WINGS-4-FGS Launches in Ghana to Transform Women’s Health and Tackle Female Genital Schistosomiasis
The WINGS-4-FGS project officially launched under the auspices of the Institute of Health Research University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho, Ghana, uniting partners from across Africa and Europe to tackle Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) through research, collaboration, and advocacy for women’s health.
A patient was admitted to a clinic in Ghana showing symptoms doctors believed to be rheumatoid heart disease. Despite their best efforts, the patient passed away. Only later did they learn the true cause: schistosomiasis. Until then, it was thought this parasitic disease affected only the bladder. But when left untreated, it can reach far beyond.
With this story, the Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, Ghana opened the official Kick-Off Meeting of WINGS-4-FGS on 4–5 November 2025. Their message was clear: awareness and action against Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) must go beyond treatment. It must transform understanding, care, and prevention.
Bringing Partners Together for Women’s Health
Over two days, ten partners from eight countries alongside representatives from national, regional and district health services and the Global Health EDCTP3 programme, came together in Ghana with one shared mission: to transform women’s health by tackling FGS.
FGS is caused by a parasitic infection transmitted through infected freshwater. A risk intertwined with daily life in many communities. Its symptoms are often misdiagnosed or overlooked, leaving millions of women and girls suffering in silence.
At the meeting, partners shared their expertise across research, community engagement, and policy. Each Work Package presented its approach, country teams provided in-depth overviews of their contexts, and breakout sessions brought diverse perspectives together to identify next steps, challenges, and solutions. These discussions underscored the collaborative and cross-sectoral nature of the WINGS-4-FGS project and the urgency of its goals.
Working Together to Transform Research into Action
“Women are exposed to the disease since birth,” said Project Coordinator Prof Amaya Bustinduy from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. “How it manifests depends on how many infections you’ve had and changes as you age. We need to raise awareness, accelerate therapeutics, understand barriers, integrate research and, most importantly, work together.”
That spirit of collaboration echoed throughout the event. Project Scientific Lead Prof. Margaret Gyapong of UHAS closed the meeting with a passionate call to action:
“If we only focus on treatment, nothing will change. We must engage, educate, and act to stop re-infection. WINGS-4-FGS is everywhere. What we are doing now is vital for women, communities, and generations to come.”
Her words captured the essence of WINGS-4-FGS: a commitment to combine science, advocacy, and collaboration to make FGS visible and to restore dignity and health to women and girls across Africa.
A Shared Vision for Change
The Kick-Off Meeting in Ho marked more than just the beginning of a project. It marked a collective commitment to reimagine how neglected diseases like FGS are addressed.
These two days reflected what WINGS-4-FGS stands for: bringing together knowledge, research, and community voices to drive sustainable change in women’s health.
As fieldwork and engagement activities begin in the coming months, the project will continue to strengthen partnerships across Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Madagascar, Malawi, and beyond.
Follow Our Journey
Stay tuned as WINGS-4-FGS continues to raise awareness, engage communities, and inspire change through science and collaboration. Follow our updates on LinkedIn and Facebook to see how the project is helping ensure that no woman or girl is left unseen, unheard, or untreated.
