Ashanti Regional Health Directorate Rolls Out Mass Drug Administration To Combat River Blindness And Bilharzia In Nine Districts.

The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate has announced a mass drug administration exercise to control the spread of River Blindness and Bilharzia, following high recorded cases in nine districts across the Ashanti Region.

The Regional Director of Health Dr Fred Adomako Boateg disclosed that communities within these nine districts have been significantly affected by River Blindness, also known as Onchocerciasis, and Bilharzia, medically termed Schistosomiasis.

According to the Director, Onchocerciasis can lead to permanent blindness if left untreated, while Schistosomiasis causes blood in urine, skin infections, and can severely affect the kidneys.

Providing data on the trend of Onchocerciasis cases in the region, the Director stated that 87 people were treated in 2021, 44 in 2022, 104 in 2023, 46 in 2024, and 160 so far in 2025. For Schistosomiasis, a total of 400 cases were recorded in 2021 alone.

The nine districts identified as endemic areas are Ahafo Ano North, Asante Mampong, Atwima Mponua, Ejura-Sekyedumase, Offinso North, Sekyere Afram Plains, Sekyere Central, Sekyere East, and Sekyere Kumawu.

The Health Directorate says the mass drug administration is aimed at reducing the disease burden, preventing complications such as blindness and kidney damage, and interrupting transmission within the affected communities.

Health teams will be moving from house to house and to schools to administer the free medication.

Residents in the affected districts have been urged to cooperate with health officials and take the medication to protect themselves and their families from the diseases.

Story by Bismark Mensah@A/R.