The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is set to conduct a mass drug administration exercise against bilharzia and intestinal worm infestation under the Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, NTD’s.
The exercise would take place from the 4th to 8th of next month (November) and will see the de-worming of a targeted six million children in about 205 Districts across the country.
At a media briefing in Accra, the Manager of NTD’s Programme, Dr Benjamin Marfo, said the Districts are those endemic to the disease and need immediate attention to save children who are susceptible.
The Neglected Tropical Diseases are a group of twenty infectious and parasitic diseases found in disadvantaged parts of the globe mostly concentrated in rural areas and infectious water bodies.
They are normally caused by flukeworms which affect the bladder and the intestine manifested through the passing of bloody urine and stools.
The nation-wide drug administration exercise is aimed at de-worming children in Kindergarten two up to the Junior High School Level and those not in school.
Dr Benjamin Marfo revealed that the disease is debilitating and may cause reproductive health challenges including infertility.
He urged parents to debunk false impressions about the exercise and make available their wards to be de-wormed.