Building Stronger Health Systems: GrowthAid Ghana and Atiwa West District Health Directorate unite to fight Neglected Tropical Diseases.
NTDs: Diseases of neglect, not of nature — let’s change that.
GrowthAid Ghana partnered with the Atiwa West District Health Directorate to strengthen the frontline defense against Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). At the District Assembly Conference Hall. Forty (40) healthcare workers convened for an intensive capacity-building session designed to enhance the ability of health workers to identify, treat, and prevent these debilitating diseases.
The Challenge
Neglected Tropical Diseases affect approximately 1.5 billion people worldwide, with Africa bearing a significant burden. In Ghana, 14 NTDs have been identified. Health workers in Atiwa West District handle thousands of cases each year.
These diseases don’t just cause physical suffering. They trap families in cycles of poverty, force children out of school, prevent adults from working, and create social stigma that isolates those affected. The result slows community development and economic growth.
Building Capacity, Changing Lives
GrowthAid Ghana recognizes that healthcare workers are the key to breaking this cycle. The refresher training brought together Physician Assistants, Community Health Nurses, Disease Control Officers, and members of the District Health Management Team, all critical players in the fight against NTDs. Led by experts including Dr. Benedict Richard Bekui (District Health Director) and experienced Disease Control Officers, the session covered essential diseases affecting the district:
- Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia) – spread through contaminated water
- Yaws – a bacterial skin infection affecting children
- Rabies – transmitted through animal bites
- Onchocerciasis (River blindness) – caused by blackfly bites
- Scabies, Soil-transmitted worms, and Trachoma
Healthcare workers learned updated diagnostic techniques, proper treatment protocols, and community-based intervention strategies. They practiced the R.I.G.H.T. approach for snakebite management, studied the WHO’s SAFE strategy for trachoma elimination, and reviewed mass drug administration procedures.
Dr Bekui presenting Snake Bite in Atiwa west District
From Knowledge to Action
The impact was immediate. One participant shared: “I now feel more confident in diagnosing diseases like schistosomiasis and yaws.”
Another reflected: “I have come to the realization that most often than not, we give the wrong medication to patients due to failure in undertaking further tests.”
A participant sharing hise xperience from the training workshop in Atiwa West District.
These healthcare workers returned to their various communities equipped not just with knowledge, but with the tools to:
- Identify NTD cases earlier and more accurately
- Provide proper treatment based on current best practices
- Engage communities in prevention efforts
- Collect and report data to track disease prevalence
Lead mass drug administration campaigns
Unite, Act, Eliminate
GrowthAid Ghana’s commitment to eliminating NTDs goes beyond single training sessions. By strengthening healthcare systems, fostering strategic partnerships with district health authorities, and empowering frontline workers, we’re creating sustainable solutions that will protect communities for years to come. The fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases requires united healthcare workers, communities, organizations, and government working together. It demands action, continuous training, proper resources, and community engagement. And it promises elimination; a future where these preventable diseases no longer trap families in poverty and suffering. In Atiwa West District, the future is taking shape through the training of healthcare workers.
About GrowthAid Ghana
GrowthAid Ghana is a registered non-profit organization dedicated to implementing sustainable development initiatives with a core focus on improving the lives of vulnerable communities across Ghana. Our work spans through Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), livelihoods, climate change and environmental sustainability, health systems strengthening, and policy advocacy.
Through strategic partnerships, GrowthAid enhances access to quality healthcare, promotes resilient livelihoods, advances climate-smart and environmentally sustainable practices, and strengthens health systems. We also engage in evidence-based policy advocacy to influence change at local and national levels. Together, these efforts contribute to improved health outcomes, economic empowerment, and long-term community resilience.
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