Blood samples picked and screened, last year, showed that the parasitic disease was present in communities including Abronye, Bofourkorm, Kantro, Kwatire, Mantukwa and Dumasua.

Ms Benedicta Oppong Fremah, the District Disease Control Officer, said about 4.1 percent of the blood samples was infected with the parasite.  To help stop the spread of the infection the health directorate has intensified mass administration of drugs.

A total of about 80,293 people, representing 83 per cent of the population had already been covered. Ms. Fremah made this known at the 2018 annual performance review meeting of the directorate held in Odumase.

It provided a platform to discuss the progress made, the challenges and the way forward, to enhance the quality of health care delivery in the area. She announced that the directorate achieved 112 per cent in the yellow fever vaccination and 100.6 per cent for that of measles-rubella.

Mr Richard Kwasi Henneh, the District Director of Health, said malaria testing rate, early initiation of breast milk, and vitamin "A" supplementation performances improved during the period.

There was, however, sharp drop in family planning acceptance and Out Patient Department (OPD) attendance.  He gave high marks to the health workers for their hard work which contributed to the successes chalked and advised them to continue to give it their all.

He mentioned staff unwillingness to accept postings to rural areas, weak and over-aged vehicles, inadequate staff, erratic reimbursement by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for services rendered and inadequate office and residential accommodation as the major challenges, they had been struggling with.

For this year, the directorate, he said, was going to intensify routine activities, more so when “the district has been selected as the control site for malaria vaccine”.  Dr. Kofi Isiah, the Regional Director of Health, in a speech read for him, said although the directorate made progress in many of its health indicators the previous year, the system still faced several challenges which required multi-sectoral approach and strong partnership with all stakeholders.