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| | Prof. Gyapong Delivers Inaugural Lecture |    | | |  Professor John Owusu Gyapong, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Development of the University of Ghana has expressed optimism about the total eradication of some disease such as lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Delivering his Inaugural Lecture on the topic, “Disease Elimination in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st Century: Fact or Fantasy?”, Prof. Gyapong, a Public Health Specialist, cited the success stories of The Solomon Islands, China, South Korea, Egypt, Zanzibar, Togo and a couple of districts in southern Ghana as ample evidence of the feasibility of achieving the elimination of elephantiasis. He pointed out that there was a moral obligation to prevent future generations from continuing to be plagued with diseases such as elephantiasis and called for mobilization of societal and political support for such initiatives. He further called on former Presidents on the continent and other developing countries, to champion such crusades as was being done by their counterparts from the developed countries.
The lecture, which was chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, was attended by Members of the University Council, former Vice-Chancellors, Senior Management of the University, Convocation and a cross-section of the university community. Present also were Prof. Gyapong’s mentors, family friends, admirers from Ghana and abroad.
Using the aspect of his work on Lymphatic Filariasis which is commonly known as Elephantiasis as a Case Study, Prof. Gyapong noted that Africa carried 38% of the global burden of Elephantiasis, with about 480 million people at risk of being infected. He identified what he described as the “constellation of key factors” that could make the eradication of diseases in Africa possible as the biological and technical feasibility, a reliable public health infrastructure, adequate funding and a sustained political and societal will.
Prof. Gyapong appealed to his fellow doctors to work with social scientists such as economists and sociologists to make the delivery of disease control interventions more accessible to the general population. He also called for training of more auxiliary staff to facilitate the drug delivery interventions. He suggested that the public health division of the Ghana Health Service should play a coordinating role for the numerous NGOs working on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and also proposed that the National Health Insurance Authority should be proactive, by funding public health interventions rather than wait for people to fall sick before catering for their treatment.
Prof. Gyapong commended global pharmaceutical firms such as GlaxoSmithKline and Merck for their drug donation interventions. He also acknowledged his past lecturers, mentors and sponsors, and family for their role in his career.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor commended the work of Prof. Gyapong, which he described as “good research” which was relevant to the people of Africa in spite of being done in challenging circumstances. Prof. Aryeetey noted that Prof. Gyapong’s work showed that the science of disease eradication is feasible and that the hurdles of delivery system are not insurmountable if all stakeholders put their shoulders to the wheel. He called on university faculty and researchers to engage in relevant research, and commended the School of Public Health for doing good work leading to “great publications”.
Prof. Gyapong poses with his wife and three daughters after they had presented a bouquet to him
Presentations were made to Prof. Gyapong at the end of the lecture by the School of Public Health, the Regional Institute of Population Studies, and the Research, Development Division of the Ghana Health Service (GHS). Prof. Gyapong also received special presentations from his family, his wife, Dr. Margaret Gyapong, and daughters.
The Choir of St. Thomas Aquinas School where Prof. Gyapong attended secondary school were in attendance and sang wonderfully. Also present were old students from St. Thomas Aquinas School.
Prof. Gyapong with Old Students of St. Thomas Aquinas School
Please click here to view Photo Gallery | | | | Date Published: 08/03/2012 | | | |   |
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