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Queen mothers trained to fight vaccine misconceptions across Ghana

In the bid to improve public trust in vaccines and reduce health misinformation, the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health has begun a new initiative of training queen mothers to serve as vaccine ambassadors in their communities.

The initiative brings together revered female traditional leaders from across the country who will now champion vaccine education in thousands of Ghanaian communities.

As Ghana continues efforts to boost immunization coverage, queen mothers are being enlisted as powerful advocates for vaccine awareness.

The Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health is training these respected traditional leaders to educate their communities on the importance of vaccines and dispel long-standing myths that have hindered uptake.

According to National Vice Chairman of the Coalition, Ninsau Darku Alazer, queen mothers were deliberately selected because of the authority and trust they command.

“Queen mothers are people we believe carry the tradition, they carry the authority and also carry respect. When they approach any person, whether man, woman or child about any health related issue, they will pay attention to them than a health worker,” he noted.

The project is expected to reach over 10,000 communities in 100 districts. Queen mothers will be supported with funds to help them move between towns and lead health-focused engagements.

“They are going to work in about 100 districts in the whole country in 10,000 communities. Every district has 10 health centers. We gave a baseline for routine immunization and we expect that with their efforts and addition, at the end of the project, we will give them some small funding, to carry out the job, the mobility, and travels to give talks here and there,” he said.

Queen mother of Bekwai, Nana Adwoa Pinaman, said she came to the realization that traditional methods once used in her community were harmful after the training sessions.

“They started this program about 3 years ago. It has really helped us because back then, measles killed babies. We used to give them ‘akpeteshi’ and ‘nyamedua’ and they end up dying. But when we started this, all that stopped,” she stated.

From the Savannah Region, Hajia Dr. Kansawurche Zara Bukari shared feedback from her region.

“You can see that the women are now receiving it well. At first, due to misconceptions that if you immunize your child, the child will be sick, some may even die. But going forward, now we can see that there is great improvement in the immunization coverage as far as my region is concerned,” she expressed.

In addition to this grassroots mobilization, the Coalition plans to train 500 Community Information Centres to fight misinformation on air, especially in local dialects.

“When false information is shared on those platforms, it’s believed instantly. So, we need them trained to speak truth backed by health facts,” Mr. Alazer emphasized

Six new Mpox cases confirmed in Ghana, total rises to 91

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has announced six new Mpox infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 91. 

According to health officials, two of the newly infected patients are currently hospitalised and are under close medical supervision.

Contact tracing efforts are actively underway to identify individuals who may have been exposed, as part of measures to limit further transmission.

The recent uptick in cases has sparked growing public anxiety. In response, the Ghana Health Service has urged the public to remain calm while assuring that the situation is under control.

In a public health advisory, the GHS reiterated the need for vigilance and personal hygiene.

“We encourage the public to avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of Mpox, especially those with unexplained rashes, and to report any symptoms to the nearest health facility immediately,” the statement read.

Authorities also stressed the importance of preventive measures such as frequent handwashing, proper sanitation, and early detection to curb the spread of the virus.

The Ghana Health Service is continuing surveillance and community education campaigns to protect the population and prevent further infections.

Focus on Sickle Cell Foundation to hold national forum and free testing in Winneba on World Sickle Cell Day

In commemoration of World Sickle Cell Awareness Day, the Focus on Sickle Cell Foundation is set to host a national forum on Thursday, June 19, at the Jophus Anamuah-Mensah Conference Centre at the University of Education, Winneba.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, the Founder of the foundation, Akokoa Mpaninsem, emphasised the importance of the event in raising public consciousness about Sickle Cell Disease and promoting early detection and care.

“This forum is not just a gathering, it is a national call to action,” said Mpaninsem. “We are committed to educating the public, encouraging early testing, and supporting those affected by sickle cell across the country.”

The event will be held under the Foundation’s official slogan, “Stronger Together: Fighting Sickle Cell Disease,” reflecting its mission to unite individuals, families, and institutions in the ongoing battle against the genetic condition.

In collaboration with the Trauma and Specialist Hospital in Winneba, the Foundation will offer free sickling and genotype testing to all who attend the forum.

The initiative aims to provide people with vital information about their genetic status, especially young adults and couples preparing for marriage or parenthood.

“We are inviting everyone in and around Winneba to take advantage of this opportunity. Knowing your genotype can save lives and prevent future suffering,” Mpaninsem added.

Moving Health and Trotula Fund equip Tumu midwifery college

Moving Health, an organisation known for manufacturing tricycle ambulances to serve rural communities in Ghana since 2020, has reaffirmed its commitment to maternal healthcare through targeted training and equipment support.

With financial backing from the Trotula Fund, which champions initiatives to enhance the well-being of women and girls, Moving Health recently sponsored a two-part capacity-building programme for midwives and midwifery students in Tumu, Upper West Region.

Held on 15th and 30th May 2025, the training sessions focused on the Manual Removal of Retained Placenta and Manual Vacuum Aspiration (MVA).

Organised in collaboration with the Midwifery Training College in Tumu, the programme aimed to equip participants with vital life-saving skills.

In a parallel gesture of support, Moving Health and its partners donated essential medical equipment and IT resources valued at GHC 250,000 to the College.

Items included hospital and delivery beds, an autoclave machine, CPR and automated pregnant manikins, 25 desktop computers, and 14 UPS units to enhance hands-on learning for future midwives.

The donation ceremony witnessed the presence of key local health and administrative leaders, including the Principal of the College, Mary Saratu Adamah; Medical Superintendent of Tumu Municipal Hospital, Dr Ayariga Joshua Amikiya; Sissala East District Health Director, Dr Clifford Vengkungmene; and Coordinating Director of the Sissala East Municipal Assembly, Abubakari Musah.

As the training concluded, midwives took on mentoring roles, leading students through practical sessions, a symbolic moment of empowerment.

Moving Health and the Trotula Fund have pledged to continue the training programme for the next two years, envisioning it as a cornerstone in building a safer and more responsive maternal care system across the district and beyond.

UGBS, CIHRM Ghana hold corporate health walk to support HRM professorial chair fundraising

The University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) and the Chartered Institute of Human Resource Management, Ghana (CIHRM), have organised a corporate health walk as part of their awareness creation and fundraising campaign for Ghana’s first Human Resource Management (HRM) Professorial Chair.

The health walk, which brought together Chief Executive Officers, HR practitioners of CIHRM, faculty members of UGBS, and students, heightened awareness of the need to engage in moderate physical exercise to improve general well-being and productivity.

It also served as a platform to appeal to the general public for support towards raising the funds required to ensure the smooth operation of the Chair.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee, Dr (Mrs) Ellen Hagan, reiterated the need for all sectors in Ghana to embrace the Chair as a catalyst for national development through cutting-edge research, innovation and human capital policy guidance.

Dr Hagan added that fundraising activities for the HRM Professorial Chair would continue throughout the year, and urged public and private sector institutions, as well as individuals, to contribute towards this laudable national agenda.

Other important activities scheduled following the corporate health walk include a presentation at the CIHRM’25 Conference, engagements with policymakers, an HR Community Brunch, engagements with Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors, and a series of public lectures.

During the CIHRM’25 Conference, scheduled for Wednesday 18 June to Thursday 19 June 2025 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, Dr (Mrs) Ellen Hagan will unpack the critical role of the HRM Professorial Chair in advancing national development and growth.

UGBS and CIHRM are encouraging the media, the HR community, policymakers, industry players and the general public to embrace this landmark initiative, which is poised to transform the HRM landscape in Ghana and elevate the performance of organisations and institutions across the country.

Ghana’s Prof. Alexander Debrah wins €50K EDCTP Dr. Pascoal Mocumbi Prize for global health contributions

Ghanaian scientist Alexander Yaw Debrah has been awarded the 2025 Dr. Pascoal Mocumbi Prize by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) for his contributions to global health research and capacity development in Africa.

The €50,000 prize was presented today at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. The award recognises Prof. Debrah’s work in combating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) and advancing clinical research and partnerships across Africa and Europe.

Debrah, a professor of parasitology and global health at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi, has led several clinical trials focused on diseases such as lymphatic filariasis and river blindness. His early research helped identify genetic links to conditions such as elephantiasis and hydrocele, and supported the use of low-cost antibiotics like doxycycline for treatment.

He currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences at KNUST and heads the Filariasis Research Group at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR). He also directs TAKeOFF, a German-funded consortium working to eliminate filarial infections in Ghana, Tanzania, and Cameroon.

“Professor Debrah’s commitment to global health and research capacity building is exemplary,” said Marcel Tanner, EDCTP High Representative and President of the Swiss Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Debrah has attracted over €15 million in research funding from organisations including the EDCTP, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the German Ministry of Education and Research. He has also helped establish the German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC) at KNUST.

With over 160 peer-reviewed publications, Debrah has spoken at several high-level forums, including the United Nations General Assembly Science Summits in 2023 and 2024.

The EDCTP prize, named after Mozambique’s former prime minister and the partnership’s first high representative, honours individuals who have advanced Africa-Europe health research collaboration and the fight against poverty-related diseases.

