Category: Ghana Health News

U.S. gov’t donates motorcycles to boost Ghana’s community health services

The United States Government has donated more than 90 motorcycles to the Ghana Health Service (GHS) as part of a concerted effort to enhance community health delivery, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the country.

Speaking at the GHS headquarters in Accra on June 16, USAID Ghana Mission Director, Madam Kimberly Rosen, emphasised the importance of reliable transportation in primary healthcare delivery.

“Community outreach is the backbone of Ghana’s primary health care system, but without reliable transport, frontline workers cannot reach the households that need them most,” she said.

Apart from the donation to the Ghana Health Service, an additional 14 were also given to the Christian Health Association of Ghana.

The donation, according to Madam Kimberly Rosen aims to bridge transportation gaps faced by frontline health workers who provide vital services such as antenatal care, malaria prevention, nutrition counselling, and child welfare outreach.

The latest donation forms part of the broader U.S. support for Ghana’s health sector. Over the past three years, the United States has contributed more than 300 motorcycles, 22 vehicles, and over 3,000 electronic tablets to the GHS.

In addition, two boats were donated and another refurbished for health service delivery in the Oti, Volta, and Western Regions.

Also, a $1.7 million investment has been channelled into health equipment in partnership with regional health directorates in northern Ghana.

This initiative seeks to improve maternal, newborn, and child health services by strengthening life-saving interventions at the grassroots level.

The United States’ long-standing partnership with Ghana has also played a crucial role in combating malaria. Over the past 15 years, Ghana has seen a two-thirds reduction in malaria-related deaths.

Among children under five, malaria prevalence has dropped from one in four in 2010 to one in ten today.

The U.S. is increasingly engaging with Ghana through commercial ventures such as Zipline, an American drone delivery company. Zipline’s drones now supply vaccines, blood, and other essential medical materials to more than 500 health facilities across Ghana—enhancing access, creating jobs, and spurring local investment.

The U.S. officials expressed deep gratitude to Ghana’s Community Health Officers and Volunteers, acknowledging the daily sacrifices they make in challenging conditions.

“Your work is exhausting, and it is not easy—the roads are bumpy and sometimes flooded, the days are long, and you often make personal sacrifices to serve in communities far from home,” she noted.

The donation forms part of the Integrated Health Partnership—a $40 million U.S.-funded initiative in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service, Project HOPE, and CHAG, spanning the health, education, and agriculture sectors.

Director of Health Administration and Support Services at GHS, Mr Ebo Hammond welcomed the donation with appreciation.

He described the motorcycles as more than mere transport—they are “critical health tools” in the fight to improve access to quality care.

“A single motorbike equipped with a vaccine carrier and a dedicated nurse can mean the difference between life and death in some of our most remote communities,” Mr Hammond remarked.

He emphasised the role the motorcycles would play in vaccine delivery, disease surveillance, and health education, particularly in areas inaccessible by vehicles.

He also praised the continued collaboration with USAID, especially their support for Ghana’s oxygen infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Mr Hammond, investments by USAID have already reduced the average distance hospitals must travel to access medical-grade oxygen from 1,850 kilometres to 850 kilometres.

The target is to reduce this further to under 400 kilometres with the installation of ten new liquid oxygen plants across the country.

He expressed gratitude to the U.S. government and its partners for their unwavering support, noting that their contributions are helping Ghana build a more inclusive and resilient health system.

Both governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening primary healthcare systems, ensuring that quality care is delivered as close as possible to individuals, families, and communities.

World’s only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV could stop transmission – if people can get it

The U.S. has approved the world’s only twice-a-year shot to prevent HIV, the first step in an anticipated global rollout that could protect millions, although it’s unclear how many in the U.S. and abroad will get access to the powerful new option.

While a vaccine to prevent HIV still is needed, some experts say the shot made by Gilead Sciences — a drug called lenacapavir — could be the next best thing. It nearly eliminated new infections in two groundbreaking studies of people at high risk, better than daily preventive pills they can forget to take.

“This really has the possibility of ending HIV transmission,” said Greg Millett, public policy director at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research.

