Category: Ghana Health News

African health ministers to convene in Lusaka for WHO Regional meeting

Health ministers from 47 African countries will meet in Lusaka, Zambia, from 25 to 27 August 2025 for the Seventy-fifth Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa.

The gathering will take place at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Kenneth Kaunda Wing, in Lusaka.

The Regional Committee is the WHO’s highest decision-making body in Africa, responsible for setting priorities, shaping policies, and guiding investments to improve health across the continent.

More than 500 delegates are expected at the meeting, including WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Mohamed Janabi, ministers of health, senior government officials, representatives of UN agencies, civil society organisations, and development partners.

Ahead of the meeting, WHO and the Government of Zambia will host a five-kilometre “Walk the Talk” event to promote physical activity and healthy living.

The opening session on 25 August will feature remarks from President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General and Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Discussions over the three days are expected to focus on strengthening health systems, preparing for public health emergencies, and advancing universal health coverage in the African region.

Ministers will deliberate on a proposed Regional Framework for Accelerating Implementation of the Global Oral Health Action Plan. This new roadmap, aligned with the 2023–2030 global plan, seeks to integrate oral health into primary care, strengthen workforce innovation, improve research and surveillance, and ensure that essential oral health services are accessible to all by 2030.

The framework sets clear targets: by 2030, at least 50% of each country’s population should have access to essential oral health services, and the prevalence of major oral diseases should be reduced by 10%. By 2028, 60% of countries are expected to have national oral health policies in place, supported by dedicated budgets and staff.

Another major focus will be on blood transfusion, which is critical for life-saving healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations. Countries in the WHO African Region continue to face significant challenges in guaranteeing adequate and equitable access to safe, quality-assured blood and blood products. Currently, more than 50% of blood needs remain unmet in the Region, with severe health consequences.

To address this, the meeting will endorse the Framework to Advance Universal Access to Safe, Effective and Quality-Assured Blood Products in the WHO African Region (2026–2030). The strategy is designed to strengthen every part of the blood supply chain from modernizing laboratories and storage facilities to training health workers and mobilizing more voluntary blood donors.

Between 2000 and 2023, Africa recorded progress in reducing maternal and child deaths. Yet the numbers remain alarming: the continent still accounts for 70% of global maternal deaths and more than half of all under-five deaths. Weak health systems, high costs, workforce shortages, and the growing impacts of conflict, emergencies, and climate change continue to limit access to lifesaving care.

The health ministers will focus on a new plan to transform health systems for women, children, and adolescents. The roadmap, titled Accelerating Progress in the Health and Well-being of Women, Children and Adolescents by Transforming Health Systems in the African Region, calls for greater investment in health workers, stronger primary care, and targeted action to close the deep inequalities that keep services out of reach.

Malaria remains another pressing challenge. The region bears the world’s heaviest burden, with 95% of global malaria deaths and 94% of cases recorded in 2023. Progress in malaria control has slowed: between 2015 and 2023, incidence dropped by just 5% and deaths by 16%, well short of targets. Ministers are expected to explore strategies to strengthen health systems, expand community-based treatment, fight drug and insecticide resistance, and secure more domestic and global funding.

Workforce shortages also threaten health goals. In Africa, there are only 1.55 health workers per 1,000 people, far below the global benchmark of 4.45. The shortage stretches primary health care, weakens emergency preparedness, and leaves rural and underserved communities most at risk. Ministers will consider a strategy to train and retain more health professionals, improve their distribution, and harness digital tools to deliver remote care. Initiatives such as AVoHC-SURGE, which deploys rapid emergency teams from WHO AFRO and the Africa CDC, are seen as critical to improving crisis response.

Health security will also dominate the agenda. In 2024 alone, African countries responded to 251 public health events, ranging from deadly disease outbreaks to climate-driven disasters, affecting more than 40 million people. Each crisis further tested fragile systems already struggling with limited resources.

Ministers will review new proposals to enhance Africa’s health security, strengthening event detection, building resilient systems, and forging stronger partnerships. Quick detection and rapid response, experts warn, will determine whether future outbreaks remain local incidents or escalate into crises that put millions at risk.

Mahama administration sets sights on making Ghana a center of medical innovation

Chief of Staff Julius Debrah says the Mahama administration is committed to making Ghana the leading hub for medical technology in West Africa.

He explained that by driving strategic investments, promoting innovation, and building world-class facilities in Accra and across the regions, the government’s goal is to establish Ghana as a true centre of excellence for the sub-region.

Speaking at the 2025 China–West Africa Medical and Health Industry Expo and AI Diagnosis and Project Cooperation Summit.

