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

Regional Director of Health Dr Fred Adomako Boateng said communities within these nine districts have been significantly affected by river blindness (onchocerciasis) and bilharzia (schistosomiasis).

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

Providing data on the trend of onchocerciasis cases in the region, Dr Boateng 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.

Dr Fred Adomako expressed that 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," he said.

However, 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.