Ghana News

Today, on World Health Day, World Health Organization (WHO) celebrates its 75th anniversary. In 1948, countries of the world came together and founded WHO to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable – so everyone, everywhere can attain the highest level of health and well-being. 

In Ghana, the National TB Control Programme (NTP) has been instrumental in providing guidelines, treatment and support to clients affected by the disease. Since 2016 there have been great advances in the detection of Drug-resistant and Drug Sensitive TB cases, with GeneXpert is now the main diagnostic tool in investigating TB.

Ten Ministries of Health with country, regional and global partners have resolved to strengthen collaboration towards improving maternal, newborn and child health through sustained quality of care at all levels of the health system.

The Government of Ghana has launched an expansion of the national malaria vaccine immunization programme to deliver malaria vaccines to thousands of children at high risk of malaria illness and death in Ghana.

The World Health Organization (WHO) with support from the Governments of the United States and Canada has presented vehicles and office equipment worth about 2.4 million Ghana Cedis to the regional health directorates of the six newly created regions in Ghana to facilitate the delivery of quality health service in all parts of the regions. 

To help address the funding gaps, boost investment and improve health outcomes, the Ministry of Health has developed a National Health Financing Strategy. This was made possible with funding from the United Nations Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (UNMPTF) through the technical leadership of the World Health Organization (WHO).

In Ghana, NCDs account for 43% all-cause mortality, with major NCDs such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and respiratory disease becoming common in health facilities. However, the capacity to address NCDs at the primary health care has been identified to be limited

In Ghana, gender equality and equity are important commitments in national health policies, including many other multi-sectoral policies. At the height of COVID-19, Ghana’s Strategic Response Plan emphasized the need to ensure equitable access to health services for all, who will need them. 

To strengthen the capacity of women leaders in the health sector to help deliver a more robust health system in Ghana, World Health Organization (WHO) with support from United Kingdom Government through the Department of Health and Social Care (UK-DHSC) organized a capacity building for women health leaders as part of the Health Workforce Programme.

WHO convenes regional policy dialogue to draw on lessons learned to determine key health workforce investment principles and opportunities and explore the role of the sub-regional bodies in strengthening health workforce investments and protection of the health and care workers.