Ghana, together with Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, has kicked off a three-day cross-border meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration in the fight against Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis.
Organised by the Ghana Health Service with support from Sightsavers International, the meeting runs from 25th to 27th November 2025 in Accra and brings together health experts and NTD programme officials from across the sub-region.
The gathering provides a platform for countries to exchange best practices, harmonise strategies, and coordinate interventions within border communities, recognising that these diseases do not respect political boundaries and require real-time collaboration.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Health and acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health, urged participants to embrace collective responsibility and unity of purpose.
He emphasised that eliminating these diseases demands sustained, coordinated action across national borders.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe also highlighted the need for good neighbourliness and regional solidarity, noting that success in this initiative will not only help eliminate Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis but also strengthen wider efforts against other neglected tropical diseases.
By working together, Ghana and its neighbouring countries are taking bold steps toward a healthier future, ensuring that every at-risk community along their shared borders receives timely, equitable, and effective care.
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