Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a significant global health challenge, responsible for 41 million deaths annually, accounting for 71% of all deaths worldwide. Lifestyle factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity are major drivers of these diseases. In Ghana, NCDs are a growing concern, with 43% of all deaths attributed to NCDs. Prevalence rates are highest for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which affect 19% of the population, followed by cancer (5%), diabetes (3%), chronic respiratory diseases (2%), and other NCDs, including mental health disorders (13%), among individuals aged 15-49 years. The management of NCDs in Ghana faces significant challenges, including weak data collection systems, inadequate screening facilities, staff shortages, lack of staff training, referral system deficiencies, infrastructural challenges, and medication shortages along the supply chain. Financial burdens on patients are also a major concern. To address these challenges, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Package of Essential NCD Interventions (WHO PEN) framework, offering cost-effective interventions for NCD prevention, detection, and management. Despite the potential of the WHO-PEN framework to improve NCD management in Ghana, the prevalence of CVDs remains high. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of the WHO-PEN framework, focusing on CVD protocols, in hard-to-reach communities in Ghana. The study will utilize a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions with healthcare workers and providers. The findings will provide insights into improving service delivery models for NCD management in remote and underserved areas, contributing to a more effective approach to addressing the NCD burden in Ghana.
Hard to Reach
Communities within the Ashanti Region and Eastern Region who face significant challenges in accessing quality healthcare.
Key Takeaways
The team recommends the following for the implementation of the WHO-PEN Framework in Ghana:
- To address this issue of physicians being overwhelmed, healthcare facilities can enhance the role of nurses through tailored training programs, placement of more nurses in dedicated NCD units, career development for specialized nurses, and technical integration for extended care.
- There is a need for a more structured approach to ensure effective learning and implementation.
- The Ghana Health System should consider revising its training programs for hospital staff when introducing new policies or frameworks.
- Health care facilities can be assisted by developing a robust system of support reception through an extensive list of sponsors and partnerships with organizations both locally and internationally.
Researchers
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Nice Cailie Ineza
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Kezia Asare
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Hannah Nah-anzoh
Mentors
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Disraeli Asante-Darko
Adjunct Faculty, Business Administration Department, Ashesi University
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Theodora Ekua Aryee
Accounting Professional and Researcher
Acknowledgments
We express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported us throughout this research journey. We are immensely grateful to our performance coach, Anowa Quarcoo, for her invaluable guidance, encouragement, and insightful feedback that helped shape the team and our research. We express deep gratitude toward all participants of this study, including those recommended by our faculty mentors, who gave their limited and invaluable time to partake in the study. Their willingness to share their experiences and insights was crucial to the success of this project. Finally, we acknowledge the support of Professor Angela Owusu-Ansah, provost of Ashesi University and her office, and Professor Adei Research Studio of Ashesi University whose resources and backing made this research possible.