Initiative on NCD diagnosis, management launched in Accra

An initiative aimed at improving the diagnosis and management of non-communicable diseases(NCDs) in the country has been launched in Accra. 

Known as the AYA integrated healthcare initiative, it would focus on preventing NCDs such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke, bronchitis, diabetes, among others, through an integrated approach.

The project will build on the successes of the Ghana Heart Initiative (GHI), which officially ended yesterday.

Launched in 2019, the GHI was focused on addressing the existing gap in the approach to control the burden of cardiovascular diseases, and has since seen more than 3 million patients benefiting from an improved cardiovascular disease management regime, while training over 6,000 health professionals in the area of healthcare.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, launched the AYA project in Accra.

It would be rolled out by the ministry with support from GIZ Ghana and Bayer AG, a German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company and other international partners.

Spanning a period of 39 months, the AYA project, among others, seeks to augment efforts to ensure that Ghanaians will have improved access to strengthened healthcare systems, and effective screening for selected NCDs by 2030.

Mr Acquah explained that with cardiovascular diseases ranked among the top causes of mortality in the adult population worldwide, the economic and psychosocial impacts of the diseases were further exacerbated by the challenges faced by families and the broader community in Ghana.

He added that despite the increasing urgency, global funding for NCDs remained insufficient, particularly in the least developed nations, where less than 2 per cent of health funding was allocated to those diseases.

With the launch of the AYA initiative, the deputy minister said there would be renewed confidence in strengthening the healthcare system to combat cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

“The Ministry of Health and these agencies will continue to support important initiatives like this for the benefit of all residents in Ghana,” he added.

He further called on all stakeholders to join in this crucial effort to ensure that the benefits of improved healthcare reached all residents of Ghana.

GIZ

For his part, the Head of Operations, GIZ International Service, Siegfried Leffler, disclosed that by leveraging its technical expertise, project management capabilities and global reach by operating in 120 countries, the GIZ was currently implementing over 30 health projects worldwide.

Through its support for health reforms and capacity development, he said GIZ had contributed to strengthening more than 31,000 health facilities, improving access to quality healthcare for over 90 million people.

He added that three additional funding partners had joined Bayer in expanding the Ghana Heart Initiative's scope through the AYA Initiative to Ghana.

The project, Mr Leffler said, would enhance patient self-management, advance NCD data management and research.

“I am confident that this initiative will significantly impact health outcomes in Ghana, and will attract additional public and private sector partners in future.

At GIZ, we look forward to continuing this partnership with the Ghanaian government and private sector partners,” he said.