Sustainably strengthening the healthcare system in Ghana
Preventing and managing CVDs at tertiary, secondary and primary level of care
Through the development of “National Guidelines for the Management of CVDs” and training of health workers at all levels of care, infrastructure, and data management on CVDs
Health practitioners across the country have been equipped with tools for the implementation of the National Guidelines.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes or chronic respiratory diseases present a growing burden for low- and middle-income countries across the globe.To face this challenge, the Bayer AG, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and Ghanaian health institutions have joined hands to co-design an integrated diagnosis, treatment, and training pilot project in line with Bayer’s strategy to strengthen healthcare systems. This project, the Ghana Heart Initiative (GHI), aims at improving the prevention, diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) at tertiary, secondary and primary level of care in Ghana. Implemented in close cooperation with the Ghanaian Ministry of Health as well as the Ghana Health Service, the GHI seeks to sustainably improve the treatment standards, capacity of health professionals as well as data management on CVDs.
CVD is a rapidly increasing health challenge in Ghana and has become a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Stroke, for example, is one of the most common causes of death in the country’s adult population.First results exemplify how early diagnosis, adequate treatment and close monitoring can reduce the fatal consequences of CVDs. After the training and mentoring of health workers through the GHI, the proportion of patients with an elevated blood pressure identified that were treated, followed a continued treatment, and then reached a controlled blood pressure increased from 7% to an average of 77% during the project duration (2019-2023). This indicates that the management of hypertension improved in the beneficiary health facilities. However, the public healthcare system continues to face a critical shortage of resources and capacities, seriously hindering an effective response to this mounting CVD burden. The GHI seeks to rally all important Ghanaian health stakeholders to jointly address this challenge.
Implemented in close cooperation with the Ghanaian Ministry of Health as well as the Ghana Health Service, the GHI seeks to sustainably improve the management of patients with CVDs; capacity of health professionals; as well as data management for CVDs.Therefore, the GHI rallied all important Ghanaian health stakeholders to jointly work towards this goal. Looking at the future, the aim of the GHI is to scale up the project in coverage and activities to further improve the management of CVDs in Ghana. Through the GHIs achievements, the management of NCDs will be improved in a sustainable and coordinated manner within the Ghana Health Initiative. By means of a modular approach and based on the already existing project structure, different project components may be added. Thereby synergies are created and impacts are leveraged to achieve tangible improvements of NCD management in Ghana.
+3 Million Ghanaians profit from improved management of NCDs
National Guidelines for the Management of CVDs launched
A 24/7 CVD Support and Call Centre established
Akomacare app developed
4,200+ medical professionals trained
Mentorship network established
Medical equipment deployed to 190 health facilities
National data management on CVDs improved
Development of National Guidelines for the management of CVDs in cooperation with the Ghanaian Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service.
Strengthening of the knowledge and skills of health professionals for the prevention and management of CVDs.
Improvement of nationwide data collection for non- communicable diseases.
Establishment of a functioning support and call center for the risk assessment and management of CVDs.
On behalf of:
Implemented by:
