NMIMR Initiative for NTDs Elimination Marks World NTD Day with Wound Care Support at Ga West Municipal Hospital
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Initiative for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NMIMR Initiative for NTDs Elimination – NINE) has donated wound care supplies to the Ga West Municipal Hospital, Amasaman, to mark World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Day.
This year’s theme, “Unite, Act, Eliminate NTDs and Related Diseases,” highlights the importance of collective action in combating diseases that disproportionately affect poor communities in tropical regions.
The donation, supported by Newmont Corporation and Republic Bank Ghana, forms part of efforts to strengthen frontline healthcare delivery and improve the management of chronic wounds associated with neglected tropical diseases, many of which result in long-term disability if left untreated.
Items presented included wound care supplies such as sterile dressings, gauze rolls, bandages, antiseptic solutions and other consumables used in the treatment of NTD-related wounds, as well as basic hospital items to support patient care.
Speaking at the engagement, Prof. Dziedzorm De Souza of the Department of Parasitology at NMIMR and Lead for NINE, said World NTD Day provides an opportunity to review progress made, assess areas requiring improvement and renew commitment to elimination efforts. He noted that neglected tropical diseases have, over the years, perpetuated cycles of poverty, as affected persons often spend limited resources managing preventable conditions.
He added that NMIMR’s work supports health, education and development, including community screening, mobile clinics, deworming and outreach. This year, special attention is being given to skin-related NTDs, following the World Health Assembly resolution recognising skin diseases as a global public health priority.
Prof. De Souza noted that the Ga West Municipal Hospital has been a key Buruli ulcer treatment centre for over two decades. Successful control efforts have significantly reduced cases, though other skin conditions continue to affect patients. Donations such as these wound care items help improve patient management and quality of care.
Investing in NTD control, he said, advances multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including health, education, gender equality and economic growth. “This is not charity. It is a smart investment in human capital,” he added, urging local partners, philanthropies and companies to join in building strong public-private partnerships to ensure sustainability.
Mr. Atindana Nsobila, Hospital Administrator of the Ga West Municipal Hospital, representing the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Eric Ntiamoah Sarpong, welcomed the visit and expressed appreciation to NMIMR and its partners for their longstanding support. He said their contributions to hospital facilities have been instrumental in strengthening the hospital’s NTD response and sustaining the absence of positive Buruli ulcer cases over the past seven years. He explained, however, that the absence of reported cases should not lead to complacency, as such diseases remain present within communities and with the needed support, the hospital will continue working to prevent, detect and manage NTDs effectively.
Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Ms. Abigail Naa Karley Clegg, Communications Officer at Newmont Ghana, said the partnership with NMIMR is rooted in the company’s corporate responsibility strategy, which prioritises funding for community-based initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes and enhancing the quality of life of vulnerable populations.
The event brought together nursing staff of the hospital, patients, hospital administrators and NMIMR staff.