The EDCTP is a partnership between European and African countries, supported by the European Union.

GRNMA strike: Gov’t has never disrespected nurses – Prof. Khalid

Professor Sharif Mahmud Khalid, Economic Adviser to the Vice President, has strongly defended the government’s conduct during the recent strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), asserting that the administration has consistently demonstrated respect for healthcare professionals and has never adopted a disrespectful stance towards them.

Prof. Khalid made these remarks during a discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, June 14.

Addressing public perceptions and criticisms, especially from the Minority in Parliament, Prof. Khalid stated unequivocally, “There has not been any official government position insulting nurses or health workers. That’s correct.”

He acknowledged that in the heat of labour negotiations, “tempers may flare, strategies may be ignited,” but he firmly differentiated such dynamics from any formal disrespect from the government’s side.

Prof. Khalid appealed for a practical, economic understanding of the government’s approach, emphasising the challenging fiscal environment inherited.

“We’ve come far from a very difficult economic position in the last one year or so,” he explained.

He painted a picture of a “quite messy” economic dashboard, citing significant challenges such as the central bank posting losses, the implementation of a domestic debt exchange programme, and the impact on “blue-chip investments such as pensions”.

READ ALSO: Health Minister owes nurses an apology; his actions are killing patients – Former GRNMA President

“We really had a very overheated economy that is yet to even cool off,” he underscored, arguing that against this backdrop, the government’s engagement with the nurses was rooted in economic reality.

He rejected labels of the government being “insensitive and callous”, stating, “I don’t think that is what it is because it is a real engagement of the reality on the ground.”

The Economic Adviser advocated for a “jaw-jaw” approach to resolving such disputes, highlighting that continued negotiation remains the only viable path.

Referring to the substantial GH¢2 billion wage bill demanded by the nurses – a figure previously cited by the Deputy Finance Minister – Prof. Khalid explained the government’s stance as a request for “some respite” and a call to negotiate the deferment of some payments, possibly to 2026, by which time economic conditions are projected to improve.

He pointed to current gains in “currency stability” and overall economic stabilisation as indicators of this potential future capacity.

Prof. Khalid also made a strong plea against politicising the strike action and weaponising terminology.

“I don’t want us to look at it from a political lens. We have to look at it from a practical economic perspective,” he urged. He condemned the deployment of “weaponising terminologies… trying to justify cases or make a government look bad,” stressing the need for all stakeholders to consider the issue from a “national perspective, a holistic perspective”.

While acknowledging the long history and struggles of labour unions and the critical nature of essential services like healthcare, Prof. Khalid’s submission aimed to frame the government’s actions as responsible management of a complex situation rather than a show of disrespect towards Ghana’s vital healthcare professionals.

We are not aligned with any political party – GRNMA fires back

General Secretary of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA), Dr. David Tenkorang-Twum, has firmly dismissed allegations suggesting that the association’s recent strike was driven by political motives.

He emphasised that the GRNMA has maintained a strong apolitical stance since its inception.

He was reacting to criticisms from a section of the public about a purported affiliation with the main opposition party.

During his appearance on TV3’s The KeyPoints on Saturday, June 14, Dr. Tenkorang-Twum stated, “We are not aligned with any political party. From the time GRNMA came into existence, our focus has been on healthcare, not politics. It’s worth noting that during our formation, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) was in power, yet we have remained independent. In 2020, we took a stand under a different government, highlighting our commitment to our profession over political affiliations.”

His remarks come as a response to growing speculation regarding the motivations behind the nationwide strike action initiated by nurses and midwives earlier this month.

The GRNMA commenced its industrial action on June 2, 2025, primarily due to the government’s failure to implement the 2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), signed a year prior under the Akufo-Addo administration.

This agreement included critical provisions such as allowances for uniforms, licence renewals, and incentives for healthcare workers assigned to underserved areas.

The protest intensified from symbolic gestures like wearing red armbands to a complete withdrawal of outpatient services from June 4 to June 8, involving over 128,000 nurses and midwives across the nation.

In response, the National Labour Commission (NLC) deemed the strike illegal and obtained a court injunction compelling the association to return to the negotiating table with the Ministry of Health.

On Friday, June 13, the GRNMA announced the suspension of the strike following intervention from Parliament’s Select Committee on Health.

In a statement authored by the association’s President, Mrs. Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, the GRNMA expressed that the decision was made with the well-being of patients in mind.

“We do not take delight in seeing our patients suffer; however, we cannot provide quality care when our own needs are neglected,” the statement articulated.

Moreover, the GRNMA condemned what they termed “misinformation and propaganda” that clouded public perception of their actions.

