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TAKeOFF KCCR/KNUST Opens Elephantiasis Management Clinics in Upper East Region
The Filariasis team at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, has opened two Elephantiasis Management clinics in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The clinics are located at the WAR Memorial Hospital in Navrongo and the Kasena Nankana Health Centre in Kandiga. This initiative, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), is part of the “Tackling the Obstacles to Fight Filarial Infections and Podoconiosis” (TAKeOFF) project.
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KCCR/KNUST Opens Elephantiasis Management Clinics in Upper East Region
KCCR/KNUST Trains Over 190 Health Personnel on Elephantiasis Management

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KNUST's Filariasis Team Conducts Hydrocele Surgeries for 60 Patients in Western Region
The Filariasis Team at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research into Tropical Medicine (KCCR) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, in collaboration with Nana Hima Dekyi Government Hospital in the Ahanta West District, has conducted hydrocele surgeries for about sixty (60) patients from Nzema East, Ahanta West, and Ellembelle Districts in the Western Region of Ghana. This noble initiative sponsored by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) forms part of the “Tackling the Obstacles to Fight Filarial infections and podoconiosis” (TAKeOFF). Hydrocele, a condition characterised by the abnormal enlargement of the scrotum resulting from the accumulation of fluid in the tunica vaginalis, affects about 40% of males infected with lymphatic filariasis.

The TAKeOFF Consortium together with other LeDoxy trial centres have published their joint study on Lymphedema management using hygiene measures and doxycycline administration. The multi-centre, multi-country clinical trial, was conducted in 5 country, Ghana, Tanzania, Mali, Sri Lanka and India. The trials were a collaborative effort between COR-NTD (TaskForce for Global Health, Atlanta, USA) and IMMIP (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, The German Center for Infection Research, Bonn-Cologne site, Germany). Trials in Ghana and Tanzania were funded by The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Neglected Tropical Diseases Program through their support of the Coalition for Operational Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD) grant (AID-OAA-G-14-00008), funded those conducted in Mali, Sri Lanka and India. Continue reading

The 2nd Podoconiosis Conference: From Neglect to Elimination with Country Ownership
The 2nd Podoconiosis Conference was held under the auspices of the International Conference on Neglected Tropical Diseases (InCORNTD) in Kigali, Rwanda. Under the theme "From Neglect to Elimination with Country Ownership," over 100 delegates from 14 countries convened. Participants included individuals affected by podoconiosis, researchers, implementers, people with lived experience and policymakers, all united in the shared goal of eliminating this neglected tropical disease (NTD). The conference aligned with the WHO NTD Roadmap, emphasizing the critical role of country ownership in driving progress towards elimination.
The 2nd Podoconiosis Conference was a resounding success, achieving high levels of attendee satisfaction. Participants expressed positive feedback regarding the informative research and implementation sessions, noting the clear objectives, appropriate duration, and balanced content. The panel discussion, focused on advocating for WHO recognition of podoconiosis and developing community-based strategies, was particularly well-received. Networking opportunities were also highly valued by attendees. Continue reading...
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