“Looking ahead, our vision is to position Ghana as the medical technology hub of West Africa. By attracting investment, encouraging innovation, and building world-class facilities here in Accra and across our regions, we can ensure Ghana serves as a centre of excellence for the entire sub-region.”

The event, jointly organised by the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWA) and the Ghana Health Service, brought together stakeholders from China, West Africa, and beyond, including manufacturers, academics, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and investors.

He stressed that Ghana’s ambition goes beyond fixing health system challenges.

The country, he said, is deliberately creating an investment-friendly environment that empowers young innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to develop home-grown solutions across multiple sectors.

He talked about the importance of creating platforms where youth-driven innovation can connect with global capital, ensuring sustainable progress not only in health but also in agribusiness, technology, renewable energy, sports, and industrialisation.

This year’s Expo placed special focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in diagnostics and healthcare, showing how smart technology can bridge the gap between rural and urban health delivery.

The Chief of Staff, however, reminded participants that while technology is a powerful tool, Africa’s greatest asset remains its people.

“We must also invest in people – our doctors, our nurses, our technicians, our researchers, and our young students who are training to carry the torch forward. The solutions we adopt must be sustained for generations to come,” he noted.

Okyeame Kwame, MD-Lancet, others honoured by Noguchi for fight against Hepatitis B

The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) has honoured musician Okyeame Kwame, MD-Lancet Laboratories and several institutions for their sustained support in the fight against Hepatitis B.

At a seminar held on 18th July 2025 at the NMIMR Conference Hall, partners and stakeholders were recognised for their contributions to the Viral Hepatitis Outreach Programme (VHOP), which has been running for the past five years. The event highlighted the role of sponsors in providing funding, logistics, public education and free screening services.

Okyeame Kwame, through the Okyeame Kwame Foundation, has led an annual nationwide free Hepatitis B screening and vaccination exercise for more than 15 years. The initiative, which began in 2009, has reached thousands of Ghanaians and is held every World Hepatitis Day on 28 July. MD-Lancet has been a key partner since its inception, offering technical support, laboratory services and test kits to ensure the screenings are of the highest standard.

Other organisations acknowledged included the University of Ghana Enterprise Limited (UGEL), Crescent Chemist Ltd, AngloGold Ashanti, the West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP), the Ghana Chamber of Mines and East Cantonments Pharmacy. Newmont Ghana Ltd, Inqaba Biotech, Special Ice Ltd, Bethel Logistics Ltd, Labmart Ltd, MES Equipment Ltd and the Naval Medical Research Unit (NAMRU-3) were also celebrated.

Plaques of appreciation were presented to all honourees. A special award was given to Mr Baidoo of the Ghana Education Service, La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Directorate, for his consistent support in educating junior high school pupils about Hepatitis B.

The seminar, chaired by Dr Godwin Atsu Seake-Kwawu, manager of the Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, featured keynote presentations from Dr Yvonne Nartey on clinical management of Hepatitis B and Prof Charles Ampong Adjei on research and awareness strategies.

Prof Kwadwo Asamoah Kusi, co-chair of VHOP, outlined the programme’s achievements over the past five years and its outlook for the future. He commended the sponsors for their vision and commitment to sustaining the fight against Hepatitis B.

Zoomlion leads national charge to eliminate malaria at source

Zoomlion Ghana Limited is spearheading a nationwide Larval Source Management (LSM) programme, targeting the disease at its root: mosquito breeding grounds.

This is the waste management giant’s fight against malaria.

This initiative, under the directive of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), marks a strategic shift from controlling malaria towards its complete elimination.

The programme, a core component of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), moves beyond treating symptoms and biting adult mosquitoes to systematically destroying larvae before they can hatch and spread disease.

The multi-faceted approach includes land reclamation to permanently alter breeding sites, routine clearing of streams, and the targeted application of environmentally sensitive biological and chemical agents.

“We are not just controlling the mosquito population; we are working to break the chain of transmission entirely,” a statement from the company read.

“By stopping the mosquito before it becomes a flying, biting adult, we prevent malaria, dengue, and other vector-borne diseases from ever reaching our communities.”

The implementation is a collaborative effort, leveraging the expertise of the Noguchi Memorial Institute, the School of Public Health, and regional health authorities.

A key to its success is the mobilisation of community volunteers, empowering locals to identify and help clear standing water in their immediate surroundings.

The benefits of this source-based strategy are profound. It is a cost-effective method that reduces the need for large-scale insecticide spraying, minimises environmental impact, and protects the efficacy of other malaria control tools.

