Author: Gloria Addo

In a strategic move aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery in Ghana, the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) into the country’s healthcare framework. The MoU, signed on Friday, April 11, 2025, at TMPC’s Head Office in Accra, marks a monumental step toward the unification of Chinese and African traditional healing practices. The agreement was signed by Dr. (MH) Yakubu Tobor Yusuf, the head of TMPC, and Madam Sihong Jiang, President of HCOWA, alongside a high-level HCOWA delegation that included…

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has thrown its full weight behind the Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) Association as the association rolls out a bold Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiative to revolutionize Ghana’s healthcare system. During a courtesy call on Friday, March 28, 2025, on the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, at the GHS Headquarters in Accra, the HCOWA delegation introduced its five-point AI-powered transformation plan, aimed at enhancing diagnosis, disease surveillance, traditional medicine, and the medical supply chain across the country. Professor Kaba described HCOWA’s initiative as “a transformational tool and a game-changing intervention…

World Health Day 2025 marks the launch of a global campaign aimed at improving maternal and newborn health. Under the theme “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures,” the year-long initiative will call on governments, health systems, and communities to intensify efforts to end preventable deaths and enhance care for women and babies. The campaign, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners, emphasizes the urgent need for action. Currently, nearly 300,000 women die annually due to pregnancy or childbirth complications. Meanwhile, over 2 million newborns die within their first month of life, and another 2 million are stillborn — a…

The Central Africa Regional Integrated Surveillance and Laboratory Network (RISLNET) has ushered in a new era of health security with the appointment of new board members and the adoption of a strategic operating framework at a workshop held in Libreville, Gabon, from March 28–29. For the next two years, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Equatorial Guinea will serve as chair and vice-chair, respectively. The reforms are part of a broader effort to align the network’s operations with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (Africa CDC) new strategic priorities. “A high-quality laboratory and surveillance system is…

The President of the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists (GAMH), Dr. MH Sandra Ashong, has called for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in traditional medicine to revolutionize the field and improve healthcare delivery. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWA), on the Development and Application of Smart Chinese Medicine in Healthcare, Dr. Ashong emphasized the need to bridge traditional medicine with modern technology. The seminar, themed “Bridging Traditional and Technology: AI-Driven Innovations in African and Chinese Medicine,” brought together key stakeholders in the persons of Dr. Yakubu Tubor Yusuf, Registrar of the…

HOCWA Association has entered partnerships through the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists and Kantanka Herbal Pharmaceuticals & Research Centre as part of a seminar on the Development and Application of Smart Chinese Medicine in Healthcare. The initiative is aimed at exploring the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the Ghanaian herbal medicine. The purpose of this MoU is also to formalize the partnership between Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ghanaian herbal medicine and to strengthen research collaborations, enhance healthcare delivery, and facilitate knowledge exchange programs to the benefit…

Dingco Biotechnology is set to transform the field of diagnostics with its advanced, fully automated Thin Layer Cytology Preparation Machines and Intelligent Dyeing and Sealing Integrated Machines. In a groundbreaking presentation at the just ended 5th edition of the AI Diagnosis Seminar Series focused on “AI in Medical Imaging & Smart Diagnostics, Dingco Biotechnology introduced its flagship technologies designed to enhance diagnostic accuracy, reduce human error, and streamline workflow efficiency in pathology labs. Founded in 2021, Dingco Biotechnology has quickly established itself as a pioneer in automated pathological detection equipment in China. With production bases in Ningbo and Wuhan, the…

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being hailed as a game-changer for personalized medicine, but the National Association of Nurses of Togo (ANIIT) raises important questions about its implementation. In an insightful presentation titled “AI in Personalized Medicine in West Africa and Togo: Towards Improved Treatment Plans and Patient Outcomes,” the association advocates for the careful consideration of AI’s use in personalized healthcare. This presentation was delivered at the 5th edition of the AI in Healthcare conference, which focused on the theme “AI Diagnosis and Treatment: A Multilateral Symposium on Medical Imaging and Smart Diagnosis.” Key points discussed highlighted AI’s potential to…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that millions of people in eight countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Lesotho, could soon face a life-threatening shortage of HIV drugs due to the US government’s recent decision to pause foreign aid. The aid freeze, initiated by US President Donald Trump on his first day in office in January, has severely disrupted global health programs. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that the interruption could erase 20 years of progress in combating HIV, potentially resulting in over 10 million new cases and three million additional HIV-related deaths. Among the affected nations are…

As the world observes Oral Health Day, it has been reported that Africa faces significant limitations in access to oral health services. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), only 17% of Africans have access to oral healthcare across the continent. This information was shared in a report by Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Acting Regional Director for Africa at the WHO, during his message to commemorate World Oral Health Day in 2025. World Oral Health Day is celebrated annually on March 20, serving as an important opportunity to raise awareness of and prioritize oral health—a crucial aspect of overall well-being…