They highlighted, “As trained professionals dedicated to delivering essential healthcare services to the Ghanaian public, we expect matters affecting us to be addressed with urgency and sincerity.”

Despite the temporary halt of the strike, the association reaffirmed its demand for the prompt implementation of the 2024 CBA, clarifying that pausing the strike is not indicative of weakness but rather a willingness to engage in constructive dialogue.

Looking ahead, a follow-up meeting between GRNMA representatives and Parliament’s Health Committee is set for June 26, 2025, signalling ongoing discussions aimed at resolving these pressing issues.

Ahiagbah demands Health Minister’s dismissal over handling of nurses’ strike

The Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has called for the immediate dismissal of the Health Minister, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, over the recent nationwide strike by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

According to him, the Minister’s behaviour was unacceptable, calling for his resignation over what he describes as poor handling of the nationwide nurses’ and midwives’ strike.

“Honourable Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister for Health, must go. He should have been gone. He must go home—leave the Ministry and go home,” Mr Ahiagbah said on Accra-based Citi TV on Saturday.

Referencing Mr Akandoh’s past role as Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Mr Ahiagbah recalled, “Did you see the things he was doing and saying? He accused Dr. Agyemang-Manu of looking on for a strike—a local strike in Kumasi, Komfo Anokye—over administrative professional matters.”

He said the same individual who once criticised his predecessor for failing to address local unrest was now presiding over a national healthcare crisis without decisive leadership.

The NPP Communications Director accused Mr Akandoh of ignoring early warning signs from as far back as January and failing to honour assurances that the nurses’ concerns would be addressed in the 2025 Budget.

“They found all the fiscal space to allocate GH¢2.7 billion for compensation at the Jubilee House, but didn’t prioritise the health of Ghanaians,” he said.

He also lashed out at the Health Minister’s proposal to recall retired nurses to fill the gap created by the strike, describing the idea as “reckless and insensitive.”

“That kind of hardball he was playing with people’s health was repugnant. People died because of his negligence. For that reason, he must be gone,” Ahiagbah insisted.

REMAPSEN celebrates 5 years of championing health and environmental awareness across Africa

Today, June 13, 2025, marks a significant milestone for the African Network of Journalists for the Promotion of Health and the Environment (REMAPSEN) as it celebrates its fifth anniversary.

Since its founding in 2020, REMAPSEN has grown into a formidable coalition of journalists and media professionals from around 40 African countries, united in their mission to promote public awareness and media advocacy on pressing health and environmental issues.

In a commemorative message, President of REMAPSEN, Bamba Youssouf, commended the network’s members for their dedication and tireless work over the past five years.

“This is an opportunity for me to thank each member of our young organization for the work accomplished in raising awareness and advocacy in such a short time,” Youssouf stated.

Founded at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, REMAPSEN emerged from the urgent need for reliable, science-based information on public health and the environment.

Since then, the network has been instrumental in spearheading continent-wide media campaigns on issues ranging from pandemic preparedness and vaccination awareness to climate change, pollution, and sustainable development.

Among REMAPSEN’s notable achievements are:

• Extensive training programmes for African journalists on science and environmental reporting.
• Partnerships with the WHO, UNEP, and local NGOs to produce investigative stories on climate resilience and disease outbreaks.
• Nationwide campaigns on malaria prevention, water sanitation, and the health implications of mining and deforestation.
• The launch of an online multimedia platform for sharing verified information and educational resources on health and environmental issues.

Youssouf noted that while the first five-year phase was focused on building the network’s foundation, the next stage will prioritise asserting REMAPSEN’s leadership across the continent.

“While the first five-year term of our network was dedicated to organising and implementing REMAPSEN in its member countries, the second will be dedicated to reaffirming its leadership,” he said.

According to him, “indeed, the media, still considered the fourth estate, must now assume their responsibilities in informing populations in the face of the emergence of new pandemics, such as COVID-19 in 2020.”

Looking ahead, REMAPSEN plans to launch a pan-African media monitoring unit to ensure the spread of factual, life-saving information and to combat health and environmental misinformation.

The organisation also intends to expand its support for investigative journalism initiatives tackling illegal waste dumping, air and water pollution, and the health effects of climate-induced migration.

In his closing remarks, Youssouf made a clarion call to action:

“I urge all African media outlets to strengthen their commitment to a continent where every person has a legal right to accurate and truthful information in the areas of health and the environment. Africa will be better for it.”

As REMAPSEN celebrates its fifth anniversary, the organisation remains committed to its founding vision: an Africa where empowered media professionals serve as catalysts for public health, environmental stewardship, and sustainable development.