Civil society groups dedicated to tackling Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ghana are calling for a fundamental shift from isolated interventions to collaborative, inclusive strategies if the nation is to achieve the elimination of all NTDs by 2030.
The Ghana National Consortium on Neglected Tropical Diseases (Ghac-NTDs) issued this call during World NTD Day, observed on Thursday, January 30, 2026, in Tamale. This year’s global theme, “Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs and related diseases,” echoed the group’s central message.
Ghana has scored significant public health victories, notably eradicating Guinea worm, trachoma, and Human African Trypanosomiasis. However, Ghac-NTDs raised alarms that 14 out of the 21 globally recognised NTDs persist in the country, placing over 12 million Ghanaians at risk, particularly those living in poverty or lacking adequate sanitation.
The consortium attributed slow progress towards elimination to what it termed “solo and uncoordinated approaches” among key stakeholders, even as it acknowledged efforts by the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS).
In a statement signed by National Chairman Dr. Peter Ndonwie, Ghac-NTDs highlighted ongoing challenges for civil society organisations (CSOs), including limited access to vital disease data, exclusion from policy-making forums, and insufficient funding for NTD programmes at both national and district levels.
“Policy formulation often lacks the ground truth and community-led perspectives that CSOs provide, while the fight against NTDs remains heavily dependent on dwindling donor funding,” the statement noted.
To address these issues, the consortium urged the government, through the Ministry of Health and GHS, to formally integrate CSOs into the Intra-Country Coordinating Committee (ICCC) at all administrative levels. Such integration, it argued, would bolster joint planning, implementation, and monitoring of NTD interventions.
The group also called for the swift implementation of the End NTDs Fund, announced in 2025, with transparent processes enabling CSOs to access resources for community-based work.
On the subject of disease surveillance, Ghac-NTDs proposed the creation of a shared digital platform to facilitate real-time data exchange between government health services and CSO field teams—a move it described as essential for evidence-based policy and planning.
The consortium further advocated moving beyond vertical, drug-focused campaigns to adopt person-centred, integrated primary healthcare strategies. These should encompass disability management, mental health support, community rehabilitation, and stigma reduction for individuals affected by NTDs.
Reiterating its commitment, Ghac-NTDs affirmed its readiness to mobilise its national network of members, volunteers, and advocates in support of the Ghana NTD Sustainability Plan (2023–2026).
“Eliminating NTDs in Ghana is not just a dream, but a target within reach if we act together,” the statement concluded.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
