Health authorities in the Wenchi Municipality have stepped up efforts to curb the spread of elephantiasis and river blindness following reports of new cases of lymphatic filariasis in the area.
The Wenchi Municipal Health Directorate has commenced a Mass Drug Administration (MDA) exercise aimed at protecting more than 141,000 residents from the two neglected tropical diseases, which continue to pose a public health threat in some communities.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, the Municipal Disease Control Officer, Mr. James Amaniapong, disclosed that the exercise, which began on June 20 and will run until July 3, seeks to reach 141,721 eligible residents, including children aged five years and above.
According to him, the campaign has become even more critical following the emergence of additional elephantiasis cases in the municipality.
“We have recorded more new cases of elephantiasis, which is why we are urging residents to fully participate in the exercise to help bring the disease under control,” he said.
Mr. Amaniapong explained that specially trained community drug distributors and health workers have been deployed across communities to administer the medication and educate residents on the importance of the programme.
He noted that 9,092 people, representing 6.4 percent of the target population, had already received treatment since the exercise began.
The Disease Control Officer clarified that pregnant women, lactating mothers and individuals with certain underlying health conditions have been exempted from the exercise as a precautionary measure.
Health officials are encouraging residents to cooperate with field teams and take advantage of the intervention, which forms part of national efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, and lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis.
The Directorate believes widespread participation in the campaign will significantly reduce transmission rates and help improve the overall health and well-being of communities across the municipality.
