The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has deployed medication to communities in the North East region where scabies outbreak has left hundreds of people, mostly women and children with severe skin rashes and severe itching.
At least 14 communities in the newly created region have for the past month been battling the strange skin disease, which they initially claimed, was a punishment from the gods until sampled blood test proved positive of scabies, a contagious and intensely itchy skin condition.
A team of GHS medical professionals will from today September 24 move into the affected communities to offer treatment services to the infected residents most of who have been left with sleepless nights , rashes and open sores from excessive scratching.
As at Sunday evening, a pick-up truck load of medication has arrived in the region for deployment to the 16 communities where the disease has so far been detected, the East Mamprusi Municipal Health Director, Dr Mark Abugri told 3news.com.
“Yes it is scabies,” he said, “we have secured the drugs and will move from community to community. So far my outfit has identified sixteen communities”.
The communities have been given as Dagbiriboari, Tamboku, Langbensi, Bowku, Samni, Kasape, Bumboazio,Namangu, Jawani, Sumniboma 1, Tuugbini, Gazaridantinga, Kurugu and Zogiligu.
Health officials have zoned the communities for the treatment exercise.
TV3 on September 14 reported the outbreak of a strange skin disease in the Dabliboari community in the Gambaga Municipality which had affected at least five persons in each household of the community which has about 200 households.
Blood samples were taken by health professionals for laboratory analysis which proved positive of scabies.
The names of the medications that helps to secure the sickness