Accra, May 28, GNA - Experts from Europe, Asia and Africa are meeting in Accra, Ghana, to discuss new approaches and develop guidelines to improve wound care, lymphodema management and disability. Over 40 experts are attending the first International Cross-Disease Consensus Conference on Disability under the theme "Legs to stand on" to find and develop guidelines and basic tools that would enhance service provision and ensure the best of care for affected patients. Some of the cross-diseases which include sickle cell, diabetes, buruli ulcer, elephantiasis and leprosy if not treated and managed properly, could result in ulcers and bring discomfort and disability to patients. Speakers at the conference agreed that self-care was very important as it empowered people to take care of themselves and develop responsibility of their own well-being, as well as using local raw materials in making foot wears that were cost effective, comfortable and convenient to persons with wounds and ulcers.

Dr Kyei Faried, Head of Disease Control and Prevention, Ghana Health Service (GHS), observed that the world was challenged by the rising burden of morbidity, premature death, disability and increasing cost of health and noted that in developing countries such as Ghana, many still suffered from disabling diseases eliminated elsewhere in the world, while grappling with increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. He said reported cases and deaths from cardiovascular, diabetes and cancer had seen dramatic increases in the last decade, while deaths from non-communicable diseases account for 40 per cent of institutional deaths in Ghana, yet documentation of disability associated with diabetes and stroke was inadequate.

Dr Faried noted that control of buruli ulcer, which caused pain, suffering and disability, particularly to children, had made significant progress with the introduction of antibiotic treatment. However, the disease still posed a serious challenge to its sufferer, he said, adding that the control programme registered many stage III cases every year. Most districts in Ghana have achieved the WHO leprosy elimination target of one per 10,000 populations, yet in 2009, 636 cases were registered at a prevalence rate of 0.29/10,000 in the northern part of the country, increasing the possibility of disability from late reporting. Diabetic foot, filariais, buruli ulcer and leprosy compromised by chronic wound and edema if not well managed, could cause serious disability and in some cases might lead to amputation, thus deepening the pain and agony of the sufferer, he said.

He added that weak or non-existent surveillance for some neglected tropical diseases and non-communicable, poor follow on cases, poor documentation and minimal use of services data for decision making were other factors.

Dr Mary Jo Geye, a physical therapist of the University of Pittsburgh, USA, and Project Director, said when the guidelines were put together, Ghana would become a pilot country for the treatment of cross-diseases and later replicated in other countries. She said though the project would cost millions of dollars, funding would be vigorously sought to make it a success, adding that there was the need for government and NGOs to share recourses and protocols. "It is unfortunate how monies are put into HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria while cross-diseases that are detrimental to health system are neglected and require a proactive approach to life long diseases," Dr Geye added.

In an Interview with the Ghana News Agency, Dr Sammuel Etuaful, Consultant, University of Pittsburgh, said over the years health conferences addressed specific diseases and what made this unique was its focus on a number of diseases, especially those whose outcomes resulted in ulcers. He noted that conditions that led to these ulcers, when managed well, would prevent disabilities. Therefore, the conference sought to integrate treatment for such diseases and put ideas together and come out with guidelines.

"Those with diabetes were 25 times at risk of amputation than those who do not have it and need early diagnosis and treatment," he added. Dr Edwin Ampadu, Programme Manager of Buruli Ulcer at the Ghana Health Service, said it was imperative to develop approaches to address such problems and noted that the team of experts who visited some parts of the country had identified certain materials on the Ghanaian market that could be used to make life meaningful for persons with wounds, ulcers and disabilities.

Mr Sam Okudzeto, Trustee of Rotary Foundation, said rotary was involved in financing expenses for some of the participants through the Foundation's Group Study Exchange Programme (GSE).

He said Rotary had 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, conducting projects to address current challenges including illiteracy, disease, hunger, poverty, the lack of potable water and environmental concerns, while encouraging high ethical standards in all vocation.

Mr Okudzeto said the conference was in line with the vocational training programme of rotary under the Future Vision Plan and expressed the hope that the visit by the GSE team would act as a model for future vocational training teams.