Ho, Ghana — January 30, 2025 – The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), through its Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research (CNTDR), in collaboration with the Volta Regional Health Directorate, marked World Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) Day 2025 with a series of impactful community activities under the global theme “ACT NOW TO ELIMINATE NTDs.”

The day’s events, held in Ho, featured a health walk, radio sensitization campaigns and a public awareness float supported by the 66 Artillery Regiment. These efforts aimed to raise public consciousness about the devastating effects of NTDs and encourage collective action towards their elimination.

Addressing participants at the float, Dr. Alfred Kwesi Manyeh, Director of CNTDR (UHAS), highlighted the continued burden NTDs pose to public health, especially in low-income communities. He emphasized the urgent need for cross-sector collaboration to tackle diseases that, although preventable and treatable, remain overlooked.

“Our fight against NTDs cannot be won in isolation. It requires united efforts from health professionals, policymakers, academia and the communities affected,” Dr. Manyeh stated.

In addition to the regional activities, UHAS also took part in the national durbar held in Sogakope, which brought together representatives from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), traditional leaders, NGOs and advocacy groups. The event served as a national platform to reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to the global target of eliminating NTDs.

Also actively involved in the regional campaign was the NTD Advocacy Club of the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health (FNBSPH), a student- and faculty-led initiative focused on raising awareness and advocating for increased investment and attention toward neglected diseases.

World NTDs Day, observed annually on January 30, serves as a global platform to spotlight neglected tropical diseases — a diverse group of communicable conditions that affect over a billion people worldwide, primarily in developing countries. The 2025 theme, “Act Now to Eliminate NTDs,” reflects the urgency to scale up interventions and end the neglect of some of the world’s most vulnerable populations.

In alignment with UHAS’s core values of excellence, integrity, innovation, and service and care, the university continues to lead with purpose—translating research into action, training the next generation of public health professionals and standing at the forefront of community health advocacy. The institution’s commitment to eliminating NTDs is not only a reflection of academic excellence but also a testament to its mission to serve with compassion and drive sustainable health impact across Ghana and beyond.