![\"buruli-ulcer-forum-3\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Buruli-ulcer-forum-3-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/p>\nParticipants at an Inception Workshop on Buruli Ulcer (BU) and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ghana have identified inadequate funding from government and stakeholders in the health sector as the bane for effective and efficient combat of the diseases in some parts of the country.<\/p>\n
The glaring lack of support according to them is affecting efficient healthcare delivery in the communities with its resultant consequence on quality human resource needed for socio-economic development of the nation.<\/p>\n
They have therefore made a passionate appeal to Government, Donor Agencies and Stakeholders to demonstrate more commitment to the health needs and well being of the vulnerable in society by channeling financial and logistical resources to the fight against Buruli Ulcer and other Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).<\/p>\n
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The Participants made this disclosure at an Inception Stakeholder Engagement on the Ghana NTDs Project with Professionals, Healthcare Providers and Actors in the Health Sector in Sunyani. It was organised by MAP International, a Christian Health Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and sponsored by the American Leprosy Mission (ALM).<\/p>\n
The Programmes Director of the National Buruli Ulcer Control Programme, Dr. Edwin Ampadu speaking on the topic \u201cOverview of the National Buruli Ulcer Situation and other Skin Related NTDs\u201d and made a passionate appeal to government, donor agencies and stakeholders in the health sector to support his outfit to fight Buruli Ulcer (BU), Leprosy and Yaws which according to him is a silent killer.<\/p>\n
On the National Situation, he disclosed 371 cases of BU were recorded from six regions in the country last year with 50% of the said cases diagnosed with Category 3 which usually are huge and unpleasant for treatment and however, assured his outfit was working to address it.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we have Category 1, we can easily manage them in our health facilities. The huge ones call for a lot of resources in terms of human resource, logistics and treatment like surgery and disability prevention\u201d, he emphasized.<\/p>\n He stated the National office will continue to support the region and districts office with sufficient technical support, basic logistics, monitoring and supervision and needs assessment for successful implementation of the programme.<\/p>\n Dr. Ampadu admitted that even though the mode of transmission of BU was not known, Ghanaians should concentrate and continue to adhere to the preventive measures to manage and control the disease with has witnessed a drastic reduction over the years.<\/p>\n On challenges, he mentioned stigma, funding, logistics and attrition rate of health workers as major factors affecting the efficient and sustained fight and control of the disease.<\/p>\n The Regional Director of Health Services, Dr. Osei Kuffour Afreh who chaired the programme, lamented the lack of urgency the country has demonstrated in the management and control on the diseases that is posing threat to people living quality lives.<\/p>\n He commended MAP International for organizing the forum to create awareness for the necessary interventions \u00a0to address the re-emergence of the diseases to enable affected victims find solution to their problem.<\/p>\n He observed the diseases are problematic to healthcare delivery in the region as they are usually painless, disturb patients in bits and over a period of time, causes huge damage to the patients’ system and therefore appealed to residents to report at the nearest health facility if they detect symptoms of the disease than trying to manage it at home.<\/p>\n Dr. Kuffour Afreh disclosed his outfit was collaborating with various partners to create awareness and encourage residents to report to the various health centres for treatment as the disease is curable.<\/p>\n In his welcome address, the Country Team Leader of MAP International, Mr. Asante Gilbert said his outfit in 2008 started its support and implementation of interventions to control and manage NTDs in the Brong Ahafo and has so far treated over 220 confirmed cases.<\/p>\n He disclosed that in 2014, Ghana was ranked the second most endemic country in the world with 550 new BU cases and lamented the lack of knowledge on the exact mode of transmission of the disease was a great worry in its management and therefore called for concerted efforts in is fight.<\/p>\n Mr. Gilbert called for an integrated approach to the fight of NTDs by making a passionate appeal to Government and District Assemblies to allocate part of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to support the initiative.<\/p>\n \u201cAs implementers of the Ghana NTD Project, we seek to strengthen capacities of health workers, increase awareness on BU and NTDs among community members and increase surveillance on the diseases. I therefore, take this opportunity to invite all stakeholders here to collaborate and partner MAP International for the successful implementation of the project\u201d, he appealed.<\/p>\n MAP International Ghana is a Christian Health Organization with its headquarters in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The organization will implement the Ghana NTDs Project in five Districts in the region; namely Asunafo South, Asutifi South, Tain, Dormaa Municipal and Kintampo North Municipal.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n By: Mashoud Kombat\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Participants at an Inception Workshop on Buruli Ulcer (BU) and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ghana have identified inadequate funding from government and stakeholders in the health sector as the bane for effective and efficient combat of the diseases in some parts of the country. The glaring lack of support according to them is affecting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[8265,3],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Dr.](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Buruli-ulcer-forum-1-1024x576.jpg\")