Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), in collaboration with Rural Watch and with technical backing from the Eastern Regional Health Directorate, has enrolled 202 patients suffering from skin-related Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) onto the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and linked others to savings groups across seven endemic districts in the Eastern Region.
The initiative, under the project “Strengthening Community Systems to Scale-Up Community-Led Response Interventions to End Skin-NTDs,” targets conditions such as elephantiasis, buruli ulcer, scabies, and leprosy. Funded by the ANESVAD Foundation, the project focuses on improving healthcare access, psychosocial support, and economic empowerment for affected individuals and their families.
Since its launch in March 2025, the project has achieved notable milestones, including the distribution of 300 wound dressing kits—61 of which have already been used by patients—and regular monthly treatment and wound management for 1,137 clients. Additionally, 174 clients and their families have received mental health and psychosocial support.
Ms. Carmen Narh, Project Coordinator, explained that Village Savings and Loans Association membership has been extended to NTD patients and their families to promote financial independence and long-term sustainability.
Looking ahead, the 2026 plan includes heightened community awareness campaigns, anti-stigma engagements, and advocacy to ensure increased domestic funding and timely release of resources for NTD programmes.
Dr. Damien Punguyire, Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, praised HFFG and Rural Watch for their efforts in community outreach and emphasized that NTDs are treatable and preventable with early intervention, urging the public to reject misconceptions that these diseases are spiritual in origin.
The project underscores the importance of integrating health services, social support, and economic empowerment in tackling skin-NTDs, ensuring patients receive holistic care while promoting community-wide awareness to prevent future cases.
