The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (MP), has launched the first-ever treatment standard for the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Ghana – the National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases. This makes Ghana the third country in sub-Saharan Africa to have such a guideline document.
The official launch ceremony, which took place in Accra, was attended by the Director General of Ghana Health Service (GHS), the CEO of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the Cluster Division Head, Pharma South-East and West Africa from Bayer AG, the Director General for International Services of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and other dignitaries.
Ghanaian experts and local institutions jointly developed the CVD guidelines document under the coordination of the Ghana Heart Initiative, a project implemented by the Ministry of Health (MoH), GHS, GIZ with funding support from the Bayer AG.
In delivering his keynote address, the Minister said: “The Ghana Heart Initiative is a great example of how stakeholders can join forces to address global health challenges. This strategic partnership between Bayer, GIZ, the Ministry of Health and other national partners has since its inception in January 2019 achieved many important milestones on the path towards an improved prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Ghana.
The development of the National Guidelines for the Management of Cardiovascular Diseases is among the most important results delivered so far, as it institutionalizes a treatment standard for healthcare professionals on all levels of care.”
The minister expressed his confidence in the guidelines as an important element in the sustainable strengthening of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) management in Ghana.
In garnering further support for the launched guidelines, the Director General of the GHS, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, added: “It is my hope that all health professionals in Ghana will embrace the use of the guidelines in the management of cardiovascular diseases and by so doing, contribute to reducing morbidity and mortality related to CVDs in Ghana.”
The Cluster Division Head, Pharma South-East and West Africa for Bayer AG, Mr. Colin Tyrer, emphasized the commitment of the Bayer AG to promote access to quality healthcare.
He said: “At Bayer, attaining our vision of ‘Health for All, Hunger for None’ means, enabling broader patient access to quality medicines and treatments worldwide. In light of this, we are committed to moving NCD care forward: developing capacities, enhancing awareness and improving infrastructure to tackle such diseases in West Africa.
The Ghana Heart Initiative represents a lighthouse project in this regard, helping us to better understand access components beyond drug availability and serving as a foundation and catalyst for subsequent initiatives around NCDs capacity building.”
Speaking on behalf of GIZ, the Director General of International Services, Carsten Schmitz–Hoffmann, said: “These Guidelines have been developed by Ghanaians for Ghanaians. Over one hundred experts and health professionals from various health institutions across the country representing all levels of care have joined hands to produce this national treatment standard for cardiovascular diseases ensuring a direct ownership and meaning.”
Briefing the audience on the GHI, the Technical Director, Dr. Alfred Doku, highlighted the milestones attained by the initiative. The project since its inception has significantly strengthened the Ghanaian health care system through the development of CVD training manuals which have been used to train more than 650 health professionals, the supply of basic equipment for diagnosis and management of CVDs to beneficiary health facilities, the establishment of a CVD Support and Call Centre, and the improvement of nationwide CVD related data collection and management.
Other newsworthy milestones achieved by the GHI include the establishment of a pilot 24/7 CVD Support and Call Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to support healthcare workers in the management of CVD at all levels of care in Accra. An app-based version of the guidelines, the AkomaCare app, has also been developed and is available both on Play Store and App Store for download.
The Ghana Heart Initiative is currently being rolled out to 10 additional regions following the successful pilot in the Greater Accra Region.
