Health Officer at the Imbraim CHPs Compound
Improving Health and Quality of Life Through ANESVAD-funded WASH-NTDs Initiative
In Upper Denkyira East, access to clean water is changing lives. The ANESVAD Foundation-funded WASH-NTDs initiative is not only improving health outcomes but also empowering communities to build a better future.
Published on: 16/04/2025
Access to clean water is changing lives in the Upper Denkyira East municipality. Through the provision of new Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) facilities in five communities and three healthcare centres, health outcomes are improving, and citizens are being empowered to build a better future.
In these communities, the availability of safe water is positively impacting public health by reducing multiple diseases and contributing to overall well-being. Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), a diverse group of communicable diseases, affect over a billion people and impose significant economic costs on developing nations. In Ghana, where more than 12 NTDs are endemic, the Central Region is significantly affected, with many Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) implicated, including the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly (National NTD programme).
This intervention, 'WASH Services in Skin-NTDs Endemic Areas—Improving Health and Quality of Life', launched by Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly (UDEMA), the Municipal Health Department (MHD), IRC, and allied partners in 2023, has implemented aspects of the ANESVAD Foundation-funded WASH-NTDs masterplan for Upper Denkyira East, aimed at reducing the incidence of skin-NTDs prevalent in the target communities.
The flow of clean water brings hope and healing to the target communities in the municipality. A health officer at the Imbraim health facility reports,
"The health sensitisation and screening undertaken prior to the flow of water in the Yirepe community revealed more suspected cases of skin-NTDs, which were treated. However, since the people started using the new water facility, the situation has greatly improved. Now we hardly record even one case."
The joy and relief felt by health professionals and residents alike are evident. Asma Camp CHPS Compound benefitted from a new water facility – a limited mechanised borehole with a standpipe; whilst Tegyamorso CHPS and Imbraim CHPS each benefitted from water and sanitation facilities – limited mechanised boreholes with standpipes and toilet facilities. These WASH facilities are expected to contribute to the prevention, safe and dignified treatment, and care of skin-NTDs and associated illnesses.
The five communities, with over four thousand six hundred direct beneficiaries and one thousand nine hundred indirect beneficiaries - through the healthcare facilities, are also marking the flow of water. These communities – Asma Camp, Gyampokrom, and Twifo Kyebi – have each received limited mechanised boreholes; whilst Antwikrom and Yirepe have received boreholes fitted with hand pumps, which are all operational.
The provision of safe water in these communities affected by NTDs significantly reduces disease transmission, enhances overall health, and boosts economic productivity by lowering medical costs and absenteeism. It also fosters social inclusion by reducing stigma and supports other sustainable development goals like poverty reduction, education, and gender equality. These combined benefits underscore the critical role of WASH in improving the quality of life in these NTD-endemic communities.
As health professionals and community members celebrate the flow of safe water, the positive impact on health and well-being is becoming evident. This project highlights the importance of continued investment in the implementation of the WASH-NTDs Masterplan, ensuring that all communities, especially those that are hard-to-reach and NTD endemic, have access to safe water and sanitation.
This ANESVAD Foundation-funded intervention, 'WASH services in skin-NTDs endemic areas', implemented only certain aspects of the WASH-NTDS masterplan for Upper Denkyira East. However, many more components of the plan require funding and collective efforts to cover all endemic communities in the district. This is essential for bringing relief and healing to all skin-NTDs endemic communities in the municipality.
By prioritising inclusive and equitable access to WASH in NTD endemic areas, we can achieve great health outcomes and well-being for all in the district. Together, we are moving towards the SDG ambition of leaving no one behind, ensuring that every community, especially those affected by NTDs, thrives.
