Date Published: 10/17/11

Delta Govt. performed 774 free surgeries in 2010 -- Statistics

The Delta Free Rural Health Scheme performed 774 free surgeries during its 2010 programme in 71 communities across the 25 local government areas of the state.

The information is contained in the statistics made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by the State Ministry of Health in Asaba on Monday.

According to the statistics, a total of 14,879 persons were examined during the programme in 2010.

A breakdown of the figures showed that ``there were 278 cases of Cataracts, 74 cases of Pterygium; 99 of Dermoid Cyst and 41 cases of fibroid.

Others are 143 cases of Hernia, 35 of Appendicitis, 23 cases of Lipoma and 23 of Hydrocele.

The statistics also revealed that of the five identified commonest diseases in the state, malaria ranked highest with 4,597 cases recorded.

Similarly, 1,851 cases of Urti; 703 cases of Hypertension; 3,518 of Osteoarthritis and 977 cases of Refractive error were treated during the period.

The scheme, however, identified malaria as number one of the five commonest under-five killer disease in the state.

The data showed that for children under the age of five the number of cases treated were 1,289 cases of malaria, 895 cases of Urti; 115 of Gastroenteritis, 15 of Helminthiasis and another 15 cases of Hernia.

According to the statistics, malaria prevalence in the period was 30.9 per cent, while Hypertension, Osteoarthritis, respiratory tract infection, refractive error and HIV prevalence in the state were 4.7 per cent 23.6 per cent; 12.4 per cent; 6.7 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.

The analysis by local government revealed that the malaria prevalence was common in the river side communities of the state, while cases of hypertension were said to be more prevalent in Delta North.

It, however, revealed that HIV occurs more in females between the ages of 15 years and 24 years.

(NAN)