The Pan African Organization for Research and Protection of Violence on Women and Children (PAORP-VWC), has organized a workshop to address issues of Skin Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Ghana.
The workshop held at Kintampo brought together diverse group of partners and dedicated volunteers who are committed to eliminating these diseases from the target communities in the country. It was funded by ANESVAD Foundation, a renowned non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and well-being of vulnerable populations around the world.
Among others, the workshop aimed to create a platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and collaborative action to effectively combat and eliminate Skin NTDs in Ghana.
Director of PAORP-VWC, Dr Peter Ndonwie, in a speech said Skin NTDs are a group of debilitating diseases which primarily affect marginalized communities in tropical regions.
According to him, Skin NTDs are diseases that present with lesions on the skin surface which may, in turn, provide not only practical clues to the diagnosis but also a greater understanding of disease through investigation, such as mapping and management.
Dr Ndonwie indicated that these diseases, included conditions such as Buruli ulcer, leprosy, yaws, and others, do not only cause physical suffering but also have significant social and economic impacts on affected individuals and communities.
He called on other organizations and individuals to lend support towards the awareness creations project on the Skin NTDs diseases to improve the well-being of affected communities.
The workshop covered a wide range of topics, including disease surveillance and monitoring, prevention strategies, early diagnosis, treatment options, and community engagement approaches.
Participants who were drawn from three selected project districts, including Kintampo South, East Mamprusi, and Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem (KEEA), exchanged ideas, shared best practices, and explored innovative solutions to overcome challenges associated with disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Medical teaching has emphasized over many years the uniqueness of disease states, valuing the rare skills on which the art of diagnosis is based and the intricacies of individual patient-centred management.
The concept of Neglected Tropical Skin Diseases (Skin NTDs) is an example of this approach.