The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has commended Ark Development Organization a non-profit organization, and its funding partner Anesvad for complementing the fight against Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the Eastern Region.
Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) continue to affect thousands of people in the Eastern Region of Ghana with devastating health and socio-economic consequences but with little attention.
However, a two-year project – Partnership for Eradication of Skin NTDs implemented by the NGO and its partners is offering hope to affected communities.
Through the implementation of the project, a total of 1,453 people with skin diseases suspected to be linked to Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy, Yaws, and Lymphatic Filariasis have been identified in four districts—Upper Manya Krobo, West Akim, Fanteakwa North, and Suhum, the project areas.
Suhum alone accounted for 604 cases, representing 41.7% of all reported cases.
The first phase of the project provided direct wound care to 453 patients, referred 1,000 others to hospitals, and recorded five deaths and three amputations.
Where as few of the cases have been confirmed, many are yet to receive confirmation from Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) .
According to David Kwaning, the Project Officer, many of 238 affected children were out of school due to stigma and the severity of their conditions.
“One of the major challenges in fighting Skin NTDs is misconception and stigma. In some communities, these diseases are believed to be spiritual curses, leading to affected individuals being confined in shrines, prayer camps, or locked away in their homes. Patients and their families are impoverished” said David Kwaning.
As part of the intervention, four mechanized boreholes have been constructed to provide clean drinking water to communities of over 2,000 people, reducing the risk of infections from drinking from polluted rivers.
Additionally, healthcare staff and volunteers have been trained to identify cases early and provide immediate treatment.
Despite these efforts, the fight against Skin NTDs faces major obstacles.
The Ghana Health Service lacks diagnostic tools for timely detection, there are no dermatologists in the Eastern Region, and delays in confirming cases mean many patients suffer complications before receiving the right treatment.
“I believe that what you can do is to prompt them [Anesvad] that the GHS doesn’t have sufficient stock of diagnosis tools so that they can provide those tools to Ghana Health Service or specific regions where you are working so that case finding, diagnosis will be synchronized” Dr. Winfred Ofosu, Eastern Regional Director of GHS acknowledged these challenges.
The Executive Director of Ark Development Organization, Emmanuel Kwarfo Minta, says the second phase of the project will intensify case searches, advocacy, and community empowerment.
“Water problem is some of the communities is very bad so we are going to support them to raise funds to maintain some of the boreholes that the district assembly and other NGOs have supported them to drill so they get access to safe drinking water” said Emmanuel Kwarfo Minta.
Interventions against NTDs directly contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goal 3.3: “end the epidemics of neglected tropical diseases”.
Stakeholders want government to increase funding to the fight against NTDs in Ghana as external funding support dwindles.
