Pharmaceutical company supports diabetes programme in Ghana
Merck, a German pharmaceutical firm, has rolled out a five-year programme to support diabetes medical education and community awareness as part of its capacity advancement programme (CAP) in Ghana.
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The five-year programme started last year in Kenya, Uganda, Namibia and Mozambique and the launch of Ghana’s programme at the University of Ghana was to further expand the intervention to sub-Saharan African countries in 2014.
Merck has formed a strategic partnership with the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), the Ghana Medical Association and the Ghana National Association of Diabetes in order to contribute to the country’s social and economic development.
The Merck CAP aims at expanding the professional capacity in Africa in the areas of research and development, clinical research, supply chain integrity and efficiency, pharmacovigilance, community awareness and medical education for medical and pharmacy undergraduates, physicians and pharmacists in rural areas.
In addition, the organisation will continue to work with partners in Ghana and Africa at large to expand the capacity of professionals in diabetes management through its CAP.
Launch in Ghana
In his remarks during the launch, the Chairman of the Executive Board and Family Board of E. Merck KG and member of the Merck family, Dr Frank Stangenberg- Haverkamp, said the company was pleased to launch the Merck CAP in Ghana as part of its commitment to provide sustainable access to high-quality health solutions and safe medicines in Africa.
According to him, the rising number of diabetics all over the world called for prioritising diabetes care and awareness to prevent the disease from turning into an epidemic.
The Executive Vice-President and Head of Global Commercial of Merck Serono, Elcin Ergun, said the company was fully committed to partnering governments, universities, healthcare institutions and patients associations in Ghana and the rest of Africa to develop and deliver solutions to expand healthcare capacities and improve access to health as part of the programme.
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The Dean of the University of Ghana Medical School, Prof. Jennifer Welbeck, was delighted that the university was partnering Merck to implement the initiative and associate with other institutions whose overall objectives and goals were directed towards alleviating the challenges of emerging diseases such as diabetes.
The President of the PSGH, James Ohemeng Kyei, said the society was proud to participate actively in the five-year programme which would improve the accessibility and quality of diabetes health care in Ghana.