The Municipal Health Director for West Akyem, Dr. Boateng, has disclosed that the Osenase community in the Eastern region of Ghana is facing rising cases of yaws among children, particularly children under 15 years old.
Yaws can be described as a bacterial infection that can be transmitted from one person to another through skin-to-skin contact. Untreated yaws can lead to chronic disfigurement and disability. Yaws is among the diseases classified as neglected tropical diseases (NTD). About 891 new suspected cases of NTDs were reported in the third quarter of 2023 in Ghana.
Stakeholders in the Osenase community have indicated that the unsanitary conditions are a major reason for the rise in yaws. Mr. Minta, the Executive Director of the Ark Development Organization, attributes the rising cases to poverty in the community. His organisation has deployed over 40 trained volunteers for surveillance and identification of skin NTDs for free treatment.