Condoms help guard against HIV infection if used properly, but what’s called PrEP — regularly using preventive medicines such as the daily pills or a different shot given every two months — is increasingly important. Lenacapavir’s six-month protection makes it the longest-lasting type, an option that could attract people wary of more frequent doctor visits or stigma from daily pills.

But upheaval in U.S. healthcare — including cuts to public health agencies and Medicaid — and slashing of American foreign aid to fight HIV are clouding the prospects.

Millett said “gaping holes in the system” in the U.S. and globally “are going to make it difficult for us to make sure we not only get lenacapavir into people’s bodies but also make sure they come back” twice a year to keep up their protection.

Gilead’s drug is already sold to treat HIV under the brand name Sunlenca. The prevention dose will be sold under a different name, Yeztugo. It’s given as two injections under the skin of the abdomen, leaving a small “depot” of medication to slowly absorb into the body.

People must test negative for HIV before getting their twice-a-year dose, Gilead warned. It only prevents HIV transmission — it doesn’t block other sexually transmitted diseases. Some researchers who helped test the shot advise cold packs to counter injection-site pain.

Global efforts at ending the HIV pandemic by 2030 have stalled. There are still more than 30,000 new infections in the U.S. each year and about 1.3 million worldwide.

Only about 400,000 Americans already use some form of PrEP, a fraction of those estimated to benefit. A recent study found that states with high use of PrEP saw a decrease in HIV infections, while rates continued rising elsewhere.

About half of the new infections are in women, who often need protection they can use without a partner’s knowledge or consent. One rigorous study in South Africa and Uganda compared more than 5,300 sexually active young women and teen girls given twice-yearly lenacapavir or the daily pills. There were no HIV infections in those receiving the shot, while about 2% in the comparison group caught HIV from infected sex partners.

A second study found the twice-yearly shot nearly as effective in gay men and gender-nonconforming people in the U.S. and in several other countries hard-hit by HIV.

Ian Haddock of Houston had tried PrEP off and on since 2015, but he jumped at the chance to participate in the lenacapavir study and continues with the twice-yearly shots as part of the research follow-up.

“Now I forget that I’m on PrEP because I don’t have to carry around a pill bottle,” said Haddock, who leads the Normal Anomaly Initiative, a nonprofit serving Black LGBTQ+ communities.

“Men, women, gay, straight – it really just kind of expands the opportunity for prevention,” he added. Just remembering a clinic visit every six months “is a powerful tool versus constantly having to talk about, like, condoms, constantly making sure you’re taking your pill every day.”

Gilead said the U.S. list price, meaning before insurance, is $28,218 a year, which it called similar to some other PrEP options. The company said it anticipated insurance coverage but also has some financial assistance programs.

Most private insurers are supposed to cover PrEP options without a co-pay, although the Supreme Court is considering a case that could overturn that requirement. Congress is also considering huge cuts to Medicaid.

And while community health centres still are an option, the Trump administration has largely dismantled HIV prevention work at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention that would normally get the message to vulnerable populations who’d qualify for the shot, said Carl Schmid of the nonprofit HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute.

Schmid worries the shot won’t meet its potential because “we’re basically pulling the rug out of HIV prevention and testing and outreach programs.”

Gilead also has applications pending for the twice-yearly shot in other countries. Last fall, the company signed agreements with six generic drug makers to produce low-cost versions of the shot for 120 poor countries, mostly in Africa, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.

Gilead plans to make enough shots to supply 2 million people in those countries, at no profit, until the generics are available, said company senior vice president Dr. Jared Baeten.

Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, said in a statement that the price is still too high. If it’s unaffordable, she said, “it will change nothing.”

And HIV experts worry the arrangements Gilead has made to reduce costs in some countries leave out middle-income countries like some in Latin America.

“Everyone in every country who’s at risk of HIV needs access to PrEP,” said Dr. Gordon Crofoot of Houston, who helped lead the study in men. “We need to get easier access to PrEP that’s highly effective, like this is.”

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.

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

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.

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.