The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is to begin a mass drug administration (MDA) campaign targeting 77 districts affected by river blindness. GHS says the schedule is from July 15 till June 26, 2024.
This initiative is to protect the 140 districts nationwide that are endemic to onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, by interrupting the transmission of the disease.
River blindness, prevalent in 31 Sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana, is caused by parasitic worms transmitted by black flies inhabiting fast-flowing rivers and streams.
The disease impacts the skin and eyes, leading to blindness if untreated. The primary control and elimination strategy involves annual MDA using community-directed treatment with Ivermectin.
Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director General of the GHS, announced at a media briefing in Accra that the program targets approximately 5.8 million individuals.
This effort is part of Ghana’s broader goal to eliminate onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, also known as elephantiasis, by 2030. The campaign will also address lymphatic filariasis in the Bono, Bono East, and Ellembelle regions, aiming to protect 440,000 people at risk across 116 districts.
Health professionals and volunteers will administer a single dose of medication to all eligible individuals aged five and above, excluding pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children under 90 centimeters in height.
Dr. Kuma-Aboagye emphasized that despite significant progress in disease control, achieving the global elimination target by 2030 remains a formidable challenge.
He highlighted the importance of preventing and controlling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to eradicate extreme poverty within the next two decades. The integrated community treatment approach, using proven safe and effective drugs, involves trained non-health personnel in delivering these medications.
“As we launch the Mass Drug Administration, let us encourage all eligible individuals to participate in the NTD medication drive, combating onchocerciasis, lymphatic filariasis, and other NTDs to free our society from these diseases,” Dr. Kuma-Aboagye urged.
Dr. Joseph Larbie Opare, Programme Manager for NTDs, reinforced the necessity of the exercise to prevent blindness and improve public health outcomes.
