Neglected Tropical Diseases: GHS launches Mass drug administration in Takoradi

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched an Integrated Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Project to help in the fight against neglected tropical conditions including lymphatic filariasis and Onchocerciasis .

The Integrated Mass Drug Administration, to be carried out nationwide, would begin from May 28 to June 12.

It will provide a single dose medication to all eligible individuals once or twice a year and implemented over three to seven years, to significantly control the burden of such conditions.

Dr Afez Adam Taher, the Chairperson, Ghana Intra Country Coordinating Committee for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), Ministry of Health, who launched the project in Takoradi, said human onchocerciasis - river blindness was a disease of the skin and eye caused by a parasitic worm in fast-flowing rivers and streams.

As part of a process of eliminating Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis by 2030, he explained that this year's Mass Drug Administration targets 77 oncho-endemic districts to reach out to about 12.6 million people.

It also envisions reaching four lymphatic filariasis endemic districts, targeting 440,000 people.

Dr Taher said the disease was endemic in 31 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America and Yemen, adding that Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a neglected tropical disease.

Infection occurs when filarial parasites are transmitted to humans through mosquitoes.

He explained that the infection was usually acquired in childhood causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system and later years causing elephantiasis and scrotal swelling with mental, social and financial losses contributing to stigma and poverty.

Dr Taher said since 2013, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had verified three countries in Latin America as free of human onchocerciasis but unfortunately, Ghana was still endemic for the disease, which was one of the 14 NTDs in the country.

Meanwhile, the World Health Assembly Resolution 50.29 encouraged Member States to eliminate lymphatic filariasis as a public health problem.

In response, the WHO launched its Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in 2000 with key components including stopping the spread of infection through large-scale annual treatment of all eligible people in an area where infection is present; and alleviating the suffering it caused through the provision of the recommended essential package of care.

"Preventing and controlling NTDs is central to ending extreme poverty in the next two decades. Onchocerciasis/river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, two of the NTDs can be targeted through a highly effective integrated community treatment approach using drugs that have been proven safe and effective and which can be delivered by trained non-health personnel," Dr Taher said.

He, therefore, encouraged all eligible persons to avail themselves for the immunisation to fight against Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, describing the drug as safe.

Dr Joyce Aryee, the Ambassador for such conditions, said the drugs were not deleterious but life saving and efficacious to protect one against the condition.

She called on the media to educate the public on the process for more people to participate in the two-week exercise.

GNA