The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has begun the 2024 Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign against Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, and Lymphatic Filariasis, commonly known as elephantiasis, in the disease-endemic districts across the country.
The initiative aimed at combating these neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2030 is targeted at 5.8 million and 440,000 individuals aged 5 years and older, excluding pregnant women, in 77 Onchocerciasis endemic districts and 3 Lymphatic Filariasis endemic districts across the country.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, the Director-General of the Service, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, revealed that the main strategy for controlling and combating onchocerciasis is the interruption of transmission through the annual MDA using the Community-Directed Treatment strategy.
Onchocerciasis, also known as ‘River Blindness’, is a skin and eye disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus, a parasitic worm. Lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, is a disease caused by filarial parasites transmitted through infected mosquitoes, causing hidden damage to the lymphatic system. This causes physical disability and mental, social, and financial losses, leading to stigma and poverty.
According to him, preventing and controlling NTDs is central to ending extreme poverty, and the MDA provides a single dose of medication to all eligible individuals twice or once a year. He added that the potential of the campaign is to not only eradicate the diseases but also lessen the psycho-social and economic effects on the affected persons.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye also appealed for cooperation from the media and pertinent partners to help eliminate these diseases, while showing his sincere gratitude to the health workers for their dedication to eliminating NTDs.
Source: Ghana Health Service
