The Nkoranza District Directorate of Health Service recorded 42 cases of Buruli Ulcer in selected communities between 2004 and 2007. The affected communities were Dromankese, Donkro Nkwanta, Busunya, Kranka and Ahyieyem with the first case being detected at Dromankese in 2004. Mr. Richard Kwasi Hinneh, District Director of Health Service disclosed this at stakeholders meeting for about 30 participants from the health facilities in the district. The meeting, which was jointly organised by Medical Assistance Programme (MAP), a Chirstian Non-Govermental Organisation based in Georgia in the United States and Nkoranza District Health Directorate was aimed at initiating pragmatic measures to curb the outbreak of the diseases in the communities. Mr. Henneh stressed the need for the participants to share information on the existence of the disease in the district to the people and encourage them to report any detection early to the health facilities for immediate attention and to avoid complications. Mr. Raymond Yaw Gockah, the country’s programme manager said the NGO was much concern in promoting good health among the people of the developing countries. He stated that the organisation for their first time of reaching Ghana had taken Nkoranza as the entry point to the country and to help in addressing Buruli Ulcer and Guinea Worm cases which were endemic in the area. He said the MAP International would provide the essential medicine for the treatment of other diseases among the people as well as promoting community health development and to ensure that the people would enjoy disease-free environment. Mr. Gockah said the organisation would offer support to the capacity building of the medical practitioners so as to prepare them adequately to enable them to provide quality health care delivery among the people. He disclosed that the NGO intended to provide means of transport such as motorbikes for focal persons in the sub-districts to enable them to reach the people at their doorstep and to offer them the necessary health planning service to enhance their health status. Dr. Alfred Osei-Kuffour, Medical Superintendent at the Goaso hospital in Asunafo district and an expert in the management of Buruli Ulcer said the introduction of Antibiotic treatment against the disease in the year 2004 had helped to reduce surgical operations on the affected people. He explained that surgery was used mainly to graft large Ulcers and to speed up healing, adding that some cases also required the combination of antibiotics and surgery for proper and effective management of the disease. Dr. Osei-Kuffour said the disease was caused by some flies and that scientist from Benin had reported that people who lived very close to large streams and rivers were prone to the disease. Dr. E.K. Tinkorang, Brong-Ahafo Regional Deputy Director of Health Services commended the NGO for their intervention into the health problems of the people and emphasized the need for stakeholders to embark on intensive education programmes at all levels to help curb the spread of the disease. Source: GNA