Dracunculiasis, also called guinea worm, is an affliction that strikes fear and pain even among adults in the northern part of Ghana. It is all the more alarming and frustrating when this misery' affects children.
"My leg: hurts so much that I am unable to walk or play with my friends. I feel so frustrated and isolated because I can not run and play around with them," reveals Ibrahima Zuliha, a 9-year-old grade 5 pupil at Pishigu primary school who has guineaworm on her left leg. Though she has made it to school today, she cannot join her friends at play. She is also unable to concentrate properly in class because of the pain in her leg. Ibrahima's case is quite disheartening until one sees Abdulai Abukari. an 11-year-old grade 6 pupil of Pishigu primary school. He hasn't been able to attend school since both legs were crippled by guineawonn. "I can hardly walk around in the house, nor attend school because of the guineawonn. I am carried around wherever I want to go. I have missed so many of my friends and mates in school. It has made me lose a lot academically due to my absence from school for some time now," says Abukari "I know I am not the only one absent from school due to guineawonn. There are several children going through the same ordeal as me. It is usual with children at the school around this time of the year." Abukari also adds, "If only we could get rid of guineawonn from my community, so many children here would be happy to attend school every day. This would make our families and the entire community happy,"
While Abukari speaks, a housefly makes an attempt to feast on the sores on his guincaworm- infested legs. He quickly drives it away with a sweep of his hand. He is seated in front of his father's hut which is one of five huts in the compound. In the middle of the compound is a set of large stones used for cooking.
Abukari's mother, Fuseina Dahamani, 33, a bread seller, can be seen trying to prepare food for the family on the stones. She has just returned from the dam, the only source of drinking water for the people of Pishigu. The water from the dam, which she pours into two large jars outside one of the huts, is simply not wholesome for human consumption. It could easily pass for tea with a heavy dose of milk. "That is how our water looks yet we drink it," Fuseina 'says. "'We don't treat it before drinking. This has not spared us from guineaworm. We also use the same water for cooking and washing. We only pray and rely on the Lord to save us." "I am always down with guineaworm with all the pain yet 1 have to walk a mile to the dam to fetch water for the household chores," she says. As she attempts to stir some food on the fire, her husband Mahama Abdulai, a 38-year old tractor operator walks into the compound. He looks healthy and strong but says, "Nobody is free from guineaworm in this village. Sometimes my whole family of six including the baby is down with guineaworm. That is when you hear continuous weeping and wailing in this compound house because everyone finds it difficult bearing the pain", he says
"I must confess that although Malaria is treacherous, guineaworm can cause complete dislocation in a whole family. I have to sometimes borrow money to treat my family, which I find difficult repaying. I pray that something will be done to provide Pishigu with good drinking water," he appeals.
Pishigu is quite a big community, with 100 houses and a primary school. It is located 45 miles from Gushiegu, the district capital. Their main source of drinking water is a dam which dries up easily during the dry season. A visit to the dam shows various activities being carried out around it. Several women are seen washing clothing, with the used water flowing back into.
the dam. Some school children are also observed competing with cattle to quench their thirst through drinking the water from the dam. On the whole, the environment around the dam is filthy and littered with garbage.
There are over 100 communities like Pishigu in the Gushiegu district without potable drinking water. The absence of potable water has brought in its wake attendant problems such as guineaworm, trachoma and dysentery..
Until that is done, several communities in the district will continue to remain in misery. As Abukari Abdulai aptly puts it ‘when we get good drinking water here, l will be in school every day except when we are on holidays and so will all the children of Pishigu. My mother, father, family and everybody will be happy because there would be no more guineaworm in Pishigu and it will be a happier place to live."
"My leg: hurts so much that I am unable to walk or play with my friends. I feel so frustrated and isolated because I can not run and play around with them," reveals Ibrahima Zuliha, a 9-year-old grade 5 pupil at Pishigu primary school who has guineaworm on her left leg. Though she has made it to school today, she cannot join her friends at play. She is also unable to concentrate properly in class because of the pain in her leg. Ibrahima's case is quite disheartening until one sees Abdulai Abukari. an 11-year-old grade 6 pupil of Pishigu primary school. He hasn't been able to attend school since both legs were crippled by guineawonn. "I can hardly walk around in the house, nor attend school because of the guineawonn. I am carried around wherever I want to go. I have missed so many of my friends and mates in school. It has made me lose a lot academically due to my absence from school for some time now," says Abukari "I know I am not the only one absent from school due to guineawonn. There are several children going through the same ordeal as me. It is usual with children at the school around this time of the year." Abukari also adds, "If only we could get rid of guineawonn from my community, so many children here would be happy to attend school every day. This would make our families and the entire community happy,"
While Abukari speaks, a housefly makes an attempt to feast on the sores on his guincaworm- infested legs. He quickly drives it away with a sweep of his hand. He is seated in front of his father's hut which is one of five huts in the compound. In the middle of the compound is a set of large stones used for cooking.
Abukari's mother, Fuseina Dahamani, 33, a bread seller, can be seen trying to prepare food for the family on the stones. She has just returned from the dam, the only source of drinking water for the people of Pishigu. The water from the dam, which she pours into two large jars outside one of the huts, is simply not wholesome for human consumption. It could easily pass for tea with a heavy dose of milk. "That is how our water looks yet we drink it," Fuseina 'says. "'We don't treat it before drinking. This has not spared us from guineaworm. We also use the same water for cooking and washing. We only pray and rely on the Lord to save us." "I am always down with guineaworm with all the pain yet 1 have to walk a mile to the dam to fetch water for the household chores," she says. As she attempts to stir some food on the fire, her husband Mahama Abdulai, a 38-year old tractor operator walks into the compound. He looks healthy and strong but says, "Nobody is free from guineaworm in this village. Sometimes my whole family of six including the baby is down with guineaworm. That is when you hear continuous weeping and wailing in this compound house because everyone finds it difficult bearing the pain", he says
"I must confess that although Malaria is treacherous, guineaworm can cause complete dislocation in a whole family. I have to sometimes borrow money to treat my family, which I find difficult repaying. I pray that something will be done to provide Pishigu with good drinking water," he appeals.
Pishigu is quite a big community, with 100 houses and a primary school. It is located 45 miles from Gushiegu, the district capital. Their main source of drinking water is a dam which dries up easily during the dry season. A visit to the dam shows various activities being carried out around it. Several women are seen washing clothing, with the used water flowing back into.
the dam. Some school children are also observed competing with cattle to quench their thirst through drinking the water from the dam. On the whole, the environment around the dam is filthy and littered with garbage.
There are over 100 communities like Pishigu in the Gushiegu district without potable drinking water. The absence of potable water has brought in its wake attendant problems such as guineaworm, trachoma and dysentery..
Until that is done, several communities in the district will continue to remain in misery. As Abukari Abdulai aptly puts it ‘when we get good drinking water here, l will be in school every day except when we are on holidays and so will all the children of Pishigu. My mother, father, family and everybody will be happy because there would be no more guineaworm in Pishigu and it will be a happier place to live."
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