The Upper East region of Ghana is grappling with a concerning rise in elephantiasis cases, a parasitic infection caused by thread-like worms transmitted through mosquito bites.
Official reports from the Ghana Health Service have revealed that the region has recorded a staggering 2,373 confirmed cases of elephantiasis, accounting for approximately one-third of the nation's total cases.
Bright Alomatu, Desk Officer of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) program at the Ghana Health Service, acknowledged that while all 15 municipalities and districts in the Upper East Region are endemic, the spread of elephantiasis has been successfully curtailed due to the efforts of health workers.
He cited poor sanitation and hygiene practices as contributing factors to the high number of cases in the region, creating a conducive environment for mosquitoes to breed and spread the infection.
Mr. Alomatu emphasized, "The risk is very high where we have transmission ongoing because the mosquitoes bite everybody. So once the parasite is in the system and the mosquitoes are picking and spreading, then the likelihood of you getting it is very high."
During a stakeholder's sensitization event held in Bolgatanga, Mr. Alomatu highlighted the efforts undertaken since 2016 to train health workers and volunteers across all regions of the country.
This training has played a crucial role in stopping the transmission of the disease in 109 districts.
The impact of elephantiasis extends beyond physical symptoms. The infection leads to swelling and thickening of limbs and genitals, causing disfigurement, disability, severe pain, discomfort, and secondary infections.
Recognizing the economic challenges faced by those affected, the American Leprosy Mission, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service and the Christian Connection for International Health, organized a sensitization event.
The goal was to empower advocates who could work towards the inclusion of elephantiasis patients in Ghana's Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program, thereby facilitating access to health insurance and care.
Solomon Atinbire, Programme Manager for American Leprosy Mission, emphasized the importance of addressing patients' economic vulnerabilities, stating,
"That would help them [patients] to get some monies to register for health insurance coverage so that anytime they are taken ill, they can visit the health facilities for care."
Dr. Josephat Nyuzaghl, the Upper East Regional Deputy Health Director, stressed that advocacy groups are expected to engage with local assemblies to ensure that patients benefit from disability funds and receive the necessary support for their condition.