Mass Drug Administration against Lymphatic Filariasis at Poyentanga

The 2017 National Launch of Mass Drug Administration (MDA) against Lymphatic Filariasis has taken place at Poyentanga in the Wa West District of the Upper West Region. 

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Collins Ntim observed that the choice of Poyentanga as the venue for the national launch of Mass Drug Administration is in line with the President Akufo-Addo’s vision of deepening the process of decentralization and signifies his commitment of bringing “total development” closer to the people. 

Mr. Ntim charged the DCEs to team up with health authorities to further carry out education on lymphatic filariasis to elicit the appropriate behavior to fight the disease. 

Radio Ghana’s Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that event amongst others was to create awareness on the importance of MDA to increase annual treatment and compliance. 

The focus of the program was “Increasing Compliance to support the Fight to END Lymphatic Filariasis NOW” The Wa West District Director of Health Service, Clifford Veng put the population of the district for 2017 at 93 thousand 810, saying out of the number, 75 thousand and 48 are eligible the Mass Drug Administration (MDA). 

He therefore called on the chiefs, opinion leaders, NGOs, decentralized department and the public to support Mass Drug Administration against Lymphatic Filariasis to enable us to achieve the ultimate goal of the program by eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis by 2020.  

Mr. Veng said MDA started in 2001 and communities are supposed to stop treatment after five successful MDAs following the results of Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) with a prevalence rate of less than one percent (1%). 

Seven districts in the Upper West Region out of eleven have passed the TAS and have been exempted for the treatment.  

Mr. Veng stated that three Transmission Assessment Surveys conducted in Wa West revealed a prevalence of 18.80 %, 4.1% and 1.4% indicating the need to continue treatment in the District. 

Mr. Veng thanked the DCE and his team for the support given towards the 2017 National Launch of the Mass Drug Administration against lymphatic filariasis in Wa West. 

A Biomedical Scientist of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Program, Ghana Health Service, Edward Tei Hervie stressed the necessity for the active involvement of all, saying “if even just a few people refuse to take part in the MDAs, they become reservoirs for re-infecting the whole community.”  

The DCE for Wa West, Edward Laabiir Sabo advised the public to utilize insecticide treated nets to prevent lymphatic filariasis which is transmitted through the bite of infective anopheles mosquito. 

The DCE call for a commitment from all to ensure the fight against disease is won.  

The Acting Medical superintendent of Wa West District Hospital Dr. Benjamin Aminyuure indicated that there are a lot of challenges facing the hospital including the lack of staff in certain critical areas but gave an assurance that “the facility has a formidable work force with the requisite knowledge, expertise and skills to handle all manner of sickness”. 

Dr. Aminyuure said “our vision is to ensure improved quality of life through enhanced overall health status and reduced disease burden of the people living in the Wa West District and beyond” but because the poor road network coupled with lack of transportation, most people prefer to be referred to the Regional Hospital in Wa. 

Naaha-Naa, Naa Tifferee Adams appealed for the Poyentanga Health Centre to be upgraded as a clinic.   

GBCONLINE
---DECRYPTED---