The return of yaws.

After completing his rotations at the Komfo Anokye After completing his rotations at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, he started his career in Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, he started his career in public health in 1993 in the remote rural district of public health in 1993 in the remote rural district of Amansie West, one of the country's most deprived Amansie West, one of the country's most deprived areas. From 1996 to 1997, he earned his public health areas. From 1996 to 1997, he earned his public health degree with a focus on health policy and management degree with a focus on health policy and management at the in 1998 as a medical officer responsible for Buruli ulcer. He is currently in 1998 as a medical officer responsible for Buruli ulcer. He is currently responsible for two neglected tropical diseases – Buruli ulcer and yaws – in the responsible for two neglected tropical diseases – Buruli ulcer and yaws – in the The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the Global Yaws Programme with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 1952. It treated 300 million people in 50 countries and reduced global levels of the disease by more than 95% by the end of 1964. The problem was nearly solved, but there were resurgences particularly in the 1970s and recently in 2006. Kingsley Asiedu talks about what went wrong in the past and how to make sustainable gains in the control of this little-known disease today. Q: Many people today have never heard of yaws. Why are you and other experts revising old treatment guidelines for yaws? A. Today, many people living in the tropics only hear about this disease from their grandparents. Past generations remember the miracle cure – just one injection and the patient is cured. Many people have forgotten the disease and many experts who worked on WHO's Global Yaws Programme in the 1950s and 1960s have died or are too old now. The new generation of nurses and doctors haven't seen the disease , because it's in remote areas where health service coverage is very low. We are revising a handbook published by WHO in 1984 to help the new generation of health workers. Q: Is this why you convened a group of people most of whom are retired to update the manual? A: Even at WHO, the expertise left in 1990. In countries, …