By Elizabeth PUNSU
Despite limited public awareness, Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) affect over a billion people worldwide – with 1.6 billion in need of prevention and treatment interventions.
According to Ashanti Regional Health Director Dr. Fred Adomako Boateng, NTDs are primarily prevalent in impoverished communities within tropical regions, though some have a broader geographical distribution.
He highlighted that the epidemiology of NTDs is complex and often linked to environmental conditions. Many are vector-borne, have animal reservoirs and involve intricate life cycles, making public health control efforts highly challenging.
Speaking at an event in Kumasi to commemorate this year’s World NTDs Day, Dr. Boateng emphasised the significant impact of these diseases on individuals, particularly children and communities.
“They often cause blindness, disabilities, disfigurement and even death. Children are unable to attend school and affected individuals are prevented from earning a living and caring for their families. This has a profound impact on families, communities and national economies, as people are kept from the workplace and require ongoing treatment throughout their lives,” he stated.
Dr. Boateng urged Ghanaians, particularly residents of Ashanti Region, to actively participate in the fight against NTDs.
“We must all join hands to support campaigns and efforts to eliminate these diseases, such as leprosy, from our communities,” he advised.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), remarkable progress has been made globally – with 54 countries eliminating at least one NTD by December 2024. In 2024 alone, seven countries succeeded in eliminating an NTD; contributing to a total of 75 elimination processes recognised by WHO. The organisation remains optimistic about its goal of achieving NTD elimination in 100 countries by 2030.
The Ashanti Regional Health Directorate’s awareness efforts mark a significant step forward in uniting communities to take decisive action against NTDs.
This year’s World NTDs Day was observed under the theme, ‘Unite, Act, Eliminate’. Celebrated annually on January 30th, the event aims to raise awareness and accelerate efforts to eradicate these often-overlooked diseases.
Neglected tropical diseases are a diverse group of conditions caused by various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and toxins. These diseases, which include leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis and rabies, disproportionately affect impoverished communities in tropical areas, leading to severe health, social and economic consequences.
According to WHO, the purpose of World NTDs Day is to elevate awareness of these diseases, highlight the suffering they cause and garner support for their control, elimination or eradication. These efforts align with WHO’s roadmap for 2021−2030 and commitments outlined in the 2022 Kigali Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases.
