UHAS launches morbidity management, disability accessibility project
The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), in collaboration with Sight Savers International, has launched a ‘Morbidity Management and Disability Accessibility in Ghana’ project.
The two-and-a-half-year project is meant to develop and evaluate an integrated health facility assessment tool for lymphatic filariasis (LF), also known as elephantiasis, morbidity management and disability accessibility in selected LF endemic communities in the country.
The project findings will inform recommendations for combining neglected tropical diseases (NTD) and disability-inclusive health assessments, with ethical oversight from institutional review boards and results disseminated to the Ghana Health Service and stakeholders.
The Director, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases, UHAS, Dr Alfred Kwesi Manyeh, said the launch of the project was in line with UHAS’ mandate to research into public health problems, using a multidisciplinary approach.
The mandate, he said, was also to develop research capacity to the highest level in as many disciplines as feasible and for staff, through teaching and mentorship programmes, as well as forge and expand research collaboration.
Specialised training opportunities
Dr Manyeh said it also involves providing specialised training opportunities for graduates and students in health research, adding that the collaboration between the UHAS and Sight Savers International, which is an international organisation focused on preventing blindness and promoting equality for people with visual impairments, marked a new partnership towards the fight against NTDs.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UHAS, Professor Frank Edwin, said people suffering from NTDs had lived with the stigma for far too long, adding that the project offered a renewed sense of hope for them.
The Head of Portfolio NTD Research, Sight Savers, Dr Richard Selby, said despite progress through mass drug administration for LF, some regions in Ghana remained at high risk, particularly in poor and rural communities.
He pointed out that there were gaps in health facilities’ capacity to provide LF services, indicating a need for focused assessment on health workers’ knowledge and patient experiences.
“Integration of LF morbidity management into routine health care is crucial for optimising health services for vulnerable groups,” added Dr Selby.
The Volta Regional NTDs Coordinator, Christian Gohoho, pledged the Ghana Health Service’s support for the project.
