GHS to roll out mass drug administration campaign in 86 districts

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) will from June 20 to July 3, 2026 undertake an Integrated Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign in 86 districts across 15 regions to combat three neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) — onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) and schistosomiasis (bilharzia).

The Volta Region is not part of this exercise because the campaign has already been conducted in the region.

The campaign is expected to reach about 6.7 million people in districts endemic in onchocerciasis, while approximately 266,000 people in two districts will receive treatment for lymphatic filariasis. Community deworming against schistosomiasis will also target about one million people in 13 districts across eight regions.

It is being supported by organisations including Sightsavers, Medicines Development for Global Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), Reaching the Last Mile Fund and other development partners.

The exercise is valued at about GH¢40 million.

Launching the campaign in Accra yesterday, the Director-General of the GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, said the diseases was preventable and treatable but continued to affect some of the country's most vulnerable populations.

“These diseases cause disability, suffering, stigma and loss of productivity. They can keep children out of school, reduce household incomes and slow community development. Eliminating them is, therefore, not only a health priority but also a social and economic necessity,” he said.

Progress made

Dr Akoriyea said the country had made significant progress in controlling the diseases over the years, as the 170 districts previously endemic for elephantiasis transmission had been interrupted in 114, leaving only a few districts requiring further intervention.

He said while river blindness had previously affected many communities, only 86 endemic districts now required mass drug administration.

Dr Akoriyea added that the country remained on course to eliminate the diseases by 2030 through sustained treatment and surveillance efforts.

Environmental, sanitation challenges

Dr Akoriyea said neglected tropical diseases thrived largely because of environmental and sanitation challenges such as poor sanitation, unsafe water sources and human activities contributed to the continued transmission of the diseases.

He, therefore, called for a collective effort to address environmental conditions that fuelled infections.

“These diseases have to be looked at through a One Health approach. Our environment and our actions influence their spread and resurgence,” he said.

Dr Akoriyea also appealed to residents in the affected districts to cooperate with health workers and volunteers when they visited their homes.

House-to-house exercise

The Programmes Manager of the GHS, Dr Joseph Kwadwo Larbi Opare, said trained health workers and community volunteers would undertake house-to-house visits during the exercise.

“We shall visit the homes through the normal community entry, seek permission and talk to them about these diseases before administering the medicines directly,” he said.

He explained that the medicines would be administered under direct observation to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

Eligibility

Dr Opare said the exercise targeted eligible persons aged five years and above living in affected communities.

However, he said children below five years, pregnant women, mothers who had delivered within one week and individuals who had previously experienced severe adverse reactions to any of the medicines would not be eligible to take part in the exercise.

He assured the public that all medicines to be used had been approved by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and were safe and effective.

“No medicine can be used on a mass scale if it is not safe. These medicines are safe and efficacious,” he said.

Dr Opare added that although some people might experience mild side effects such as rashes or weakness, the reactions were usually temporary, and that health facilities had been prepared to manage them.

Participation

The Director of Public Health of the GHS, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, urged the media and community leaders to support the campaign through public education and advocacy.

He said the diseases continued to affect vulnerable populations, particularly in rural communities, despite being preventable and treatable.