Stakeholders are expressing concern about the increase in cases of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) in communities around the Volta Basin following the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.
The river-borne tropical disease, also known as bilharzia, is a major contributor to infertility and maternal morbidity, despite being classified as a neglected tropical disease (NTD).
According to Mr. Ben Sackey, the Director of the Environmental and Sustainable Development Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA), the construction of the dam has led to the proliferation of schistosomiasis in over 400 communities across five regions sharing the Volta Basin.
During a symposium in Ho to mark the 2024 World NTDs Awareness Day, Mr. Sackey mentioned that the floodwaters that resulted from the spillage brought aquatic weeds containing snails that carried the schisto worms into the communities for the first time.
Efforts to control the spread of the disease include a baseline study on the infection’s prevalence, which is being undertaken by the University of Health and Allied Sciences under an MoU with the VRA. Additionally, sanitary facilities and drinking water are being provided to affected communities, and partnerships with health authorities are enabling mass drug administration in lakeside communities.
The symposium, attended by stakeholders including heads of the Volta Regional Health Directorate and various health experts, had a theme of “Addressing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and the Related Conditions in Ghana Towards Achievement of the 2023 Road Map.”
Professor Morhe, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UHAS, emphasized the prevalence of FGS in sub-Saharan Africa and its impact on women and girls. He noted that the disease affects over 50% of females and is associated with serious reproductive health complications.
Other speakers highlighted the urgent need for disease prevention efforts, including an end to open defecation and urination, which contribute to the infestation of water bodies with parasites.
The symposium also included a route march through the streets of Ho and Hohoe to raise community awareness about NTDs and the threat posed by schistosomiasis.
The data and insights presented at the symposium underscore the critical need to address the rise in female genital schistosomiasis in lakeside communities, and the urgent need for coordinated efforts to prevent and control this debilitating disease.
