Ghana is intensifying efforts to eliminate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by 2030, with the government pushing for increased domestic financing, stronger private-sector participation and closer coordination among key institutions.
The Deputy Minister for Health, Grace Ayensu Danquah, said sustaining Ghana’s gains against NTDs would require greater investment and stronger collaboration between government, development partners and the private sector.
She said NTDs continue to impose a significant health and socioeconomic burden, particularly on vulnerable communities, making their elimination critical to protecting human capital and improving productivity.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting on the NTD elimination agenda, Ms Danquah urged stakeholders to make clear, practical and time-bound commitments towards achieving the 2030 target.
She also called on private-sector organisations to support NTD programmes with funding, technology, logistics, research and health-system strengthening.
Dr Hafez Adam Taher, Chairman of the Inter-Country Coordinating Committee (ICCC) for NTDs and Technical Coordinating Director at the Ministry of Health, called for NTD interventions to be integrated into existing programmes covering nutrition, social protection, education, water and sanitation.
He said stronger collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies was necessary to reach vulnerable populations and sustain the progress Ghana had made in tackling the diseases.
The National Ambassador for NTDs, Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, also called for greater domestic ownership of the elimination agenda through increased financing, improved coordination and effective data sharing.
She said NTDs should be treated not only as a health issue but as a broader development challenge requiring sustained commitment from government and the private sector.
The stakeholder meeting was aimed at strengthening partnerships and securing concrete commitments towards achieving a Ghana free from NTDs by 2030.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
