Residents of Mafi Kope say years of unexplained skin sores, bilharzia and ear problems are crippling children’s mobility and schooling, and they want a full medical screening now.
Families in Mafi Kope, a fishing community in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region, are asking the Ministry of Health and other authorities to send a medical team to the village, saying illnesses affecting both children and adults have gone unexplained for years.
The appeal was reported by MyJoyOnline, drawing on interviews conducted in the community by Adom News.
What residents say is happening
According to residents, children in the community are developing sores and skin infections, with some symptoms severe enough to affect their ability to walk. Others are said to be struggling with ear problems, including difficulty hearing.
Moses Ahator, a resident, said the condition has kept some children out of the classroom because they are simply too unwell to attend. He added that some adult men and women have developed sores around their private parts.
He said people from the community have visited different health facilities, but have not been given a clear answer on what is causing the illnesses.
Veronica Vorsa, whose daughter is among those affected, said the child can no longer walk. She called on the government and health professionals to come to Mafi Kope, examine residents properly and treat them.
What the health directorate says
The Nkwanta South Municipal Health Director, Evans Attivor, confirmed that cases of angular stomatitis, bilharzia and other skin infections have been recorded in the community.
Angular stomatitis is the painful cracking and sores at the corners of the mouth, often linked to vitamin deficiency. Bilharzia, also known as schistosomiasis, is a parasitic disease picked up from contact with infested fresh water, which makes it a known risk in fishing and riverside communities.
Mr Attivor said the municipal health directorate had gone to Mafi Kope in previous years and taken samples from affected residents, but the tests did not pin down a definite cause for the reported conditions.
He linked the rise in angular stomatitis, blindness, bilharzia and some skin infections partly to poor nutrition and other factors, and advised residents to eat balanced diets that support the immune system.
He also urged people to report unusual symptoms to a health facility early, and asked parents to make sure affected children are properly examined and followed up.
What the community wants next
Residents are not satisfied with advice alone. They are asking for mass screening, a clear diagnosis, treatment and public health education in the community, both to identify what they are dealing with and to stop it spreading further.
For Ghanaians abroad with family ties to the Oti Region, the case is a reminder of how far some rural communities still are from routine diagnostic services. No date has been announced for a new visit by health authorities to Mafi Kope.
