More than 300 school girls in basic schools in the Anloga Township and its environs in the Keta Municipality have been diagnosed with candidiasis.

Many of them lacked knowledge about the condition and its associated symptoms.

Candidiasis is a yeast infection of the vagina and tissues at the opening of the vagina (vulva).

The symptoms include extreme itchiness in the vagina, Redness and swelling of the vagina and vulva (the outer part of the female genitals), Pain and burning during urination and a thick, white “cottage cheese” discharge from the vagina.

The disturbing development was disclosed during a health screening exercise organised by the Anlo Youth Council (AYC) in collaboration with the Good and Sustainable Medical Outreach (GASMO) for residents in the Keta municipality.

According to the CEO of GASMO, Enoch Kweku Amoah, school girls with the vaginal infection needed urgent attention in order to ensure.

He said it was more worrying that most of there were unaware of the disease and how to deal with it.

Also, one person has been diagnosed with breast cancer and referred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for special care as the disease is fast spreading to other parts.

Hypertension was also found to be common among the people especially women.

Besides the free medical screening, members of the community were also educated on cholera, the responsible use of medicine and the need to visit the hospital regularly.

The exercise forms part of the organisation’s charitable activities to deprived and needy communities.

Enoch Kweku Amoah told Joy News that it was found out that about 99 percent of the members of the community were not on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). He said the medical outreach program, therefore, enabled some of the residents to receive free medication to improve their health conditions.

He said waterborne diseases, malaria, diarrhoea and skin infections were the commonly diagnosed ailments, saying that many of the affected were not aware of their predicaments.

He said the health screening will be an annual event. 

Dr Chief Superintendent Dinam Zoiku and Bright Edward Kordzo Demordzi were among many who contributed to the success of the programme.

President of the AYC  Mr Mayor Agbleze expressed concern about the nature of the environment in which the people were living and urged the government to come to the aid of the residents.