Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

Federal health officials announced the first major overhaul of the nation’s routine childhood immunization schedule in decades, moving several key vaccines from universal to targeted or consultative recommendations. The updated guidance, endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), signals a strategic pivot toward precision public health. Under the new schedule, vaccines against meningococcal disease, hepatitis B, and hepatitis A will no longer be universally recommended for all children. Instead, they will be advised primarily for infants, children, and adolescents considered at higher risk due to geographic, health, or…

The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging African nations to strategically integrate scientifically proven traditional medicine into their national health systems. This integration is championed as a pivotal pathway to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across the continent. The call was made by Dr. Angela Ackon, Technical Officer for Quality and Safety at the WHO Ghana Office, during her address at the 23rd International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2025). Dr. Ackon underscored that with 80% of the global population relying on traditional medicine, its deep-rooted use and acceptance in African communities present a unique opportunity to…

Essence Clinic and Medical Laboratory is now delivering clearer patient scan results in record time, thanks to the launch of a new advanced imaging system. This technology directly tackles the critical delays in diagnostic reporting that plague many Ghanaian healthcare facilities. The system is designed to help medical professionals handle digital imaging more efficiently—automatically processing DICOM files from ultrasound and other equipment, registering examination details, and producing structured reports within seconds. This comes at a time when many health facilities across developing countries struggle with delays due to limited specialists and rising patient numbers. The core aim, according to the…

The Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) Association took a commanding lead at the 2025 China–Africa Healthcare Market Development Opportunities Exchange and Economic & Trade Cooperation Matching Conference in Chengdu, positioning the West African region as a rising force in healthcare investment, manufacturing, technology transfer, and traditional medicine innovation. With its growing influence and unified regional reach, HCOWA set the tone for a conference that highlighted West Africa’s readiness to partner with China in shaping the next phase of global healthcare development. HCOWA’s delegation—comprising senior health regulators, sector leaders, and technical experts—outlined opportunities spanning pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, hospital development, artificial intelligence,…

HCOWA Ghana and the Traditional Medicine Practice Council (TMPC) in a collaborative move aimed at transforming the herbal and traditional medicine sector, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the West African Herbal Medicine Joint Standardization Laboratory (WA-HMSL) at the2025 China-Africa Healthcare Market Development Opportunities Exchange and Economic & Trade Cooperation Meeting held in Chengdu-China on 27th November, 2025. The collaboration aims to address long-standing challenges in the sector, including inconsistent quality, lack of scientific validation, and regulatory fragmentation. The new laboratory will serve as a regional hub for research, testing, and certification of herbal medicines, ensuring that products…

The Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) Association has embarked on a high-level mission to China aimed at deepening partnerships, promoting investment opportunities, and strengthening Ghana’s position as a leading economic and healthcare hub in West Africa. The delegation is led by HCOWA President Mr. Sihong Jiang, accompanied by Vice President Prince Opoku Dogbey, the Registrar of the Traditional Medicine Practice Council – Dr. Yusuf Yakubu Tobor, and the Deputy Director, Resource Mobilization and Coordination, at the Ghana Health Service – Nicholas Nyagblornu. Together, the team will engage key Chinese stakeholders from government, industry, and academia. A core part of…

By Hilda Kai Larsey Every October, the world is awash with pink ribbons, a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight against breast cancer. However, beyond the pink campaigns, organizations work tirelessly throughout the year to educate, encourage early detection, and support survivors and their families. In Ghana, one organization that stand out is the Naomi Mikafui Breast Cancer Foundation, founded by Mr. Nuelz Ehum-Addo. On October 1st, at Essence Clinic and Medical Laboratory, Mr. Ehum-Addo shared his journey, vision, and mission in keeping alive the legacy of his late wife, Naomi. His story is one of grief, resilience and a…

In a major move to promote regional health cooperation, a representative from the Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) Association, Mr. Yoshua Kodjovi Domedjui – Director of content, paid Togo’s Minister of Health, Professor Tchin DARRE, a courtesy call at the Ministry of Health in Lomé on 1st October, 2025. The meeting, held in a cordial and forward-looking atmosphere, served to strengthen ties and discuss pivotal initiatives for the West African health sector. The central focus was the upcoming Health Ministers Summit, which aims to pilot the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into regional healthcare systems. Professor DARRE warmly received…

The National Association of Nursing in Togo launched its pivotal triennial General Assembly on 30th September, 2025 in the nation’s capital, Lomé, marking a significant step forward for healthcare governance and regional collaboration in West Africa. The Health Community of West Africa (HCOWA) Association was prominently recognized as a pivotal catalyst for regional healthcare collaboration during the opening day of the National Association of Nursing in Togo’s triennial General Assembly on Monday The opening ceremony, which commenced at 9:00am, gathered a distinguished assembly of the country’s top health leaders. The event was graced by the presence of officials from the…

 The Community Practice Pharmacists Association (CPPA) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), in partnership with the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA), have officially launched the 3rd Community Pharmacy Month Celebration under the theme “We Are Doing More—Consult Your Pharmacist!”. The launch, held at the British Council Hall in Accra, brought together health professionals, pharmacists, policymakers and stakeholders from across the healthcare spectrum. The event highlighted the expanding role of community pharmacists as vital contributors to primary healthcare delivery in Ghana. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Emmanuel Kwaku Ireland, Chairman of the CPPA, underscored the critical services pharmacists…