Most importantly, it directly translates to improved public health through fewer infections and fatalities.

Against this backdrop, Zoomlion urged all citizens to join this critical mission.

Communities are encouraged to be vigilant—reporting stagnant water sites, covering water containers, and clearing clogged gutters to deny mosquitoes a place to breed.

“Eliminating mosquito breeding sites is synonymous with eliminating malaria,” officials emphasised. “This is a long-term fight, and with nationwide participation, victory is within our grasp.”

Most stroke patients don’t die from stroke itself – Expert says

A Medical Officer at JessyLife Clinic, Dr. Jerry Osei-Alomele, has clarified some issues surrounding the deaths of most stroke patients.

He said that, more often than not, the victims die as a result of the comorbidities that come with the disorder.

According to him, on Joy Prime’s Changes show, the daily lifestyle of neglected patients contributes to their demise, and not the ailment itself, as may be perceived.

“…this patient’s hand is limp, his lower limbs are stiff and very rigid. When you touch it, he’s not willing to allow you to do anything; his face is deviated all over the place, and because he’s not so functional now, he becomes a burden on his caregivers; they leave him, he’s neglected, and then now it’s the other things.

“Usually in teaching, when it comes to stroke, the concept is, it’s not the stroke itself that will kill the patient. It’s the other things, the associated things that come with the stroke. So, with the neglect, the person can become angry, have low blood sugar and die from that.”

As a result, experts always advise that patients begin physiotherapy immediately after being diagnosed with the disorder.

According to Dr. Osei-Alomele, when rehabilitation is included in the recovery process of bedridden patients, they can walk and perform other active tasks, depending on the severity of the disease.

“There’s a possibility with rehabilitation depending on how much of the brain is affected.”

Speaking on the use of traditional medicines and whether their use is advisable, Dr. Osei-Alomele said that traditional medicine can play a role in the recovery process, but emphasised that patients should also seek orthodox medical treatment.

“We cannot take traditional medicine from our society. It’s enshrined in our way of life and culture. But I believe that since you’re doing the traditional medicine, let’s also add the orthodox medicine to it. This is my opinion,” the medical officer said.    

Most health workers in Greater Accra face workplace violence, verbal abuse common-KNUST Research

Nearly seven in ten healthcare workers in Greater Accra region have experienced some form of workplace violence during their careers, with verbal abuse the most common, according to a new study led by Dr. Philip Apraku Tawiah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.

The research, published in BMC Public Health, surveyed 607 health professionals and support staff across 10 public and private hospitals in the region.

It found that 68.2% had encountered workplace violence at some point in their careers, while 59.8% had experienced it in the past year. More than half (53.4%) reported being subjected to verbal abuse in the last 12 months.

The consequences extend beyond the workplace. About one in four victims of verbal abuse reported becoming “super alert” or constantly vigilant after incidents, underscoring the lasting psychological toll.

The study identified older age, on-call responsibilities, and inadequate security at facilities as significant risk factors for violence, while greater work experience and a strong sense of safety at the workplace reduced the likelihood of exposure.

Dr. Tawiah urged swift action: “We must act: tighter security at emergency units, stricter visitor rules, prosecution of offenders, and real support for affected staff. Health workers are not punching bags. Protecting them is the first step to protecting patients.”

The researchers called for urgent facility-based interventions to address the problem, warning that workplace violence threatens not only the wellbeing of health workers but also the quality of patient care.

Co-authors of the study include Drs. Emmanuel Appiah-Brempong, Paul Okyere, Geoffrey Adu-Fosu, and Mary Eyram Ashinyo.

Breaking barriers: Orbis International launches pioneering ‘Women in Eye Health Conference’

Orbis International has held its inaugural ‘Women Leaders in Eye Health’ (WLEH) conference in a landmark effort to close the gender gap in eye healthcare leadership.

Held at the Golden Bean Hotel in Kumasi on Saturday, August 16, 2025 , the event brought together female eye health professionals from four key cadres: ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses, and opticians.

The conference, a partnership between Orbis International, Women in Ophthalmology, and the Seva Foundation , operated under the theme, “Mentorship, Breaking Barriers; Building Legacies”.

The conference’s objective was to create a platform for like-minded women to collaborate, find solutions to challenges, and create opportunities in the field of ophthalmology.

While women constitute 70% of the global health workforce, they hold only 25% of leadership positions.

This disparity is particularly pronounced in ophthalmology, where women account for only 25-30% of professionals globally.

In Ghana, women’s representation is low among optometrists (29%) and ophthalmologists (44%), with a “glaring lack of representation in leadership roles”.

