NTDs thwart Ghana's efforts at middle income status

The outgoing Minister for Health, Ms Hanny Sherry Ayittey, has stated that Ghana cannot attain the full status of a middle income country when the country is grappling with Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

Ms Ayittey observed that NTDs stigmatised, disabled and inhibited victims from caring for themselves or their families, and such a condition ultimately lead to poverty.


NTDs are a group of tropical infections which are especially endemic in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Different organisations define the set of diseases differently. In sub-Saharan Africa, the impact of these diseases as a group is comparable to malaria and tuberculosis.


Some of these diseases have known preventive measures or acute medical treatments which are available in the developed world, but which are not universally available in poorer areas. In some cases, the treatments are relatively inexpensive.


Children, women and those living in remote areas with limited access to effective health care are most vulnerable to NTDs and their consequences, such as malnutrition, anaemia, serious or permanent disability including blindness, illness and death.


Ms Sherry Aryittey was speaking during the launch of this year's mass drug administration and five-year strategic master plan and global one-billionth-treatment celebration in Accra last Thursday.


She stated that Ghana was burdened with ten NTDs, notable among them being Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis, Buruli ulcer, Yaws, Leprosy, Guinea Worm, Human African Trypanosomiasis and Cutaneous leishmaniasis. In all, there are 17 NTDs. According to her, the 10 had been identified and mapped for prevention, control, elimination or eradication.

“The Government of Ghana has put in place policies and programmes to address the morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases. The diseases currently being targeted by the NTD programme are Trachoma, Lymphatic Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminthiasis with the strategies of mass drug administration, morbidity control and public education,” she expatiated.


In addition, integrated mass drug administration is being undertaken for all endemic communities for these NTDs and the management of all complications due to the NTDs.


The main objective of the NTD programme, Ms Ayittey said, was to eliminate the diseases because they were obstacles to socio-economic development.


Dr Nana Kwadwo Biritwum, the Programme Manager for the NTDs, stated that the programme involved working with key partners, stakeholders and communities to implement the action plan expected to end in 2020. He said the NTDs were mostly found in remote areas and slums in the cities.


Dr Joyce Aryee, Ghana NTDs Ambassador, observed that the fact that the diseases were neglected meant that enough time had not been spent researching about them. “The fact that it is tropical means we are all at risk; the fact that it is a disease means that it is not friendly,” Dr Aryee waxed lyrical.


To possess knowledge, she noted, was the beginning of victory, hence it was important to research into NTDs.