The Élevé Health Watch and Healthy Futures Ghana Initiative has been officially launched in Accra in a direct response to the alarming epidemiological shift in Ghana’s mortality profile caused by Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The move aims to aggressively confront the escalating threat posed by NCDs, which are now recognised as a dominant factor in the nation’s death rate.
Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health data highlight the gravity of the crisis: NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, account for an estimated 43% to 45% of all deaths in Ghana.
Cardiovascular diseases alone contribute to nearly 19% of NCD deaths.
These figures underscore a transition from a burden dominated by infectious diseases to a dual challenge involving chronic illnesses.
The newly launched programme, spearheaded by Nana Abena Gyamfua Ababio, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Élevé Health Watch and Healthy Futures Ghana, is focusing on community-level access to healthcare as its core strategy to slow this trend.
The goal transcends mere symptom management, focusing instead on comprehensive, long-term wellness.
At the launch event, Nana Abena Gyamfua Ababio detailed the initiative’s foundational objective, stating: “The initiative seeks to expand access to basic healthcare for underserved communities.”
The program’s immediate impact has already been demonstrated through on-the-ground activities. Ms. Ababio confirmed that targeted outreach efforts were successfully executed in the Eastern Region.
She revealed that “Free health screenings have already been conducted in Brekusu and Oboadaka in the Eastern Region, where patients received a one-month supply of medication.”
These early interventions provide not just diagnosis but also crucial initial pharmaceutical support to stabilise newly identified cases in resource-poor areas.
Organisers stressed that the initiative’s mission is fundamentally about societal transformation.
The multi-faceted approach recognises that NCDs are intrinsically linked to lifestyle factors such as unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol use.
While free screening and medicine supply are critical first steps, the long-term vision involves a paradigm shift in public health education.
The organisers stated that the overall goal goes beyond treatment. Instead, it is about transformation, empowering Ghanaians with the knowledge, tools, and access they need to live healthier lives.
This holistic approach is designed to tackle the underlying behavioural and environmental risk factors associated with conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
The founders of the initiative firmly believe that community-driven interventions are critical to bridging the country’s healthcare gaps and slowing down the alarming rise of Non-Communicable Diseases.
By establishing a sustained presence and building local capacity for health education and monitoring, Élevé Health Watch and Healthy Futures Ghana aim to create a resilient, informed populace capable of managing and preventing chronic illness.