INTRA-COUNTRY COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR NTDs LAUNCHED - GrowthAid

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On Wednesday, October 14, 2020, the Intra-Country Coordination Committee (ICCC) for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) was re-launched. The re-launch of the ICCC for NTDs was held at the Swiss Spirit Alisa Hotel in Accra

The purpose for the re-launched was to revamp and revitalize the ICCC to plan for and advocate for the sustainability of NTDs programming in Ghana which has been dormant since 2018. The ICCC is a country-driven multi-sectoral coordination mechanism of relevant stakeholders geared towards sustaining NTD programming in Ghana. The ICCC is a mechanism that will ensure a cross sector-country coordination and ownership of programmes as a basis for implementation and funding of NTD programming in Ghana. The committee will also be to ensure integration of NTD programs across existing relevant sectors that contribute to preventive measures associated with NTD infections to ensure sustainability of NTD programming in Ghana.

Speaking at the event, the Health Minister’s representative, Dr. Baffour Ewuah indicated that, the Minister is committed to ensure that, Ghana’s ICCC is revamped and officially mandated to work with all key partners and stakeholders to achieve a global NTD target by 2030. He further said, the relaunch was a critical component in deepening relevant sector participation in ensuring sustainability in NTD programming geared towards the control and elimination of NTDs. Dr. Baffour Ewuah inaugurated the ICCC members during the occasion.

The Director General for Ghana Health Service (GHS) said, NTDs causes disability and sever blindness. He further said, “Preventing and Controlling NTDs is central to ending extreme poverty in the next few decades”. In view of that, he is excited that the ICCC was relaunched.

The Chairperson for the occasion, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee in her closing remark said, it was a privilege for the ICCC to be relaunched. She said, “it was a privilege because, we got to the state in our NTD programs where we recognise that without working together, there will be nothing but failure”. She indicated that, if all institutions interested in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and NTD programs when worked together, will be able to eliminate not only NTDs, but their work will be made easier.

The Technical Sub-Committee Lead for the ICCC, Prof. Mike Osei-Atweneboana made a presentation on Ghana’s ICCC for NTDs Mandate and Responsibility.

The Relaunch was graced by other partners such as WaterAid, World Vision and many others.

Dr. Joe Lambongang represented GrowthAid and sits on both the ICCC and the Technical Sub-Committee for the ICCCs.

Story by: Gideon Obeng Darko, GrowthAid