Author: Gloria Addo

On August 19, 2025, the official welcome dinner of the 2025 China–West Africa Medical & Health Industry Expo and AI Diagnosis & Project Cooperation Summit gathered government officials in Ghana and West Africa, dignified personalities in health care, sponsors, delegates, medical experts, and exhibitors for a memorable evening of cultural exchange and networking at the Tang Palace Hotel in Accra. The event celebrated the strong bond between Ghana and China, weaving together cultural exchange, policy dialogue, and industry collaboration. Guests were treated to traditional Ghanaian music and live band performances, setting an atmosphere of warmth and friendship. Hon. Julius Debrah,…

HCOWA China-Ghana Medical Academic Exchange Committee (H-MAEC) has successfully hosted the inaugural China-Ghana Minimally Invasive Surgery Innovation & Knowledge Exchange Summit under the theme “Precision, Progress, and Partnership in Minimally Invasive Surgery”. Held at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), University of Ghana, the summit marked a milestone in fostering cross-border medical collaboration and innovation. The landmark event convened leading surgeons, gynecologists, and orthopedic specialists from China and West Africa, creating an exceptional platform for academic exchange. Discussions focused on the latest advancements, practical challenges, and emerging technologies in the field of minimally invasive surgery (MIS). With a…

The Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) in collaboration with Ghana Health Service (GHS) has officially announced the 2025 China -West Africa Medical and Health Industry Expo and AI Diagnosis Deployment & Project Cooperation Summit in a press conference on Tuesday July 15, 2025.` The press briefing which was held at the headquarters of the Ghana Health Service in Accra, was under the theme: Focusing on Supply-Demand Cooperation to Promote the Integrated Development of the China-Africa Health Industry. The primary goal of the Expo is to drive healthcare development and accelerate the transformation of the West African health system.…

The Acting Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, has described a new partnership between GHS and the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) towards the 2025 China–West Africa Medical and Health Industry Expo as “a gateway to a new era” in healthcare across the sub-region. Speaking at the official launch of the 2025 China–West Africa Medical & Health Industry Expo and AI Diagnosis & Project Cooperation Summit, he underscored the strategic importance of the partnership between Ghana Health Service and the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA). “Through this collaboration, we aim to deepen…

“This Expo is not just an event; it is HCOWAA’s invitation to the world to come, invest, build, and grow with us in healthcare.”With these words, Prince Opoku Dogbey, Vice President of the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA), set the tone for what promises to be the most ambitious health and medical industry gathering West Africa has ever seen; the 2025 China–West Africa Medical & Health Industry Expo and AI Diagnosis & Project Cooperation Summit. Announced at a press conference held at the Ghana Health Service Headquarters in Accra on July 15, 2025, Prince Opoku Dogbey, Vice President…

England is set to make history as the first country to launch a national vaccination program targeting gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that has become increasingly resistant to treatment. While the program will initially focus on high-risk groups—particularly gay and bisexual men with multiple partners or a history of STIs—it sets a precedent with far-reaching global implications. Though the vaccine, originally developed to protect against meningitis B, is only 30–40% effective against gonorrhoea, public health experts view its rollout as a critical step in reversing soaring global infection rates. In England alone, gonorrhoea cases surged to more than 85,000…

At the recent AI Applications West African Hospital Needs Exchange Meeting, Health Services Administrator Michael Abeku Yankson delivered an insightful keynote that underscored the urgent need for systemic reform across the region’s healthcare delivery systems. His address, which was presented at the event hosted by the Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA), served as a highly informative piece as it centered on integrating artificial intelligence to strengthen hospital support and medical supply systems. Standing before a room of representatives from Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Food and Drugs Authority, fellow administrators in healthcare facilities both private and government, stakeholders,…

Dr. Paulina Denteh, Director of HCOWAA Women’s Health, has championed the use of AI-powered chatbots in transforming patient care across the region at the recent AI Applications – West African Hospital Needs Exchange Conference, hosted by the Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) Association at its headquarters in Accra. Speaking with urgency and clarity, Dr. Denteh highlighted everyday challenges that patients and healthcare workers face—from long wait times and language barriers to a lack of clear medical guidance. “Our healthcare workers are overwhelmed, trying to serve too many people with too few resources,” she said. “Patients leave confused about their…

The Health Community of West Africa Association has successfully launched its Medical and Academic Exchange Committee (H-MAEC), in a high profile event featuring distinguished personalities from China, partner agencies, academia, and health professionals at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Delivering his keynote address as Executive Chairman of the H-MAE Committee, Dr. Yang Yongguang who is also Captain of 14th Batch of the Chinese medical team to Ghana highlighted the broader significance of the collaboration. “With the joint efforts of the Chinese and Ghanaian governments, we are not just performing surgeries—we are shaping a healthcare future grounded in shared…

“Today, we stand at a transformative moment in our region’s healthcare journey—a moment where the wisdom of tradition meets the precision of modern science, where borders dissolve in the face of shared human purpose.’ That was the fundamental message from Dr. (MH) Yakubu Tobor Yusuf – Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council who was a keynote speaker at the launch of the HCOWA Medical and Academic Exchange Committee (H-MAEC). The launch of the commitee captured the ambition of a new regional vision: one where healthcare excellence transcends national boundaries, and where West Africa emerges as a model of integrated,…