UHAS makes history with publication of landmark study in Nature Human Behaviour – Nsemkeka
The University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) has reached a major milestone in global health research with the publication of a landmark study in the prestigious journal Nature Human Behaviour.
The paper, titled “Current State and Future Directions of Interventions for Neglected Tropical Diseases”, is led by Professor John Owusu Gyapong, Immediate Past Vice-Chancellor of UHAS and a globally recognised expert in clinical epidemiology.
This marks the first time a UHAS-affiliated research team has been featured in the journal, an achievement that firmly positions the university on the international scientific stage.
Published on June 4, 2025, the paper presents a bold and timely reassessment of global strategies to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which continue to affect more than one billion people worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings.
The publication is not only a personal accolade for Prof. Gyapong and his distinguished team but a historic first for Ghanaian academia. It affirms UHAS’s growing leadership in research that shapes global health policy and practice, especially in the realm of diseases that disproportionately affect Africa.
“This paper is both a critical review and a forward-looking blueprint,” said Prof. Gyapong. “We are proud that UHAS is leading a global conversation on rethinking strategies to eliminate NTDs by 2030—strategies that centre the realities of the communities most affected.”
The review critically evaluates current NTD interventions, including preventive chemotherapy, vector control, disease management, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes, and identifies major gaps hindering progress toward the 2030 elimination goals.
The authors argue that technical solutions alone are insufficient. They call for a holistic approach that integrates health systems strengthening, innovative financing, and behavioural and community engagement strategies.
Key Findings Include:
Behavioural and Community Participation: Human behaviour plays a pivotal role in treatment adherence, health-seeking practices, and local programme uptake. Sustainable impact hinges on genuine community involvement and ownership.
Regional Gaps and the Need for Tailored Solutions: The paper identifies persistent disparities in NTD response efforts in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, driven by logistical challenges, donor dependency, limited research capacity, and growing drug resistance.
Future Pathways for Elimination: The study calls for integrated health systems, AI-driven diagnostics, locally led innovations, and enhanced domestic financing to sustain momentum toward global NTD elimination.
“Future directions for the global programme must prioritise funding and resource allocation, strengthened health systems, innovative research and development including AI-driven diagnostics, integrated approaches, and CEI [Community Engagement and Involvement],” the authors conclude.
The research team represents a diverse range of expertise across epidemiology, health economics, anthropology, and implementation science: Prof. John Owusu Gyapong, Clinical Epidemiologist; Secretary-General, African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), Mawuli Gohoho, Field Epidemiologist and Senior Public Health Officer, Jasikan Municipal Health Directorate.
Others are Dr. Alfred Kwesi Manyeh, Director, Centre for Neglected Tropical Diseases Research, Institute of Health Research (UHAS), Dr. Mustapha Immurana, Health Economist and Director, Centre for Health Policy and Implementation Research (UHAS), and Prof. Margaret Gyapong, Medical Anthropologist, Implementation Research Specialist, and Immediate Past Director, Institute of Health Research (UHAS).
Their collaboration reflects UHAS’s core mission: producing evidence-based solutions through interdisciplinary research that directly informs policy and improves population health.
Founded in 2011 and based in Ho, Volta Region, UHAS is Ghana’s only public university solely dedicated to training health professionals and conducting health-focused research. With a strong foundation in community engagement, the university is increasingly recognised as a centre of excellence in public health and implementation science across Africa.
This landmark publication is a defining moment, not just for UHAS, but for the future of African-led research in shaping global health strategies.