<h2>A New Chapter in Health Advocacy</h2>The fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) has long been a critical public health priority, but the Imagine Ghana Project is taking this mission a step further. By integrating mental health care into NTD interventions, the initiative seeks to address the often-overlooked psychological and social dimensions of these conditions. This holistic approach is guided by the WHO essential care packages, ensuring that interventions are both evidence-based and globally aligned.<h2>The Role of the NTD Advocacy Club</h2>The Neglected Tropical Diseases Advocacy Club has stepped forward as a key stakeholder in this groundbreaking project. Their involvement underscores the importance of community-driven advocacy in shaping health policies and interventions. By amplifying voices from affected communities, the club ensures that strategies are not only medically sound but also socially responsive.<h2>Technical Advisory Board Meeting</h2>From February 24 to 26, the Technical Advisory Board convened to chart the course for success. The meeting focused on:Strategic Planning: Identifying priority interventions that merge mental health support with NTD treatment.Capacity Building: Exploring ways to train health workers to deliver integrated care at the community level.Sustainability: Ensuring that interventions are scalable and embedded within Ghana’s health system.<img class="max-w-full rounded-lg" src="https://jwqkchvdjpdqsntpdyph.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog/1772664038875-gya2d.webp"><img class="max-w-full rounded-lg" src="https://jwqkchvdjpdqsntpdyph.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog/1772664103668-yt306.webp">Collaboration: Strengthening partnerships between government, NGOs, and advocacy groups to maximize impact.<h2>Why Integration Matters</h2>NTDs often carry a heavy burden of stigma, disability, and social exclusion. When left unaddressed, these challenges can lead to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. By weaving mental health care into NTD programs, the Imagine Ghana Project is tackling the problem at its roots—promoting dignity, resilience, and holistic well-being.<h2>Looking Ahead</h2>The Imagine Ghana Project represents a bold step toward inclusive health care. With the NTD Advocacy Club’s active involvement and the Technical Advisory Board’s strategic guidance, Ghana is setting an example for how countries can reimagine health systems to serve both body and mind.This initiative is more than a health program, it’s a movement toward compassionate, integrated care that recognizes the full humanity of those affected by neglected diseases.The project is investigated by Dr Alfred Kwesi Manyeh, the director of the center for neglected tropical diseases research at the institute of health research in the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana.

Integrating Mental Health and NTDs in Ghana

On 5th March 2026, the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Advocacy Club at the Fred Newton Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, convened an academic webinar titled “Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Ghana.” This scholarly engagement sought to advance discourse on the epidemiology, control, and elimination strategies of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), which remain a pressing public health concern in Ghana and across sub-Saharan Africa.<h3>Academic Leadership and Expertise</h3>The session was chaired by Dr. Gideon Kye-Duodu, Lecturer, Field Epidemiologist, Implementation Scientist, and Patron of the NTDs Advocacy Club. The keynote presentation was delivered by Mr. Edward Tei-Hervie, National Desk Officer for Schistosomiasis, Soil-Transmitted Helminths, and Trachoma, whose expertise provided a national perspective on policy and programmatic interventions. The discussion was co-hosted by Pious Aboagye, President of the NTDs Advocacy Club and Founder of the Career Guide Initiative, underscoring the role of student-led advocacy in advancing public health priorities.<h3>Contextualizing Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Ghana</h3>Soil-transmitted helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworm species, are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases globally. In Ghana, their burden is particularly significant among school-aged children and marginalized communities where sanitation infrastructure is inadequate. The morbidity associated with STHs such as anemia, malnutrition, and impaired cognitive development poses long-term socio-economic challenges.<h3>Key Themes of the Discourse</h3><ul><li>Epidemiological Situation: Current prevalence rates and geographic distribution of STHs in Ghana.</li><li>Challenges: Persistent transmission due to poor sanitation, limited access to clean water, and gaps in health education.</li><li>Control Strategies: Mass drug administration (MDA), integration of deworming programs into school health initiatives, and community-based interventions.</li><li>Elimination Prospects: The need for sustained multi-sectoral collaboration, including government, academia, and civil society, to achieve WHO’s targets for NTD elimination.</li></ul><h3>Scholarly Significance</h3>This event exemplifies the critical role of academic institutions and advocacy groups in fostering evidence-based dialogue on neglected tropical diseases. By convening experts and stakeholders, the NTDs Advocacy Club contributes to the dissemination of knowledge, the strengthening of public health capacity, and the mobilization of collective action toward disease elimination.<h3>Conclusion</h3>The webinar on soil-transmitted helminths in Ghana reaffirmed the urgency of addressing NTDs as a public health priority. It highlighted the intersection of epidemiological research, policy implementation, and community advocacy as essential pillars in the fight against these infections. As Ghana advances toward the goal of eliminating STHs, such academic engagements remain indispensable in shaping informed strategies and sustaining momentum.

Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Ghana: A Public Health Discourse

The Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Advocacy Club at the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ghana, in partnership with NTDs Action, Learning and Advocacy (NALA), Ethiopia, successfully hosted a global webinar on schistosomiasis elimination, drawing participants from across Africa and beyond. The event, held on February 4, 2026, focused on sharing experiences in snail mapping and control strategies, a critical component in tackling one of the world’s most persistent parasitic diseases.<h3>A Collaborative Effort for Precision Public Health</h3>As countries move closer to eliminating schistosomiasis, transmission has become increasingly localized, requiring more precise interventions. Recognizing this, the webinar brought together leading experts and national program officers from Ghana and Ethiopia to discuss how spatial mapping, environmental surveillance, and data-driven approaches can strengthen control strategies.<h3>Distinguished Speakers</h3>The session featured insights from:<ul><li>Dr. Gideon Kye-Duodu – Researcher, Lecturer, and Epidemiologist, Ghana</li><li>Mr. Edward Tei Hervie – Chief Biomedical Scientist, National Desk Officer for Schistosomiasis and STH, Ghana</li><li>Dr. Alfred Kwesi Manyeh – Epidemiologist, Biostatistician, and Director of the Centre for NTD Research, UHAS, Ghana</li><li>Asrat Meleko – Assistant Professor, Researcher, and Project Manager, NALA, Ethiopia</li><li>Bisrat Molla – Public Health Specialist and Director of Programs, NALA, Ethiopia</li></ul>Together, they shared country-level experiences, highlighting how snail mapping technologies and community-based surveillance systems are being deployed to identify transmission hotspots and guide targeted interventions.<h3>Key Takeaways</h3><ul><li>Localized transmission demands precision: Mapping freshwater snails, the intermediate hosts of schistosomiasis, is essential for identifying high-risk areas.</li><li>Data-driven strategies: Integrating environmental surveillance with national health programs enables smarter resource allocation.</li><li>Cross-country learning: Ghana and Ethiopia’s shared experiences demonstrate the power of collaboration in advancing elimination goals.</li></ul><h3>A Step Toward Elimination</h3>The webinar underscored the importance of global partnerships in accelerating progress against NTDs. By combining scientific expertise, national program leadership, and advocacy, the initiative showcased how Africa is leading innovative approaches to achieve the 2030 NTD elimination targets.The NTDs Advocacy Club and NALA reaffirmed their commitment to amplifying voices, sharing knowledge, and driving equity in public health. This webinar marks another milestone in the collective fight against schistosomiasis, ensuring that no community is left behind.

Global Webinar Highlights Innovative Approaches to Schistosomiasis Elimination

How do we reach the most vulnerable when they’re out of sight? For millions affected by Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), many live in areas where access to cell phones and therefore vital information is limited. As part of our activities marking World NTD Day (30th January), the club was hosted on VOV Radio 95.7FM to discuss Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).We spoke about what NTDs are, why they matter, and how they can be prevented, while encouraging awareness and early action within our communities.Advocacy starts with conversation and every voice counts.

