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Ghana is making a significant move in its fight against the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with the launch of the NCD-CareNet Intervention, spearheaded by the STOP NCD Research Centre.
This innovative, systems-thinking approach aims to unify fragmented health data and build a robust, equitable primary healthcare network to manage conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and mental health disorders.
The initiative was the central focus of the Third National and Sub-national Stakeholders Co-Design Meeting, held from July 9 to 11, 2025, in Accra.
Professor Irene A. Agyepong, Chair of the Faculty of Public Health at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons and Co-Director of the STOP NCD Centre, explained that the project is based on comprehensive research conducted earlier this year.
“We found that the biggest challenge is the fragmentation of NCD-related information and efforts. There’s a lot of data, but it’s scattered and uncoordinated. We need to synthesise the evidence into a functional whole,” she noted.
NCDs are responsible for about 43 per cent of all deaths in Ghana, with hypertension affecting 30 per cent of adults aged 30 and above, and diabetes affecting 5-7 per cent of the adult population. Many of these cases remain undiagnosed or poorly managed.
The NCD-CareNet initiative seeks to address this by focusing on the sub-district level, shifting from facility-based to population-centred care, especially in communities of 5,000 to 10,000 people. Services will range from screenings at CHPS compounds to structured referrals to higher-level health facilities.
“Early detection is key, as many NCDs are silent until they become serious. We must take care to the people,” Professor Agyepong stressed.
The intervention will pilot from August 1, 2025 in three distinct districts:
• Afram Plains North (Eastern Region) – deprived rural area
• Ga South (Greater Accra) – complex urban environment
• Shai Osudoku (Greater Accra) – peri-urban setting
The six-month pilot will test and refine the system, with a full-scale evaluation planned over the following 12 to 18 months. A health economist will support the team to ensure value for money and informed decision-making.
Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service, welcomed the project, highlighting the need for early intervention and increased awareness.
“If awareness is high, people will get tested and act early,” he said.
Dr Sylvia Anie of the STOP NCD Advisory Committee stressed the importance of collaboration: “Tackling the prevalence of diabetes, hypertension and mental health challenges requires co-created, inclusive solutions.”
The stakeholder meeting included participants from the Ghana Health Service, the National Health Insurance Authority, and other regional and national agencies, reflecting a strong multi-sectoral commitment to addressing NCDs.
