GHS launches second round of MDA against Onchocerciasis

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched the second round of its 2026 Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign against Onchocerciasis (river blindness), urging residents in affected communities to participate in the exercise to help eliminate the disease by 2030.

The campaign, scheduled for November 15 to 29, will cover 86 endemic districts across 15 regions, with trained health workers and community drug distributors providing free medication to eligible persons.

The Director-General of the GHS, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, said river blindness, also known as Onchocerciasis, was caused by a parasite transmitted through the bites of infected blackflies and could damage the skin and eyes, potentially leading to blindness.

He said the disease could also deprive people of their ability to work, attend school and support their families, making its elimination important to the health and economic well-being of affected communities.

Dr Akoriyea said Ghana had made significant progress since the GHS and its partners began interventions in 1997, reducing the number of districts requiring treatment from 152 to 86.

He said the first round of the 2026 campaign, conducted from June 20 to July 10, reached more than 4.8 million people and recorded a national treatment coverage of 86.1 per cent.

However, he identified gaps in household registration as a challenge, noting that inadequate registration could result in some eligible persons being missed.

He said the Service would strengthen household registration under the Free Primary Healthcare initiative, improve supervision and provide additional support to districts requiring attention.

Dr Akoriyea urged residents to welcome campaign teams, seek clarification where necessary and take the medication if eligible, particularly those in remote communities.

He expressed appreciation to health workers, community drug distributors, development partners, traditional and religious leaders and the media for their continued support.

Dr Manal Taryam, Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Trustees of the Noor Dubai Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s efforts to eliminate river blindness by 2030.

She said the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives was providing a US$7.7 million grant to fund a three-year programme aimed at eliminating the disease.

The programme included twice-yearly mass treatment in affected communities, disease surveillance and training for health workers and community drug distributors.

Dr Taryam said the first round of the 2026 campaign treated about 4.7 million people across 86 targeted districts, representing 85.5 per cent of the target, while 20,000 people were trained.

She said the programme would target more than five million people annually and was projected to generate over US$410 million in economic benefits over 30 years.

She commended the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, community drug distributors and other partners for their contributions.

She said the foundation would continue supporting Ghana until river blindness was eliminated.

On his part, the Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, called on the media to support the 2026 Mass Drug Administration campaign against river blindness by providing accurate information to the public.

He said the media's partnership was essential to increasing public awareness of onchocerciasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects vulnerable communities, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.

Dr Asiedu-Bekoe said although the disease was preventable and treatable, it could cause disability, suffering, stigma and financial difficulties for affected individuals and their families.

“Collective efforts and continued stakeholder support were necessary to eliminate river blindness in Ghana,” he said.

He assured that the GHS remained committed to eliminating the disease and improving the health and quality of life of Ghanaians.

The campaign provided safe and effective medication to eligible persons in affected communities and formed part of Ghana's efforts to eliminate river blindness as a public health problem by 2030.