By Samira Larbie
Accra, March 7, GNA – The Ministry of Health and partner advocates have called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, the private sector and civil society to address the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.
Dr Hafez Adam Taher, the Director of Technical Coordination, Ministry of Health, said tackling NCDs required a “whole-of-government and whole-of-society” approach because many risk factors fell outside the direct mandate of the health sector.
He made the call at the National Forum for Non-Health Actors on NCDs, organised by the Ghana NCD Alliance, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, with support from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
The forum, held in Accra on the theme: “Creating Commitment and Eliciting Collaboration,” aimed to involve institutions outside the health sector in efforts to prevent and control NCDs.
Dr Taher, who represented the Chief Director of the Ministry, explained that issues such as road safety, physical inactivity, environmental pollution and improper disposal of electronic waste significantly contributed to the rising incidence of chronic diseases.
He cited road traffic accidents as an example, noting that although they formed part of the broader NCD burden, they fell largely under the jurisdiction of transport and road safety agencies.
He, therefore, urged ministries responsible for transport, communication, finance and education, as well as telecommunications companies, mining firms and the media, to incorporate health considerations into their policies, programmes and budgets.
“Integrating NCD prevention into national planning can significantly reduce preventable deaths and improve overall public health outcomes,” he said.
Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Chief Executive Officer of Peace and Love Hospital, and a surgeon, emphasised the need to prioritise disease prevention rather than waiting until conditions became severe before seeking treatment.
She noted that many Ghanaians delayed in visiting health facilities because several NCDs, including hypertension and some cancers, developped gradually and often showed no early symptoms.
As a result, many patients sought medical care only after complications arose, leading to higher mortality rates and increased healthcare costs.
Dr Wiafe said limited awareness about risk factors such as physical inactivity, smoking and unhealthy diets was also contributing to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.
She warned that emerging lifestyle trends, particularly the growing use of shisha among young people, posed serious health risks if urgent regulatory measures were not implemented.
She, thus, called for stricter regulations, including the possible ban of shisha, noting that several African countries had already adopted similar measures to safeguard public health.
Dr Wiafe encouraged the private sector to support national health promotion efforts through corporate social responsibility initiatives, particularly by supporting community outreach and health education campaigns in rural and underserved communities.
Mr Labram Musah, National Coordinator of the Ghana NCD Alliance, said the forum was necessary because discussions on NCDs had largely remained within the health sector.
“We have been preaching to the converted for a long time. It is important to bring non-health actors on board because non-communicable diseases affect everyone, not only the health sector,” he said.
He said about 43 per cent of all deaths in Ghana were linked to non-communicable diseases, accounting for an estimated 94,400 deaths annually.
Mr Musah noted that institutions such as environmental agencies, transport authorities, agricultural bodies, and private companies all influenced public health outcomes through their policies and operations.
He cited vehicle emissions, workplace health policies, food environments and opportunities for physical activity as areas where non-health actors could contribute to reducing the NCD burden.
He, therefore, encouraged organisations to incorporate NCD prevention measures into their policies and corporate social responsibility programmes by promoting healthy
meals in workplace canteens, creating spaces for physical activity, organising staff wellness programmes and supporting public health initiatives.
Investing in employee health would reduce absenteeism and improve productivity, Mr Musah said.
“If each institution takes small steps within its environment, together we can significantly reduce the national burden of non-communicable diseases.”
The forum forms part of ongoing efforts to promote a multi-sectoral approach to preventing and controlling NCDs in line with global public health strategies.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe