25.09.2023
KNUST's Professor Addresses the UN General Assembly Science Summit on Combatting Filarial Infections and Podoconiosis Diseases in the World
Professor Alexander Yaw Debrah, a Professor of Parasitology and Global Health at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, delivered a presentation titled 'Tackling the Obstacles to Fight Filarial Infections and Podoconiosis' at the 9th UN General Assembly Science Summit held in New York City.
The Summit, which convened on September 12, 2023, was dedicated to addressing critical scientific challenges that impact our planet today. The central theme for this year's Summit was "The Role of Science in Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."
During his presentation, Professor Debrah highlighted the World Health Organisation's (WHO) development of a new roadmap for 2021-2030, led by the late Dr. Mwele Malecela (Director of the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases of WHO), who was also a former Principal investigator of TAKeOFF ('Tackling the Obstacles to Fight Filarial Infections and Podoconiosis) Consortium. Notably, this roadmap included podoconiosis (elephantiasis of non-filarial origin) in the LF Morbidity Management and Disease Prevention (MMDP) programs, which focus on addressing significant skin diseases.
TAKeOFF-1's primary objective, he said, was to enhance morbidity management for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) and podoconiosis. Professor Debrah mentioned some of the ground-breaking achievements, including the Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) conducted in multiple countries to document the benefits of hygiene practices for lymphedema management.
