NTDs control should be a priority in our national health policies – Prof Yaw Debrah
Published:
4 months ago
Source:
3News
Government has been enjoined to prioritize the control and treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ghana's National Health Policy. Lymphatic Filariasis also known as elephantiasis used to be endemic in 98 districts in Ghana but has been eliminated except in 7 districts in 3 regions. The disease like all the NTDs has been observed to affect the poorest of the poor. Research conducted by a professor of parasitology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Professor Alexander Yaw Debrah and his team has shown that elephantiasis and hydrocele patients cannot afford basic medical bills. Delivering his Professorial Inaugural Lecture on the topic "Eliminating Filarial Diseases: A New Hope for an Old Battle", Prof Yaw Debrah trusts that, including elephantiasis management in the National Health Insurance Scheme will enable patients to have access to medical attention and help the country achieve the sustainable development goal 3 of ensuring that no one is left behind in accessing quality healthcare.
"To help eliminate filarial diseases such as elephantiasis, hydrocele and river blindness from Ghana and Africa, we need to ensure that Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) control is a priority in the national health plans and budgets.