Accra,(Greater Accra Region) 15 Oct. District Assemblies and sub-districts should be encouraged to integrate onchocerciasis (river blindness) control into their health delivery activities. Mr. Samuel Nuamah-Donkor, Deputy Minister of Health who made the call, said there is also the need to strengthen surveillance of the disease in areas where it is prevalent. This, he said, will check the reappearance of the disease which will affect activities of the Onchocerciasis Control programme (OCP) in endemic areas. Mr. Nuamah-Donkor was closing a two-day seminar on onchocerciasis in Accra for donor agencies, policy makers, technical agencies and the Ministry of Health. He asked people in the northern regions where the disease is prevalent to use protective measures to ward off the flies and called for research into local protective measures. In an eight-point resolution, the participants asked the districts to carry out active surveillance to detect disease’s possible reappearance. They should monitor the coverage of ivermectin (the drug for treating onchocerciasis), which should be distributed free to needy communities. The various health services should use existing structures to deliver oncho control activities while communities are mobilized to support such activities. The sub-districts should make strategic plans to ensure maximum ivermectin distribution which should be integrated into a district action plan by the District Health Management Teams.
GRI NEWSREEL (2) 15 OCTOBER ’97
