Stakeholders in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been urged to step up advocacy efforts and push for stronger government commitment ahead of the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September.
Speaking at a capacity-building seminar for media professionals, civil society organizations (CSOs), and persons living with NCDs, Jeorge Wilson Kingston, Chairman of the Media Alliance in Tobacco Control and Health (MATCOH), emphasized the urgent need for action to curb the rising burden of NCDs in Ghana.
He stressed the alarming rate at which NCDs are affecting Ghanaians, indicating that they now account for about 45% of all deaths in the country.
“The global burden of NCDs in Ghana cannot be ignored. These diseases are not just a health challenge but an economic and social crisis that deepens poverty and strains our healthcare system,” he stated.
The seminar, organized by the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA) in collaboration with MATCOH and the Private Newspaper and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to advocate for improved policies, universal health coverage, and increased government investment in NCD prevention and mental health services.
Kingson noted that Ghana still faces significant barriers in the fight against NCDs despite some progress, including the introduction of wellness clinics, annual health checks, and a free dialysis program for chronic kidney disease patients.
“High treatment costs, inequitable access to healthcare and insufficient mental health support continue to worsen the plight of NCD patients. The financial burden forces many families into hardship, making it difficult for them to afford care,” he lamented.
The training also sought to empower journalists and CSOs to effectively communicate NCD-related issues, engage policymakers, and ensure NCDs remain a top priority in the country’s health agenda.
“Through this training, we want to enhance the ability of journalists and CSOs to communicate effectively about NCDs, engage with policymakers, and push for prioritization of these diseases at the national level,” Kingston explained.
He stressed the importance of holding the government accountable for its commitments to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4, which seeks to reduce premature mortality from NCDs and achieve universal health coverage.
Kingson called on all stakeholders to use their platforms to advocate for greater government investment in healthcare, particularly in NCD prevention and mental health services.
“Let us use this training as an opportunity to strengthen our resolve. We must be proactive in ensuring that our voices are heard in the policymaking process,” he urged.
He reaffirmed MATCOH’s commitment to collaborating with stakeholders to drive sustainable action on NCDs and emphasized that, together, they can build momentum for a healthier and more equitable Ghana.
In presentation on the topic, ‘Overview of NCDs landscape in Ghana from CSOs viewpoints,’ Labram Musah, National Coordinator for GhNCDA underscored the urgent need for increased investment and stressed the critical role these measures play in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Ghana.
“NCDs are a growing public health crisis, and addressing them requires not only financial commitment but also the active participation of those directly affected. We must ensure that persons living with NCDs are included in decision-making processes to create policies that truly meet their needs,” he said.
Musah called on the government and stakeholders to prioritize NCDs in national health agendas and allocate more resources to combat these diseases.
He emphasized the importance of empowering individuals living with NCDs to share their experiences and insights, ensuring that health policies are both inclusive and effective.