Dr Fred Adomako-Boateng, the Ashanti Regional Director of Health Services, has called for sustained national commitment and increased investment towards eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), despite the significant progress made over the years.
Speaking at the launch of World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day in Kumasi, Dr Adomako-Boateng observed that although NTDs were often regarded as low-risk in Ghana, they remained “neglected” not only by policymakers and health authorities, but also by families and communities.
He said Ghana had made remarkable strides through interventions such as annual mass drug administration, morbidity management, and improved healthcare services, which had contributed to very low prevalence levels of diseases, including onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, and intestinal worms, in most endemic areas.
Ghana, he noted, was currently reaching more people with NTD treatment than ever before—progress he attributed to strong collaboration with local and international partners.
He expressed appreciation to the country’s diverse partners for their continued support in the national effort to eliminate the diseases.
Dr Adomako-Boateng recalled that World NTD Day was instituted following a global commitment announced in 2019, when more than 350 partners agreed to mark the day annually to raise awareness and mobilise resources for NTD elimination.
Ghana officially joined the observance on January 30, 2020, and the day has since been incorporated into the Ghana Health Service’s annual calendar.
Despite the achievements, he cautioned that NTDs remained severely underfunded and continued to impose far-reaching social and economic burdens.
“Neglected tropical diseases are diseases of poverty,” he said, noting that they predominantly affected the world’s poorest populations and trapped individuals and communities in persistent cycles of poverty.
The diseases, he added, reduced productivity, burdened national economies and cost countries millions of dollars annually.
Dr Adomako-Boateng further highlighted the social impact of NTDs, including stigma, discrimination and exclusion, sometimes even by close relatives.
These challenges, he said, often resulted in broken homes and a diminished sense of self-worth among those affected.
He emphasised that such barriers underscored the importance of World NTD Day, describing it as a call to action for governments, civil society organisations and development partners to intensify efforts toward eliminating the diseases.
This year’s celebration, on the theme: “Unite, Act and Eliminate: Advancing Efforts to End Neglected Tropical Diseases,” reflects the urgent need for collective action to bring an end to NTDs in endemic communities.
