Ghana Health Service starts second MDA round to treat river blindness

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has officially launched the second round of its 2026 Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign to combat Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness. The exercise, which is scheduled to run from November 15 to 29, targets 86 endemic districts across 15 regions of the country. This phase follows a successful first round earlier this year that saw over 4.8 million people receive treatment, moving Ghana closer to its goal of eliminating the disease as a public health threat by 2030.

The campaign is supported by a $7.7 million grant from the Noor Dubai Foundation, which helps fund treatment distribution and the training of health personnel. Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, speaking at the launch, emphasized that community participation is essential for the initiative's success. Trained health workers will be deployed to endemic communities to administer medication to all eligible residents, focusing on areas where the blackfly vector is most prevalent.

Health officials are calling for close collaboration between community leaders, the media, and health workers to ensure high coverage and awareness. Consistent participation in these drug administration rounds is considered vital to breaking the transmission cycle of the parasitic worms that cause the disease. By maintaining momentum through these targeted interventions, the GHS aims to sustain the significant progress made in reducing the burden of Onchocerciasis nationwide.