Detection and treatment
A national strategy to control and eliminate skin-related NTDs
- Ghana Country
- 3.416.717 € Investment
- 2017-2022 Length
The Challenge
Almost half the Ghana population lives in rural, impoverished and isolated areas with significant difficulties in receiving health care.
This, coupled with environmental conditions, contributes to certain NTDs such as leprosy and yaws being a health problem in many of the country’s regions.
The solution
With the Ghanaian Ministry of Health, we coordinate the national strategy to fight skin-related NTDs, working to better control the Buruli ulcer. Furthermore, we work to eliminate yaws and leprosy in 15 regions where these diseases are endemic by:
- Working to better control NTDs in health centres and at the community level. To achieve this, we carry out awareness-raising actions among the population and strengthen facilities and the use of methods to monitor these diseases.
- Strengthening public health systems from an integrated approach to all NTDs.
- Providing medical tools and material to health centres and community aid stations that need them most.
- Promoting hygiene and health measures which contribute to combatting NTDs.
Impact
Through this initiative, we are contributing to strengthening public health systems, from small aid stations in the remotest villages to health centres in reference-point towns.
The population we work with exceeds 1,100,000 people, of which more than half are women. These women form the backbone of Ghanaian communities and take care of hygiene-related tasks. We also work with 750 volunteers responsible for raising awareness in their communities.
Related projects
Learn about other projects where we fight Neglected Tropical Diseases
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Ghana is endemic for several NTDs and about half of the population lives in rural, impoverished and isolated areas that are conducive to their proliferation.
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In 2021, 8 new cases of leprosy were detected in the municipality and in 2022 5 have been detected so far.
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the Upper Denkyira East and Upper Denkyira West districts in Ghana are endemic of a number of NTDs, namely Buruli ulcer, yaws and leprosy.
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