Supporting the Ghanaian Upper East Region to end NTDs
- Ghana Country
- 63.216 € Investment
- 2023-25 Length
The Challenge
Most of the people affected with skin NTDs are faced with stigma and discrimination from the inability to carry out economic activities.
Inadequate access to health care as well as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities is one of the problem faced by them. They have been neglected from decision making and involvement in most of the programs both at the local governance level and the health care system in Ghana. There is also inadequate case search and screening for skin NTDs especially among clinicians in the various health facilities in the country.
The solution
The Ghana Coalition and Anesvad Fountation have joined forces to tackle the problems faced by people affected with skin NTDs in the Upper East Region of Ghana and implement a project focused on:
- Coordinating advocacy activities towards mobilising resources to ensure the provision and utilization of WASH in communities that are endemic.
- Organising educational campaigns to create community awareness on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of skin NTDs.
- Organising community durbars to sensitize communities on stigma and discrimination against people affected with skin NTDs.
- Advocating for the inclusion of people affected withy skin NTDs into the District Assembly Disability fund and ensure they have access to the fund to empower them economically.
- Training all cadres of health care providers especially the primary health care system as well as community health volunteers to champion skin NTDs activities in their communities.
Impact
By the end of the project, the Upper East Region and its communities will obtain a deeper knowledge on how NTDs are managed and which WASH, sensibilitation and advocacy campaigns should be executed to ease the burden of this neglected diseases.
Related projects
Learn about other projects where we fight Neglected Tropical Diseases
Basic water and sanitation services for Upper Denkyira East
The population of Upper Denkyira East lacks basic access to water and sanitation services, resulting in a higher transmission of infectious and diarrheic diseases such as NTDs.
Tackling NTDs through a gender equality perspective in Ghana
Women suffering from diseases such as NTDs are even more vulnerable to poverty and lack of opportunities.
Giving voice to people suffering from NTDs to improve their participation in society
There exist evidence of lack of inclusion and participation of people with skin-NTDs in most community activities.
Addressing NTDs in the Eastern Region of Ghana
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.
Controlling new cases of leprosy in Bawku
In 2021, 8 new cases of leprosy were detected in the municipality and in 2022 5 have been detected so far.
Hand washing and new wells to tackle yaws in Akuapim
Akuapim North and South Districts, located in the Eastern Region of Ghana, has seen an increase in yaws cases since 2020.
Improving the health of communities in Upper Denkyira
the Upper Denkyira East and Upper Denkyira West districts in Ghana are endemic of a number of NTDs, namely Buruli ulcer, yaws and leprosy.
Freeing Aowin district from the burden of skin-NTDs
Yaws, Lymphatic filariasis and other skin-NTDs cause suffering and disabilities in communities of the Aowin district in Ghana, in the South-western part of the country.
A comprehensive approach aimed at reducing skin NTDs in three districts in Ghana
This holistic approach will enable us to improve access and coverage for 6,000 people in three districts of Ghana by improving health care and extending it at community and psychosocial level.
Bringing about a change of attitude to reduce NTDs in Ellembelle
By the end of the project we envision a behavioural change towards skin-NTDs in the endemic communities suffering from them, resulting in a lower prevalence of this diseases and greater acceptance of those suffering from any NTD.
Reducing NTDs in 13 endemic district of Eastern Ghana
Alongside Hope for Future Generation and Rural Watch, the project will be implemented in 13 NTD endemic districts in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
A path to a full recovery that includes mental health
By strengthening the capacity of health workers to tackle the consequences of NTDs on mental health, we will support a full recovery of patients.
Partnerships with mental health organisations in Ghana
By supporting Basic Needs, a Ghanaian organization that work for social inclusion and opportunities for people suffering from mental health, we are tackling different aspects that improve the life quality of people with NTDs.
WASH, mental health and microcredits to improve the livelihood of NTD-affected people in Ghana
By implementing WASH activities and other health related activities, we will further provide alternative opportunities to ensure that persons affected by skin-NTDs are capable of working to improve their livelihood.
