Hypertension cases high in Kukuo witches camp
A health screening exercise conducted on the alleged witches at the Kukuo camp in the Nanumba North District has revealed high hypertensive cases among the inmates.
Madam Mariama Konadu, Deputy Director Accident and Emergency Unit of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH), expressed worry about the situation and called for urgent attention from government.
She attributed the situation to aging, psychological trauma and stigmatization.
The health screening was organized by ActionAid Ghana (AAG) and Songtaba, both Non-Governmental Organisations in collaboration with the Tamale Teaching Hospital and with the support of the Bimbilla Government Hospital and volunteers.
The event formed part of activities to mark this year’s Mother’s Day celebration.
Madam Konadu said some of the alleged witches were already on hypertensive treatment but new cases were also found, an indication of high prevalence of the disease in the camp.
Madam Esther Boateng, Northern Regional Programme Manager of AAG, said the organization has over the years been working for the interest of the poor and the vulnerable and in the witches’ camps by ensuring that they were provided with shelter, food, healthcare and building their awareness and consciousness.
Madam Boateng said AAG was an anti-poverty agency working in 22 communities in the country to help end poverty through human rights based approach saying, “Government must support the alleged witches and finally reintegrate them into their families”.
Mr Musah Atta Tanimu, Assemblyman for the Kukuo Electoral Area, commended the pro-social activity of ActionAid and the health staff and appealed for more attention to the needs of the alleged witches stressing that “the major problems of this camp is inadequate healthcare, food and lack of potable water”.
He also appealed for the renewal of the NHIS cards of the alleged witches some of which had expired adding that the Bimbilla District Assembly must step in to assist the alleged witches.
Source: GNA