With the exception of pregnant women, children under five, and lactating mothers, all eligible persons will be vaccinated against elephantiasis, river blindness, and bilharzia in 15 endemic regions.
The exercise, which forms part of efforts to achieve the global target of eliminating neglected tropical diseases by 2030, will start on Saturday, June 20, and end on July 3.
Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) continue to affect millions of Ghanaians despite significant progress toward their eradication.
Ghana is currently endemic to 14 out of NTDs recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO).
While the country has successfully eradicated Guinea worm, sleeping sickness, and trachoma, the remaining active diseases continue to pose a threat.
Currently, the burden of river blindness which is caused by a parasitic worm and transmitted through bites of infected black flies has reduced from 149 districts to 86 districts.
Elephantiasis burden has also reduced from 117 endemic districts to 3 while Bilharzia remains a public health concern in all districts across the country.
The mass drug administration according to health expects, remains one of the most effective and safest strategies for interrupting the transmission.
Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyae, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) said ‘‘From 20th June to 3rd July, trained healthcare workers and community volunteers will visit communities to provide free medicines to eligible persons.
These medicines are safe, effective and vital in protecting families from river blindness, elephantiasis and bilharzia. When the health workers and volunteers visit, please take the medicines as directed and encourage others to do same. Together we can protect our communities and improve health outcomes’’. He said.
CSOs and development partners want government to make more commitment towards adequately funding the programs and promoting a coordinated approach.
Dr Felicia, an officer overseeing efforts related to Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at the WHO Ghana office said, “I think the country is on course to achieving the global target of elimination but government needs to work on the funding aspect.
Resources need to be earmarked for the programs. Aside that, there is need for coordination. And the media needs to intensify advocacy and awareness. That’s the only way to make headway to elimination’’ She said.
The upcoming exercise is expected to reach some 6.7 million eligible persons from 86 elephantiasis endemic districts in 15 regions.
266,000 people in two river blindness endemic districts and over 1million persons across 13 bilharzia endemic districts will also be covered.
