HFFG and GES collaborate to sensitise schools on NTDs

Hope for Future Generations (HFFG) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) has embarked on a school-based sensitisation project on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) to create awareness. Students were sensitised on causes, symptoms and treatment services as well as preventive measures for Buruli ulcers, Yaws, Leprosy, elephantiasis and Scabies. The GES, through its School Health Education Programme (SHEP), has played a pivotal role in supporting the GHS in the prevention and control of diseases. This collaboration has been instrumental in promoting public health, particularly in NTDs, through peer education initiatives and reduced risk and infection among pupils. Students were also educated on personal hygiene practices and how to keep their surroundings clean and distancing themselves from NTD-related stigma. Mr Raphael Blewusi, the Headmaster of Aprade Methodist School at Akyemansa District, said school children had the potential to be change agents and expressed the hope that having re ceived the knowledge they would make impact on their community's efforts. To ensure continuous and sustained awareness, he pledged to re-echo the information and education at regular school assembly and other gatherings. Blessing, a student of the Abenase Presbyterian school, Akyemansa, said, 'I thought people living with elephantiasis were cursed'. She said she did not know that it was caused by a mosquito and that anyone was at risk of getting the disease, hence the sensitisation had enlightened her to be able to share this information with other friends and family members. Source: Ghana News Agency