KCCR/KNUST Opens Elephantiasis Management Clinics in Upper East Region
The Filariasis team at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has opened two Elephantiasis Management clinics in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The clinics are located at the WAR Memorial Hospital in Navrongo and the Kasena Nankana Health Centre in Kandiga.
This initiative, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is part of the “Tackling the Obstacles to Fight Filarial Infections and Podoconiosis” (TAKeOFF) project.
The newly established clinics are equipped with medications, hygiene supplies, and trained healthcare personnel to provide comprehensive care. Services will include elephantiasis management, health education, counseling, and research surveillance.
Professor Alex Yaw Debrah, the Principal Investigator and Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, highlighted that the clinics will provide quality healthcare to those affected by elephantiasis. He noted that the concept began in 2017 after observations showed that proper foot hygiene significantly improves patient outcomes, accelerates wound healing, and reduces acute attacks.
"The clinics are not just healthcare facilities; they symbolize KCCR-KNUST and partners' commitment to the well-being and dignity of our citizens. They represent our determination to tackle the social and economic causes of health that perpetuate poverty and disease," Professor Debrah stated.
Dr Linda Debrah, the Co-Principal investigator of the TAKEOFF project, introduced the participants to the clinic which was well equipped with hygiene materials as well as medications for elephantiasis management. She entreated the hospital staff to take good care of the facility.
Professor Debrah thanked the BMBF and Bonn University for funding the clinics. He also appealed to the Ghanaian government to enroll patients in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and include them in the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program.
Dr. Abraham Titiga, Medical Superintendent of the WAR Memorial Hospital, emphasized that the facility will improve care for elephantiasis patients by providing structured treatment and monitoring. He highlighted that the equipment will enable healthcare providers to manage complications effectively. He also thanked KCCR and the filariasis team for their support.
Dr. Joseph Opare, National Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD) Control Program Manager, praised the KCCR-KNUST Filariasis team and funders for their commitment to alleviating the suffering of elephantiasis patients.
The Kassena Nankana West District Health Director, Mr Alhassan Lawal commended KCCR and the Filariasis team for their dedication to combating elephantiasis and ensuring quality healthcare for affected individuals.
He assured that the newly established facility would be put to good use and urged patients to visit the clinic regularly for treatment and support.
Yaa Azokor, a patient with a 20-year history of the condition, shared her positive experience. "The medications and training on foot care have helped me tremendously. I haven't had an attack in a long time," she said.
