Guinea worm prevalence in the Northern region remained high due to insufficient potable water, partly because some water supply systems in that part of the country have broken down.
For instance the supply systems in both the Tamale Metropolis and in Savelugu have broken down and needed urgent attention to prevent people from using bad water that could make them contract the disease.
Dr. Seidu Korkor, National Coordinator of the Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, on Thursday said these when he addressed stakeholders in the guinea worm eradication programme, at an inter-agency coordinating meeting in Tamale.
He appealed to the Ghana Water Company and other water supply related authorities to response swiftly to water emergency cases in the region towards the prevention of the disease.
Dr. Seidu Korkor said at the end of May this year, the region alone recorded 2,705 cases of guinea worm as against 2,098 cases the same period last year.
He said the national figure of guinea worm cases for this year was 2, 799, compared to 2,400 cases reported during the same period in 2006.
Dr. Korkor asked community members and organisations that provide potable water and other stakeholders to collaborate efforts to ensure that a lasting solution to the water problem in the region to curb the disease was found.
Mr. Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Northern Regional Minister, called on the District Assemblies to immediately enforce the newly enacted bye-law, enacted by guinea worm eradication bodies in collaboration with the district assemblies.
He appealed to the district assemblies to make available funds for the initiation of effective programmes towards guinea worm eradication, and urged people living in guinea worm endemic areas to support such measures.
Mr. Gilbert Dery, Regional Guinea Worm Eradication Coordinator, said the United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF) had donated four mechanised pumps towards the repairs of broken down water systems in some areas in the region.
He expressed worry that the activities of Fulani herdsmen contributed to the increase in the disease in the region.
The meeting was for members to find means and ways to eradicate in the country.