The Ministry of Health has launched Ghana’s 2026 Integrated Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign, reaffirming the government’s commitment to eliminating three major Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Onchocerciasis (River Blindness), Lymphatic Filariasis (Elephantiasis), and Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia)—as public health problems by 2030.
The nationwide campaign, scheduled from June 20 to July 3, 2026, will provide free preventive medicines to millions of people in affected communities, with Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea describing it as a significant step in Ghana’s fight against neglected tropical diseases.
“These diseases are entirely preventable and treatable, yet they continue to cause severe disability, social stigma, and economic hardship for affected families.
“Eliminating them is not only a health priority but also a social and economic necessity because they keep children out of school, reduce household incomes, and limit the productivity of entire communities.”
Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director General of the Ghana Health Service
He said the integrated approach allows the health sector to reach multiple communities simultaneously, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive life-saving medicines while reducing the cost of disease control.
According to Dr. Akoriyea, the campaign will target approximately 6.7 million people for the prevention of Onchocerciasis across 86 districts in 15 regions.
He noted that Ghana has made substantial progress in interrupting the transmission of Lymphatic Filariasis over the past two decades, with transmission already halted in 114 of the country’s 117 endemic districts.
For the 2026 exercise, he explained that efforts will focus on the remaining two endemic districts, where health workers aim to administer medicines to nearly 266,000 people to completely interrupt transmission.
“We are very close to eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis as a public health problem. Our focus now is to complete the final phase in the remaining endemic districts while sustaining surveillance in areas where transmission has already been interrupted
Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director General of the Ghana Health Service
Community Deworming to Benefit Over One Million People
More than one million people are expected to benefit from community deworming interventions against Schistosomiasis in 13 districts across eight regions, while measures to improve access to safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and environmental management will complement the campaign.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe described the intervention as a major milestone towards achieving Ghana’s elimination targets by 2030 and protecting vulnerable communities from diseases that threaten public health and socio-economic development.
“This year’s intervention is a key milestone towards achieving our national goal of eliminating these diseases as public health problems by 2030. We have safe and effective medicines, and with the support of communities, we can reach everyone who needs treatment.”
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director, Public Health Division of the Ghana Health Service
WHO Highlights Importance of Mass Drug Administration
The World Health Organization (WHO) described mass drug administration as one of the most effective public health strategies for preventing lifelong disabilities associated with neglected tropical diseases.
They noted that community-wide treatment, together with school-based deworming programmes implemented in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, has significantly reduced infections among school-age children while protecting communities from long-term complications.
WHO encouraged eligible individuals to take the medicines when health workers visit their communities, stressing that high treatment coverage remains critical to breaking disease transmission.
Sightsavers Commends Ghana’s Progress Against Trachoma and River Blindness
Sightsavers, one of Ghana’s longstanding partners in eye health and neglected tropical disease control, commended the Ghana Health Service for the progress achieved over the years.
The organisation observed that trachoma, once a major cause of preventable blindness in Ghana, has now been eliminated as a public health problem, while cases of river blindness have declined dramatically through sustained community treatment programmes.
It expressed confidence that Ghana is well-positioned to achieve the elimination targets if current interventions are sustained. The Ministry of Health has therefore appealed to traditional authorities, religious leaders, teachers, community volunteers, and local organisations to support health workers by encouraging eligible residents to take the medicines.
Neglected tropical diseases continue to affect millions of people in developing countries, particularly those living in communities with limited access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare. Left untreated, the diseases can lead to blindness, severe disability, chronic pain and lifelong social and economic challenges.
Through sustained mass drug administration, strengthened disease surveillance and improved environmental sanitation, Ghana has recorded significant progress over the past two decades and remains on course to eliminate several neglected tropical diseases as public health threats by 2030.
READ ALSO: Trump Slams US-Iran MoU Critics