A key focus of the conference was highlighting initiatives that can help address this imbalance.

Orbis International is committed to a “gender transformative strategy” that includes mentorship programmes, networking, and providing equitable access to training resources.

The use of transformative technology, such as the organisation’s telemedicine platform, CyberSight, and a blended learning approach, helps female professionals pursue their career interests while managing other challenges.

The event also showcased the significant contributions of women in the sector.

Notably, all five of Ghana’s paediatric ophthalmologists are women, described as “trailblazing” leaders who are not only providing services but also training the next generation.

Community health nurses, also predominantly women, have successfully increased eye health awareness in underserved communities.

The conference will serve as a launchpad for a new Women in Ophthalmology Society in Ghana, which aims to advocate for and uplift women as leaders in the sector and beyond.

The participants also developed recommendations, including a call for the Ministry of Health to strengthen Ghana’s sole ophthalmic nursing training school and establish new ones.

Additionally, they urged health facilities to provide financial support for further ophthalmic studies.

In conclusion, the conference congratulated the College of Physicians and Surgeons for its proactive leadership in increasing the number of ophthalmology trainees and decentralising training centres.

By uplifting women in eye health, the organisers believe they are strengthening the collective mission to provide exceptional care and advance eye health in Ghana and globally.

At the end of the conference, the platform birthed proposals to improve women’s participation in the sector:

Key ways to address the gender gap in eye health

• Highlighting initiatives such as mentorship programs and networking opportunities enable the growth and support to uplift women in the medical field. On Saturday 16^th August 2025, Orbis International Ghana held the first ever conference for female eye health professionals from four ophthalmic cadres (ophthalmologists, optometrists, ophthalmic nurses and opticians)  at the Golden Bean Hotel, Kumasi- under the theme of  “Mentorship, Breaking Barriers; Building Legacies”. This event supported this powerful group of leaders to leave behind  differences and find viable solutions to the peculiar challenges women face in their communities and career.
• Innovations in telemedicine and AI have proven to help overcome access barriers for women. Orbis International’s transformative telemedicine platform, CyberSight, and our use of the blended learning approach helps significantly  to train residents and fellows in the ophthalmic education program. Providing equitable opportunity and access to training resources and methodologies allow female eye health professionals to pursue their interests while tackling other gender specific challenges that could tarry their career aspirations.
• Showcasing women’s contributions to research, innovation, and patient care is critical.. In Ghana, Community Health Nurses have successfully increased eye health awareness in under-served communities.  While women ophthalmologists face unique  challenges to thrive in subspeciality areas, it is notable that the only pediatric ophthalmologists in the country (5 total) are all women. Congratulations to these 5 trailblazing women who are breaking  barriers and building legacies by providing services and training rising stars in this subspecialty. Orbis pledges to continue our support in providing resources that are aligned with current technology and  training for these inspiring leaders.
• Ensuring a representation of women in leadership roles inspire future generations of female professionals. This conference will serve as a springboard to pioneer a Women in Ophthalmology Society in Ghana which seeks to advocate and uplift women as leaders in this sector and beyond.

Recommendations

• The Ministry Of Health should strengthen the capacity of the only Ophthalmic nursing training school in Ghana serving the sub-region to a center of excellence while taking steps to establish new ophthalmic nursing training institutions in other parts of the country to increase access to ophthalmic nursing education in the country and beyond. Orbis is open to partnership and collaboration in this regard.
• Women in eye care should continue to standout in their various facilities, offering excellent services to patients and embrace leadership roles. Through the support of this society, they will have a support system that will mentor and promote participation and assumption of leadership activities and roles.
• Health facilities should make financial support available for ophthalmic training apart from study leave to attract more people to pursue further studies in the ophthalmic space to ensure that  training is equitable and accessible to all.

Assaulting health workers cannot replace justice – Prof Beyuo warns

Member of Parliament’s Health Committee Prof. Titus Beyuo has cautioned against dismissing formal complaint mechanisms in the health sector following the recent assault on nurses and other staff at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, August 20, the medical doctor insisted that disciplinary systems do work and should not be undermined.

“Have you not seen people sued and being asked to pay millions of cedis in this country? Have you not seen people feel that they are scared the hospitals didn’t meet the standard and they took the case to court, and won.

“We have doctors who have been suspended for practice. I have served on a professional and disciplinary committee of one of the regulatory authorities and we’ve struck the licenses of registered practitioners for not meeting the standard.”

He rejected claims that patients or their families have no avenue for redress when aggrieved by the conduct of health professionals.

“So we shouldn’t dare say that, ‘Oh, because I feel that the system will not respond promptly if I make a complaint, then I should take the law into my own hands’. Then where will we get to in this country?

