Nkoranza (B/A) Jan. 15, GNA - Nkoranza district achieved all the set targets designed for the various antigens under the Expanded Programme on Immunization last year.

Mr. Richard Hinneh, district director of health services who announced this at the annual review meeting of the district health directorate at Nkoranza disclosed that major disease cases identified in the district included five cases of suspected measles. Others on record were 19 cases of buruli ulcer and five cases of guinea worm, he added.

Mr. Hinneh commended health workers in the district for rendering selfless service to the people and urged them not to relent but to continue to serve the people to enhance the development of the district. The Nkoranza district health management team was adjudged the third best in the country last year and the best in Brong-Ahafo.

Miss Alice Vorleto, district public health nurse expressed appreciation to pregnant women in the area for patronizing health centres for ante-natal care as well as during delivery.

She said 4,958 pregnant women received antenatal care in the year under review as compared to 4,706 in the previous year, whilst 3,055 supervised deliveries were recorded as against 3,033 in 2004. Statistics on post-natal clinic attendance was 4,573 as against 2,891 while family planning acceptors rose from 4,822 to 6,493, the nurse said, adding the trend showed that more women had embraced family planning. Miss Vorleto added that 6,003 nursing workers took their babies for health care services in 2005 as against 4,816 in 2004, saying the district health management team visited schools to educate students on health issues to promote environmental sanitation and personal hygiene amongst them.

Mr. Augustine Frimpong, district disease control officer, disclosed that intensive educational campaigns would be carried out in the communities with recorded suspected cases of buruli ulcer, guinea worm and measles to sensitize the people to guard against the diseases. Madam Florence Quansah, nurse in-charge of Ahyiayem rural clinic complained that lack of potable drinking water was affecting the health of the people who fetch water from contaminated streams and were often attacked by diarrhoea related cases.

She appealed to the District Assembly to consider the plight of the people and provide them with three boreholes. Mr. Henry Amoako-Asante, Chairman of the social services sub-committee of the Assembly, who presided, called on the people to accord health workers the needed respect to encourage them to offer the necessary attention to enhance their health.