Ghana Health Service intensifies efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases

As part of efforts to eliminate Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness and lymphatic filariasis also known as elephantiasis in Ghana by 2030, the Ghana health Service, through its Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, is embarking on a mass drug administration in 77 oncho endemic districts and 3 lymphatic endemic districts in the next 2 weeks.

The exercise, which will start on Monday July 15 to 26th July, is targeting 5.8 million persons at risk for oncho and 440k persons for elephantiasis across the country.

Onchocerciasis, known as river blindness, is endemic in 31 countries in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana. In Ghana, the disease is endemic in 140 districts and mass drug administration has been initiated since 1997. And the main strategy for its elimination is using the community-directed treatment with Ivermectin strategy.

For lymphatic filariasis mostly known as elephantiasis, is also endemic in 116 districts and currently the transmission of the infection has been interrupted in 109 districts.

Health authorities aim to stop the spread of infection through large-scale annual treatment of all eligible persons in the areas where infection is present.

Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kumah-Aboagye, speaking at a media briefing in Accra on July 11, said the approach will provide a single dose of medication to all eligible persons 5 years and above, excluding pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

According to him, preventing and controlling NTDs is central to ending extreme poverty in the next two decades.

“Stigma is one thing that discourages people from coming out. So, please we will entreat all to support the exercise. I want to also appreciate all the health workers and volunteers across all levels of service for their continuous dedication to the elimination of NTDs,” he said.

The mass drug administration approach is proven to significantly control the burden of NTDs and in some cases elimination can be achieved.

The post Ghana Health Service intensifies efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases first appeared on 3News.

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