GHS Moves to Fight Neglected Tropical Diseases

The fight to control and eradicate skin-related neglected tropical diseases has been given added momentum by the acquisition of a fleet of vehicles and motorbikes in support of the national programme.

These cost US$600,000.00 and were bought with funds from ANESVAD, a Spanish NGO – partnering the Ghana Health Service (GHA) on the project.

The 18 Toyota pickups, three Toyota Land Cruiser Prado and 15 Yamaha motorbikes would be distributed to 15 selected districts.

These include Akuapem North, Akuapem South, Asante-Akim North, Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa, Ayensuano, Biakoye, Jasikan and Mpohor.

The rest are Nkoranza South, Sekyere Afram Plains, Upper Denkyira East, Upper DenkyiraWest, Upper West Akyem, Wa and Wassa Amenfi East.

Handing them over at a ceremony, Dr. Anthony Nsiah Asare, Director-General of the GHS, urged Programme Managers and District Health Directors in places endemic with buluri ulcer, yaws and leprosy, to use the vehicles to support the integrated health system.

He expressed confidence that those diseases could be eliminated through an integrated approach to detection, prevention and management.

He added that mobility was critical to efforts at reaching the rural communities with quality healthcare services and thanked ANESVAD for its continuous support.

He called for all to work hard to deliver the intended outcomes.

Mr Godwin Asigbey, ANESVAD Representative in Ghana, said the organization was proud to have been associated with the drive to control buluri ulcer in the country over the last 10 years.

It had been working with the National Buruli Ulcer Control Programme and was now expanding the scope of collaboration to include yaws and leprosy.

Source: GNA