Leaving No One Behind: Using Photo-Voice To explore Community Health Volunteer’s Lived Experiences in rural Ghana

Mass Drug Administration (MDA) for whole communities is key to the global strategy to eliminate neglected tropical diseases including Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). In Ghana, there are districts where LF transmission is ongoing despite more than 10 years since the inception of the 5- year programme. Community Drug Distributors(CDDs) are key to the success of this as they physically deliver the drugs to community members, and maximise the chances of reaching them all.

However, complex power dynamics mean that CDDs voices have not always been heard in the design and implementation of the programme. Photovoice provided the CDDs with the opportunity to visually represent and articulate through the photos and group discussions the challenges they encountered in delivering drugs to the affected communities.

Key lessons included: the high number of CDD out-of-pocket expenses; problematic timing of drug distribution during the rainy season when access is difficult; the impact of gendered norms and livelihood on ability to observe drug taking by community members; the challenge of lack of basic equipment. 

(COUNTDOWN-Calling time on Neglected Tropical Diseases Project sponsored by DFID through LSTM and Dodowa Health Research Centre.)