Ghana has eliminated Human African Trypanosomiasis, commonly known as Sleeping Sickness, as a disease of public health concern.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a tweet, congratulated the government, health workers and communities for working towards the elimination of the disease.
“This is a historic achievement, proving once again that with dedication and team work we can,” he said in the tweet.
In West Africa, Togo in 2020 received validation from the WHO for having eliminated Human African Trypanosomiasis or “sleeping sickness” as a public health problem, becoming the first country in Africa to reach this milestone.
Sleeping Sickness is a vector-borne parasitic disease.
It is caused by infection with protozoan parasites belonging to the genus Trypanosoma.
They are transmitted to humans by tsetse fly ( Glossina genus) bites, which have acquired their infection from human beings or from animals harbouring human pathogenic parasites.
The disease is found in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, untreated sleeping sickness is almost always fatal.
The people most exposed to the tsetse fly and to the disease live in rural areas and depend on agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry or hunting with limited access to adequate health services.
The disease is transmitted through mother-to-child infection, where trypanosome can cross the placenta and infect the fetus.
It is also transferred through mechanical transmission through other blood-sucking insects.
Accidental infections have occurred in laboratories due to pricks with contaminated needles.
Transmission of the parasite through sexual contact has also been reported.
Latest Stories
-
Supervisor jailed 3 years for sewing machines theft
17 minutes -
Estate developer remanded for alleged possession of assorted drugs
27 minutes -
China warns nations against ‘appeasing’ US in trade deals
43 minutes -
DHL suspends high value US deliveries over tariffs
55 minutes -
Approach criminal cases with integrity and fairness – C/R Supervising High Court Judge
1 hour -
Girl, 14, killed by lion in Kenya
1 hour -
U.S. support for Moroccan Sahara ‘clear and unequivocal’ – Massad Boulos
2 hours -
T-bills auction: Government records 2.45% undersubscription, interest rates remain relatively stable
7 hours -
Jordan Ayew, Abdul Fatawu suffer relegation from the Premier League with Leicester City
7 hours -
Leicester City officially relegated from the Premier League following defeat to Liverpool
9 hours -
GPL 24/25 Basake Holy Stars edge out Legon Cities in relegation battle
9 hours -
2025 Apetorku festival: Dagbamate community renews call for government support on key infrastructure projects
9 hours -
Young people in South Dayi to receive free computer training
9 hours -
Dagbamate: Ghana’s hidden traditionalist village where cleanliness, peace, and ancestral faith reign supreme
10 hours -
Torgbui Klu Agudzeamegah appeals for motorable road in Dagbamate
10 hours