The Ghana Health Service, GHS through the Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, NTDP, has organised a day sensitisation meeting to advocate the inclusion of Elephantiasis (3-LIFAN-TIE-SIS) patients in the free health insurance beneficiaries.
The meeting, held in Koforidua, came about after the NTDP piloted a successful advocacy intervention in the Upper East Region which provided information and education on lymphedema (LYM-FI-DEE-MA) patients entitlements and benefits package under the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS.
The Ghana Health Service and the American Leprosy Missions, therefore aim to replicate the successful implementation of the advocacy exercise in the remaining endemic regions of which Eastern Region is part.
The advocacy meeting brought together representatives from the National Health Insurance Authority, Social Welfare and Community Development, Media, Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, and the Disability Group.
Programme Manager of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, Dr. Joseph Kwadwo Opare, said the Lymphatic Filariases (LYM-FA-TIC FILA-RIGH-ISIS) is a debilitating neglected tropical disease, which leads to gross disfigurement and eventual disability.
This, he said, the major challenge of people affected by the disease is lack of access to appropriate health services due to financial barriers.
The lymphatic filariases (LYM-FA-TIC FILA-RIGH-ISIS) affects the leg, hand, breast and the hydrocele. He said the primary goal of the Lymphatic Filariases elimination programme is to reduce the prevalence of NTDs in Ghana to the level that is no longer of public health significance by 2030.
Programme Manager of the American Leprosy Missions, Solomon Atinbire, said the meeting had clear goals which are inclusion of lymphedema patients to benefit from free health insurance scheme, the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty programme and the three percent disability fund.
SOURCE: GNA
