Eastern Regional Health Directorate say there is disturbing increase in cases of neglected tropical Diseases in the region.
According to WHO, Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of 20 conditions that are mainly prevalent in impoverished tropical communities.
They are caused by a variety of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins. These diseases cause devastating health, social and economic consequences to more than one billion people worldwide.
NTDs include: Buruli ulcer; Chagas disease; dengue and chikungunya; dracunculiasis; echinococcosis; foodborne trematodiases; human African trypanosomiasis; leishmaniasis; leprosy; lymphatic filariasis; mycetoma, chromoblastomycosis and other deep mycoses; onchocerciasis; rabies; scabies and other ectoparasitoses; schistosomiasis; soil-transmitted helminthiases; snakebite envenoming; taeniasis/cysticercosis; trachoma; and yaw
The Eastern Regional Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Christian Fiador says the Diseases are prevalent in communities but are not being reported at health facilities due to misconception and myth around some of them that they are spiritual attack.
He therefore called on health workers in the region particularly community nurses to intensify efforts to identify such cases for treatment and management.
“These four conditions which we are talking about are prevalent in the region.We looked for support and lo and behold ark foundation is here to support us .we are not seeing the cases at the early stages that we expect to see them so by the time we see them the deformities will show up and then the people are neglected ,stigma is attached and so when we have foundation like this to help us it means we can look for the people and stop the stigma and stop the disabilities .People think Leprosy, Buruli, Ulcer yaws, and lymphatic filiriasis is a spiritual something .They think that if you get it someone is bewitching you and that kind of thing”. Christian Fiador said.
He said this during the launching of Partnership for Elimination of Skin-Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by Ark Development organization in collaboration with Suhum Municipal Health Directorate.
Already, the GHS has revealed ,One hundred and ten (110) Buruli ulcer and 40 yaws cases have been recorded in Upper Manya Krobo District since 2017 to 2022.
The Disease Control Unit of Suhum Municipal Health Directorate in Eastern region also revealed that the municipality has recorded many cases of Leprosy, Buruli ulcer, and Yaws.
“ when we talk of NTDs in Suhum this is one situation we also face on daily basis as a public health unit because we have cases of leprosy we attend to, we have cases of Yaws in some rural communities and we have isolated cases of buruli ulcer, elephantiasis and all the other diseases we can talk about”.
Kwadwo Agyenim Boateng, Suhum Municipal Disease Control Officer explained.
The Municipal Disease Control Officer believes the two-year Partnership for Elimination of Skin-NTDs Project will help intensify awareness about the disease and demystify myths around it.
“I believe this project that is running for two years in our municipality will go a long way to augment our routine effort to the control of NTDs in the Suhum municipality. They are not having the right information regarding the condition. They also fear perceive how health staff are going to receive them, some for medical cost reasons and some of them looking at where they are looking at transportation and geographical access if you dont make the effort of meeting them they will never show up.so In our case identifying skin-NTDs requires an extra effort from the health staff or directorate” .
Global targets for 2030 and milestones are set out to prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate a diverse set of 20 diseases and disease groups of Neglected Tropical Diseases.
Emmanuel Kwarfo Mintah , Executive Director of Ark Development Organization explained that the partnership for Elimination of Skin-NTDs program by Ark Development Organization sponsored by Anesvad Foundation focuses on eliminating Buruli Ulcer, Leprosy, Yaws and Lymphatic Filiriasis in Upper Manya Krobo, Suhum, Fanteakwa North,and West Akim districts through multifaceted intervention including treatment and socio-economic support.
Stakeholders including Nurses, Assembly members, opinion leaders from selected communities in Suhum Municipality have been trained on NTDs to help identify cases their communities.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
