Odomase (Bono), April 18, – Health authorities in the Sunyani West Municipality have raised concern over a growing number of skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), with officials recording about 70 new cases of hydrocele and elephantiasis across several communities.
The Municipal Disease Control Officer, Mrs Benedicta Oppong Fremah, said suspected cases of Buruli ulcer had also been identified in communities including Tanom, Kobedi, Chiraa and Boffourkrom, with samples sent for laboratory confirmation.
She described the trend as worrying and called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to help curb further spread of the diseases.
Mrs Oppong Fremah made the disclosure at a meeting in Odomase involving officials of the Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) and Tim Africa Aid Ghana, who are implementing a skin NTDs intervention project in the area.
The engagement also featured a delegation from the Anesvad Foundation, which is funding the Community Integration and Systems Strengthening Project aimed at reducing the burden of skin-related NTDs through improved healthcare access and community systems support.
The delegation, led by Programme Manager Madam Naomi Dring, together with Mr Melvin Awantang, Anesvad’s focal person for Ghana, assessed progress of the project and gathered feedback from local implementers and beneficiaries.
The Sunyani West Municipal Director of Health Services, Mr Stephen Nyarko Ameyaw, stressed the importance of sustained partnerships in improving health outcomes and urged continued education on prevention and early reporting of cases.
Alhaji Ibrahim Habila, the Municipal Coordinating Director, expressed concern about preventable diseases such as cholera and typhoid in the area, linking them to gaps in sanitation and water access.
He commended the intervention by the NGOs and assured the Assembly’s support, noting that efforts were underway to improve potable water supply in affected communities.
Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GloMeF, said the project combined water provision, hygiene education and community-driven systems to address the root causes of skin NTDs.
Mr Edward Ayabila, Programmes Manager of GloMeF, called for the integration of NTD control measures into the municipality’s development planning framework to ensure long-term sustainability.
As part of the visit, the Anesvad delegation commissioned a mechanised borehole for the Chiraa-Canada community and interacted with persons affected by skin NTDs, some of whom shared experiences of improved access to care and livelihoods.
GHBUSS
18 April 2026
No comments:
Post a Comment