Head of the Leprosy Programme bemoans gaps in treatment of the Neglected Tropical Diseases

Missed diagnoses of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a significant concern in Africa, including Ghana.

There are also concerns about missed diagnoses. This results in delayed treatment, leading to increased morbidity and mortality, Continued transmission of the diseases and increased healthcare costs and burden on communities.

In Ghana, a study found that 5% of healthcare workers couldn’t recognize leprosy, a common NTD while many NTDs, like yaws, are often misdiagnosed or underreported due to its similarity with other diseases.

Head of the Leprosy Programme, Dr. Adusi Poku, at the ICCC High-Level Meeting Series, says the gaps in treatment of the disease remains enormous and must be looked at critically. Aside the missing of cases by the health care workers, cost of treatment has also been identified as one of the challenges affecting the disease management.

Currently, the treatment for NTDs is not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme, making long-term funding critical to protecting Ghana’s hard-won gains.

“In the last five years, about five percent of health care workers are unable to recognize leprosy at health centers, leading to missed cases. Even the medicines to be prescribed after diagnosis is a problem. Some of them don’t know. The medicines are also expensive and not on the NHIS. So, we need to do something about it locally.” he said.

Source:3news.com