By. Kekeli K Blamey
Ghana is grappling with an alarming increase in deaths related to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with cancers, diabetes, and stroke being the leading causes.
The Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (GhNCDA) has sounded the alarm, calling for urgent action to reverse the trend.
According to GhNCDA, NCDs account for a staggering 45% of deaths in Ghana. The organization attributes this surge to poor lifestyle choices, inadequate healthcare, and limited awareness about NCD prevention and management.
To combat this growing health concern, GhNCDA has embarked on a series of initiatives aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, improving healthcare infrastructure, and enhancing public awareness about NCDs.
Recently, the organization conducted a one-day training workshop for 20 participants from the Kpando and Ho Municipality, Central Tongu, and Adaklu districts.
The workshop focused on improved lifestyles and advocacy on NCDs.
Mr. Labram Musah, a facilitator and official of GhNCDA, emphasized the importance of creating awareness about NCDs to reduce stigma and promote confidence among patients.
He urged participants to take the workshop seriously and become ambassadors for NCD awareness in their communities.
GhNCDA has established alliances and networks in several regions, including Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western North, and Eastern.
The organization is set to expand its reach to the Volta Region, intensifying education and awareness campaigns about NCD prevention and management.
Mr. Musah appealed to the government to invest more in NCD prevention and management, lauding the recent inclusion of dialysis services in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Executive Director of Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana (SASNET), Mr. Ebenezer Adams, highlighted the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles among persons living with NCDs.
He emphasized the need for collaboration between stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service (GHS), academia, and community partners. Togbe Degbladze, Chief of Adaklu-Kodzobi, commended the organizers of the workshop and appealed to the Ho Municipal Assembly to improve facilities at the Community-Based Health Planning Services compound (CHPS).
