Ghana took a significant step towards addressing a long-standing health challenge by convening a critical stakeholder meeting to prepare for the introduction of paediatric praziquantel a new treatment option for schistosomiasis among preschool-aged children.
Organized by the Ghana Health Service Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Programme in collaboration with the University of Health and Allied Sciences and supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-led Access and Delivery Partnership (ADP) and the Special Programme of Training and Research in Tropical Disease (TDR), the meeting brought together key stakeholders from across the country. It aimed to gather insights to guide the effective rollout of this new child-friendly treatment.
Schistosomiasis, an acute and chronic NTD, has posed a significant public health challenge in Ghana for over 50 years. A 2015 assessment revealed 3 high-prevalence districts, 54 moderate prevalence districts and 159 low prevalence districts nationwide. In addition to implementing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) strategies, control efforts have mainly focused on mass drug administration targeting school-aged children between 5 and 14 years old. However, until recently, there were no treatment options available for preschool-aged children, resulting in a significant gap in control efforts.
“We are indeed grateful to ADP for spearheading the support for the introduction of paediatric praziquantel. He added that, “the introduction of paediatric praziquantel will significantly enhance efforts to accelerate schistosomiasis control in Ghana” noted Dr Joseph Opare, Programme Manager for the NTD program, Ghana Health Service.
In May 2024, the WHO added paediatric praziquantel to its list of prequalified medicines, marking a critical milestone for global schistosomiasis control. This development further paved the way for endemic countries such as Ghana to begin planning for the access and delivery of the new paediatric treatment for schistosomiasis in preschool-aged children.
The stakeholder engagement provided an important platform to align these efforts. Group discussions and plenary sessions addressed critical topics, including strategies for community engagements, effective treatment delivery models and overcoming potential barriers that could affect uptake in the selected districts. Participants also explored specific community needs to ensure the introduction of the treatment is both effective and sustainable. The next step is developing the research protocol to evaluate the pilot introduction in the proposed districts.
“ADP’s support in building capacity of key national stakeholders for access and delivery of new health technologies over the years has put us in good stead to support the country’s efforts in preparing for the introduction of paediatric praziquantel” said Prof Gyapong, Professor of Applied Health Social Science, Centre for Health Policy and Implementation Research, University of Health and Allied Sciences.
The WHO neglected tropical diseases road map 2021–2030 identifies ambitious global goals for schistosomiasis control and underscores the significance of including preschool-aged children as a key target group. The introduction of the new treatment option in Ghana aligns with these global goals while advancing the country’s national efforts to eliminate schistosomiasis as a public health problem.
The meeting included representatives from districts proposed for the implementation research based on schistosomiasis prevalence – Kwahu East, Fanteakwa North, and Ketu North. Participants included district health directors, NTD focal points, community health workers, regional pharmacists, school health education programme officers, community volunteers and community drug distributors. Together, they worked to identify research priorities relevant to both the health system and the community while gaining a deeper understanding of the dynamics and potential barriers for the introduction of this new child-friendly treatment. A key focus of the meeting was amplifying community voices, ensuring their concerns and perspectives were heard, and fostering a sense of ownership in the process.
As Ghana continues its journey towards the pilot introduction of this new child-friendly treatment option, the collaboration between government agencies, health care providers and communities will remain crucial. The insights gained from the national stakeholder meeting will guide implementation strategies, ensuring that no child is left behind.
