activities, adding that, a total of 34 cases were detected for the half year against the intended target of 230 cases. He said his outfit had trained 128 volunteers to support patients of tuberculosis in the various communities by reporting all patients coughing for two weeks or more to the nearest health facility for redress.

Dr Opare disclosed that the municipal hospital received a donation five hundred million cedis from the Brong-Ahafo Youth Association in Amsterdam and a tabletop refrigerator for the children's ward. He said the Kwatire Health Centre in the municipality also received items worth two million cedis from a philanthropist based in the United Kingdom.

He said the Municipal Hospital had started antenatal and delivery services adding that, plans were far advanced to start prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV disease and voluntary counselling and testing.

Dr Opare said there would be polio immunisation for the target population in November this year during which children less than five years would be given polio and measles vaccination, vitamin A capsules and free insecticide treated bed nets. 30 Aug. 06