REACHING A WIDER AUDIENCE: USING THE RADIO MEDIA AS NTDs AWARENESS PLATFORM 

On 17 March 2026, the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Advocacy Club at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ghana, successfully hosted a webinar that placed scabies a neglected tropical disease at the center of public health discourse.The event, titled “Control of Scabies: The Role of Public Health Professionals,” brought together experts and advocates to highlight the urgency of tackling scabies and the critical role of public health professionals in its control.<h2>Spotlight on Scabies</h2>Scabies is often overlooked in global health conversations, yet it continues to affect millions worldwide. Caused by mites that burrow into the skin, scabies leads to severe itching, discomfort, and social stigma. The webinar emphasized that scabies is not just a dermatological issue it is a public health challenge requiring coordinated action.<h2>Key Voices</h2>The session featured:<ul><li>Clement Tettey, NTD Focal Person, Western Region, Ghana – Guest Speaker</li><li>Dr. Gideon Kye-Duodu – Host/Patron</li><li>Pious Aboagye – Co-Host/President of the NTD Advocacy Club</li></ul>Together, they underscored the importance of awareness campaigns, hygiene promotion, early detection, and policy advocacy.<h2>Impact and Outcomes</h2>The webinar achieved several milestones:<ul><li>Raised awareness among participants about scabies as a neglected tropical disease.</li><li>Strengthened commitment from the NTD Advocacy Club to continue community education and advocacy.</li><li>Encouraged collaboration between health professionals, communities, and policymakers to integrate scabies control into broader NTD strategies.</li></ul>The guiding message “When the itch becomes unbearable, ask yourself: Are we doing enough to stop the spread?” resonated strongly with attendees, serving as both a reminder and a call to action.

NTD Advocacy Club Ghana Leads the Charge Against Scabies

On 12 March 2026, the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Advocacy Club at the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), Ghana, hosted a thought-provoking webinar on one of the world’s most overlooked conditions: Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.The event carried a powerful theme: “Can a tiny sandfly bite change lives forever?” This question framed the discussion around a disease that, while often neglected, leaves lasting scars both physical and social on those it affects.<h2>Understanding Cutaneous Leishmaniasis</h2>Cutaneous Leishmaniasis is caused by the bite of infected sandflies. Though small in size, these insects can transmit parasites that lead to disfiguring skin lesions. Beyond the medical complications, the disease often results in stigma, discrimination, and psychological distress for patients.The webinar emphasized that tackling Cutaneous Leishmaniasis requires more than clinical treatment it demands public health advocacy, awareness, and community engagement.<h2>Key Voices at the Webinar</h2>The session brought together dedicated experts and advocates:<ul><li>Dr. Richard Akuffo – NTD Expert and Implementation Scientist, NMIMR (Guest Speaker)</li><li>Dr. Gideon Kye-Duodu – Host/Patron</li><li>Pious Aboagye – Co-Host/President of the NTD Advocacy Club</li></ul>Together, they highlighted Ghana’s ongoing fight against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis, stressing the importance of integrating disease control into broader NTD strategies.<h2>Highlights and Outcomes</h2><ul><li>Awareness Raised: Participants gained deeper insights into the burden of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis.</li><li>Advocacy Strengthened: The event reinforced the need for public health professionals to champion neglected diseases.</li><li>Community Engagement: Emphasis was placed on education, prevention, and reducing stigma.</li><li>Global Connection: By reporting this initiative to international NTD platforms, UHAS is ensuring that local voices contribute to global conversations.</li></ul><h2>Looking Ahead</h2>The webinar was not just an academic discussion it was a call to action. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis may be neglected, but it is not insurmountable. With advocacy, research, and community-driven solutions, we can reduce its impact and restore dignity to those affected.

Shedding Light on Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Ghana

Africa

VISION

Creating awareness of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and providing education on the preventive and control measures.

MISSION 

To come together to combat NTDs through advocacy and contribute to the knowledge and understanding of all people

Neglected Tropical Diseases Advocacy Club, Ghana

About

Vision

Mission

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Challenges Addressed