“If you feel your teachers have not taught your kids well, you go to the school and beat them, or you feel the police is not handling your case well, justice is delaying. You go to their workplace and beat them. Is that what we are saying?”

Prof. Beyuo condemned the Ridge Hospital assault, describing it as unacceptable.

“And in the hospital, where other people are lying down in pain, perhaps exposed, and we don’t even allow other relatives to come in, you go live and it’s acceptable, no. So I think that there are redress mechanisms.”

He recalled how serious complaints in the past had been thoroughly investigated.

“As I said, I don’t know the full details, but look, when that 70-something-year-old man died for lack of no bed, a thorough investigation was done. We looked at triaging that was done at every level.

“If it was triage orange, what did you do? It was triage to red, what did you do? If it was triage green, what did it mean? The time to respond and all that. There are international standards for all of this.”

He urged the public to pursue legal and regulatory channels instead of resorting to violence.

“So test the law. And that’s the only way we can get all our practitioners to be on their toes. They can be sued. You can petition their regulators, who can discipline them.

“People can cease to practice as nurses, as doctors, as pharmacists, for not meeting the standard. That is the direction we should be going to. It should not give anybody the opportunity to walk into a hospital and beat doctors and nurses.”

We shouldn’t say complaint mechanisms don’t work; doctors have been suspended before – Prof Beyuo

A member of Parliament’s Health Committee says there are enough redress mechanisms in the health sector to deal with grievances, and no one should justify attacks on health professionals by claiming the system does not work.

Prof Titus Beyuo, speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday, August 20, warned against attempts to normalise violence in hospitals following the assault of nurses and doctors at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

“Have you not seen people sued and being asked to pay millions of cedis in this country? Have you not seen people feel that they are scared the hospitals didn’t meet the standard and they took the case to court, and won.

“We have doctors who have been suspended for practice. I have served on a professional and disciplinary committee of one of the regulatory authorities and we’ve struck the licenses of registered practitioners for not meeting the standard.

“So we shouldn’t dare say that, ‘Oh, because I feel that the system will not respond promptly if I make a complaint, then I should take the law into my own hands.’”

He argued that resorting to violence against medical staff could set a dangerous precedent.

“Then where will we get to in this country? If you feel your teachers have not taught your kids well, you go to the school and beat them? Or you feel the police is not handling your case well, justice is delaying, you go to their workplace and beat them?

“Is that what we are saying? And in the hospital, where other people are lying down in pain, perhaps exposed, and we don’t even allow other relatives to come in, you go live and it’s acceptable, no.”

Prof Beyuo insisted that the country already has established channels to ensure accountability in the health system.

“So I think that there are redress mechanisms. As I said, I don’t know the full details, but look, when that 70-something-year-old man died for lack of no bed, a thorough investigation was done. We looked at triaging that was done at every level.

“If it was triage orange, what did you do? It was triage red, what did you do? If it was triage green, what did it mean? The time to respond and all that. There are international standards for all of this. So test the law. And that’s the only way we can get all our practitioners to be on their toes.”

He emphasised that health professionals are not above the law, but must be held accountable through due process rather than mob action.

“They can be sued. You can petition their regulators, who can discipline them. People can cease to practice as nurses, as doctors, as pharmacists, for not meeting the standard.

“That is the direction we should be going to. It should not give anybody the opportunity to walk into a hospital and beat doctors and nurses.”

Mpox: We’ve conducted over 2,000 contact tracing – Mintah Akandoh

Minister for Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has revealed that more than 2,000 contact tracings have been carried out as part of Ghana’s efforts to contain the Mpox outbreak.

Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse show, he emphasized that while outbreaks cannot be completely prevented, the way they are managed determines their impact.

“I cannot prevent entirely an outbreak in the country, but it depends on how you handle the outbreak when it comes,” he said.

Updating the public on the current figures, Mr. Akandoh said, “We have recorded cases of Mpox; we have done more than 2,000 contact tracings with suspected cases, and then about 409 confirmed cases. We have about 102 people in isolation, and unfortunately we have one death.”

He revealed that the outbreak has affected almost the entire country.

“We have the national rapid response team, the regional rapid response team, and the district response team, and it’s been hit by 15 out of the 16 regions. It’s only Savannah that hasn’t been affected,” he added.

On government interventions, Mr. Akandoh said efforts are underway to secure vaccines. “We are also working on getting vaccines as part of our response. And so very soon, we will be taking the delivery of vaccines from the US and other parts of the world to be integrated as part of our response to Mpox,” he said.

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