Family health international - Ghana

Family Health International is a global health and development organization focused on bringing the lasting change to some of the world’s most vulnerable people and communities. The staff of Family Health International gathers a number of world’s leading physicians, scientists, and technical experts from various areas of health industry, development and management. This health organization has worked with 1,400 partners in 125 countries, and often collaborates with governments, companies and non-governmental organizations to bring the lasting change and protect whole nations against disease, poverty, famine and discrimination. Family Health International works on various programs in Ghana. Most of them are focused on prevention of HIV and AIDS, Malaria and neglected tropical diseases endemic to Africa.Situation in Ghana

Ghana is one of the world’s countries with most severe health conditions. According to World Health Organizations, the most common diseases in Ghana include cholera, pulmonary tuberculosis, anthrax, chicken pox, infectious hepatitis, malaria, tetanus, pertussis, trachoma, measles and schistosomiasis. In most cases, these diseases are preventable and waterborne, but only 50% of all citizens of Ghana have access to safe water. Another problem is sanitation as only 30.3 percent of people of Ghana have regular sanitation services. In addition, people of Ghana suffer from malnutrition, and they are at very high risk of diseases acquired through insect bites. However, Ghana's health conditions are improving, and Family Health International plays an important role in these important changes.

Family Health International programs in Ghana

Family Health International is funding a project designed to collect data on prevalence risk factors for cardiovascular disease in sub-Saharan countries, including Ghana. The project is focused on creating activities, community-led prevention interventions for the future.Mobilize Against Malaria initiative is another important project conducted in Ghana. It is designed to increase symptom recognition by patients and encourage them to seek treatment. Family Health International also develops a network of licensed chemical sellers to reduce malaria morbidity and mortality through the effective delivery of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy. This way, even the rural areas will receive treatment and referrals for malaria.

Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases program is also important in Ghana. It is focused on reduction of seven neglected tropical diseases: elephantiasis, river blindness, snail fever, worm infections and blinding eye infection (trachoma).

As any other sub-Saharan country, Ghana is included in HIV/AIDS project designed to reduce the incidence of new HIV infections in vulnerable groups and general population. The project serves 30 districts, across nine of Ghana's ten regions.