Queen mother of Avetakpo community cries for help – Needs GH¢7,000 for treatment of Yaws

The Queen mother of Avetakpo community in the Ho West District of the Volta Region, Mama Aku Seme II, is calling on benev­olent organisations and indi­viduals to support the fight against the outbreak of a communicable skin disease- Yaws, in the area.

She said the disease which is affecting many children and adults in the farming and cattle rearing community has also affected residents of adjoining com­munities.

Speaking to The Spec­tator over the weekend in Accra, Mama Seme II said the affected residents were experiencing sleep depri­vation as well as acute and prolonged bodily pains.

She said after contacting officials from the Ho East District Health Directorate of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) who later visited the area, they were asked to raise an estimated amount of GH₵7,000 to pay for the cost of treatment.

Mama Seme II said “we need help to get medica­tions for the people, they cannot afford it and I don’t have that money either.”

She said about 50 people have so far been affected by the disease, making life difficult for residents in the community.

Mama Seme II called for immediate government intervention to support the community with funds for mass medical treatment.

She also emphasised the need for contingency mea­sures to prevent the spread of the infections.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Yaws is a chronic disfiguring and debilitating childhood infectious disease that af­fects skin, bone and carti­lage.

Yaws most often affects children in tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It spreads through direct contact with the skin of an infected person.