GHS and PATHS Seek Support To Address Non-Communicable Diseases In The Country

The Ghana Health Service in collaboration with PATH has called on stakeholders to work together to develop sustainable support for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) management.

PATH is a global team of innovators working to accelerate health equity so all people and communities can thrive, and partner with public institutions, businesses, grassroots groups, and investors to solve the world’s most pressing health challenges.

The Programme Manager (PM) of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano at the National Stakeholders NCD Navigator Dissemination Meeting said, there is the need to enhance cost of care for NCD Management, increase awareness, address health system challenges at all levels to improve preventive care in communities.

Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are disease conditions that are not infectious and cannot be transmitted from one person to the other.

Dr. Kwame Amponsa-Achiano who spoke on behalf of the Director General of Ghana Health Service, Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboakye said this was important as the chronic nature of NCDs, the cost of care tended to be lifelong, further driving families and communities into poverty.

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people each year, representing 71% of all deaths globally, over three-quarters of all NCD deaths occur in low and middle income countries, many from cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

In Ghana, Access Accelerated and PATH collaborated with the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service to analyze supply chain channels for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) related.

Dr Patience Cofie, the Country Manager of PATH, a global organization, in highlighting gaps and opportunities towards a targeted, coordinated NCD response speaking on Ghana’s revised NCD Policy and Strategy, said the plan would help reduce exposure to risk factors that contributed to NCDs.