Africa-Press – Ghana. Skin-Neglected Tropical Diseases (Skin-NTDs) are a group of diseases sharing common features on the body.
Skin-NTDs
Skin-NTDs comprise leprosy, Buruli ulcer, yaws, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis, and scabies and they can have devastating consequences of lifelong disabilities, stigma and mental health problems.
The diseases, common in Bono and Upper West Regions, disproportionately affect rural, impoverished, and marginalized populations.
They mostly thrive in places lacking access to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.
Beyond the physical burden, the NTDs lead to severe disfigurement and social exclusion and stigma, thereby isolating affected persons and impeding their access to education, sustainable livelihoods, and realizing their full potential in life.
In fact, that creates a vicious cycle of disease and poverty.
ENIWEE Project
Thanks to the SMAid, a health-centered non-government organisation (NGO) that is implementing the ENIWEE project which seeks to tackle the spread of the disease and to give hope to affected persons too.
Funded by Anesvad Foundation, the project aims at breaking the cycle by tackling the root causes of Skin-NTDs in some of the disease prone communities in parts of the Bono and Upper West Regions.
The two-year project, being implemented between March 2025 and March 2027 employs a holistic approach to combat the NTDs, focusing on reduced disease prevalence, enhanced WASH access, economic empowerment, and strengthened health systems and advocacy.
Health Systems
According to Mr Theophilus Babae, the Country Programme Manager of SMAid, one of the key thematic areas of the ENIWEE project implementation was to build and strengthen biomedical and health systems.
That involves community sensitization through durbars and radio discussions, training healthcare workers on mental health and stigma reduction, and distribution of Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials.
Mr Babae was speaking at a dissemination meeting on the project implementation held in Sunyani, explaining that improving healthcare services and awareness, the project would reduce NTDs prevalence and thereby alleviate the sufferings of affected persons.
Social Determinants of Health
Mr Babae mentioned that the project also focused on social determinants of health of WASH improvements, livelihood support, and social protection involving construction and rehabilitation of water points and promoting hygiene.
It will further provide employable skills training and start-up capitals for the NTDs affected women, enrolled them on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Governance and Coordination
Effective governance and coordination remain cardinal and critical to the success of the ENIWEE Project because the project implementation will foster multi-sectoral partnerships between health, WASH, local government, and other stakeholders to prioritize Skin-NTDs in district health plans.
Capacity building for the civil society community including media and health workers will push a well-coordinated response to the Skin-NTDs.
Mr Babae said the project would undertake media campaigns to combat stigma as well as engage in policy dialogue for sustainable NTDs control and promote community education too.
He said: “By raising awareness and advocating policy change, the project will create a supportive environment for affected individuals and communities”.
Expected Outcomes
On completion, the ENIWEE Project anticipates a measurable reduction in the prevalence of Skin-NTDs in targeted districts, increased access to and utilization of WASH facilities and healthcare services.
It will further build and enhance economic resilience and improved livelihoods for vulnerable people, advocating execution of stronger local policies thereby increasing community engagement for sustainable NTD control.
Target Beneficiaries
Mr Babae stated that the project will directly benefit approximately 150,000 individuals, including those affected by Skin-NTDs, women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Indirectly, around 230,000 individuals within households and broader communities will benefit from improved public health infrastructure and reduced disease burden.
Implementation Partners
The project is being implemented through a collaborative partnership approach involving Ghana Health Service, Municipal and District Assemblies, WASH NGOs, University of Energy and Natural Resources.
Other partners include NTD’s Research Center, community leaders, and the partnership will ensure a coordinated and effective response to Skin-NTDs in Ghana’s Bono and Upper West Regions.
The overall objective of the project is to eliminate Skin NTDs, improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and the disease prone communities as well as reducing disease prevalence, enhancing WASH access, promoting economic empowerment, strengthening health systems and advocacy.
Baseline Survey
Dr Kenneth Bentum Otabi the Consortium lead of Netrodis-OH of the University of Energy and Natural Resources said findings from a baseline on the ‘Scourge of NTDs’ conducted revealed disturbing findings of high prevalence of the Skin-NTDs.
The survey was conducted using a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods exposing low knowledge and awareness about Skin-NTDs in community prone areas.
Dr Otabi said poor WASH infrastructure, access, and utilization in communities, and stigmatizing behavior as well as poor mental health and health-seeking behavior among affected individuals were other challenges confronting the local communities.
Women and Girls
Dr Otabi said the survey highlighted the disproportionate impact of Skin-NTDs on women and girls, saying typical stereotyping behaviors make them more prone to Skin-NTDs, stigma, and other consequences.
The finding underscores the need for targeted interventions to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls.
Key Findings
Dr Otabi said key findings reveal high prevalence of Skin NTDs, including leprosy, Buruli ulcer, and yaws as well as limited knowledge and awareness about the NTDs.
Poor access to and utilization of WASH infrastructure and healthcare services as well as high stigmatizing behavior and poor mental health among affected individuals are also major concerns.
Dr Otabi noted that women and girls are disproportionately affected by Skin NTDs and stigma, saying the findings informed the project’s logical framework and guided the implementation of targeted interventions to address the identified challenges.
Call to action
Dr Otabi said the ENIWEE project remained committed to work with communities, healthcare providers, and stakeholders to eliminate Skin NTDs and promote the well-being of affected individuals.
The survey therefore underscores the need for urgent action to address the scourge of Skin-NTDs by working together to improve WASH access, reduce disease prevalence, promote economic empowerment and strengthen health systems.
That will improve the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities affected by the NTDs.
Way forward
The ENIWEE project is a comprehensive approach to combating Skin-NTDs by tackling the root causes and promoting economic empowerment.
With the implementation of the project, the quality of life for individuals, families, and communities affected by Skin-NTDs would be improved.
Prioritising biomedical and health systems strengthening, social determinants, governance and coordination, as well as awareness and advocacy, the project implementation is expected to make a significant impact.
That will greatly reduce the NTDs burden in the project implementation communities in the Bono and Upper West Regions.
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