Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

 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…

The Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) and MAB International Hospital have forged a strategic alliance to incorporate Artificial Intelligence (AI) into medical treatment, diagnostics and traditional medicine—a significant step toward improving healthcare in West Africa.  This alliance seeks to establish MAB as a regional center for AI-Powered healthcare innovation. During a high-level meeting at MAB International Hospital, HCOWAA Vice President, Mr. Opoku Dogbey, outlined five key components of the partnership: 1. AI Treatment – MAB will serve as the focal point for AI-based treatments for private hospitals across Ghana. 2. AI-Powered Disease Control – Enhanced surveillance and management…

The Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) has secured strategic partnerships with three leading Ghanaian institutions in the traditional and alternative medicine field. These collaborations aim to enhance research, policy development, and innovation, integrating herbal medicine towards advancing healthcare.  The newly signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoU’s) establish cooperation between HCOWAA and the Nyarkotey University College of Holistic Medicine and Technology, the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners’ Associations (GHAFTRAM), and the Ghana Alternative Medical Practitioners Association (GAMPA). Together, they will work to merge traditional healing practices with modern scientific methods and digital health technologies. Key Focus Areas of the…

The Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) has officially launched the West African Traditional Medicine Cooperation and Exchange Centre (WATMCEC) under the theme “Traditional Medicine, Modern Impact: A West African Collaboration” on Friday, June 27, 2025, at the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement, University of Ghana, Legon, marking a historic step toward advancing traditional medicine in the sub-region. The initiative aims to strengthen traditional medicine through research, certification, and cross-border collaboration, bringing together practitioners, policymakers and international experts to advance healthcare in the region. In his keynote address, Mr. Prince Opoku Dogbey, Vice President of HCOWAA, declared: “Africa…

In a heartfelt interview with HealthPulse Magazine, Dr. Mary Dede Ansong, CEO and Co-founder of the International Sickle Cell Centre, shared her personal journey and the driving force behind her mission to combat sickle cell disease in Ghana and beyond.  Her awakening came during her university years when her twin sister, in tears, discovered she was a carrier of the sickle cell trait. That moment ignited Dr. Ansong’s determination to address the widespread lack of awareness surrounding the condition. “I realized it was a huge issue, and something needed to be done, not just in the country but internationally” she…

The 2nd Annual International Sickle Cell Centre (ISCC) Conference held on 20th June, 2025 at Tang Palace, Accra —brought together patients, advocates, and healthcare professionals to address the urgent challenges faced by sickle cell warriors, emphasizing prevention, education, and systemic reforms. Personal testimonies and expert insights underscored the gap between available solutions and their accessibility, particularly in low-resource settings.  Shadrack Benjamin, a sickle cell warrior for 20 years, shared his harrowing journey: “Today you are fine, tomorrow you are not. Before ISCC, I was hospitalized four times a month. Now, I’ve learned to cope—going months without admission.” His story highlighted…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released the first global recommendations for managing sickle cell disease (SCD) during pregnancy, in an attempt to address a long-overlooked health concern.  This milestone aims to protect the lives of women and babies who are at increased risk as a result of the illness, which affects millions throughout the world. Sickle cell disease, an inherited blood ailment, causes red blood cells to bend into crescent shapes, resulting in extreme pain, anemia, infections, and potentially fatal complications such as strokes and organ failure. Pregnancy exacerbates these dangers, with women suffering with SCD facing a four…

The Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA), held a pivotal meeting with Ghana’s Ministry of Health on 9th June, 2025 to explore a potential partnership centered on integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions into the country’s healthcare system. The discussions focused on HCOWAA’s five AI-driven healthcare components, aimed at enhancing medical efficiency, disease control and traditional medicine practices.  During the meeting, HCOWAA outlined its vision for an AI-Powered Department in Medical Facilities, which would integrate smart diagnostic systems, big data analytics and computational infrastructure to improve accuracy and speed in patient care. The proposal also highlighted the potential deployment…

On June 14, 2025, a high-level delegation from the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) visited the Zhongshan Eye Center at Sun Yat-sen University, taking an important step toward strengthening ophthalmic medical cooperation between China and West Africa.  Led by the HCOWAA President Jiang Sihong and Vice President Prince Opoku Dogbey, alongside Ghana Health Service Director Gaetan Charles Adangabey, the delegation engaged in discussions aimed at improving eye care services in West Africa. The visit highlighted shared challenges in ophthalmic healthcare and explored potential solutions through technology exchange and capacity-building initiatives. During the…

Obstetric fistula, a severe birthing injury, continues to harm thousands of women, primarily in rural regions, owing to protracted labor and a lack of access to competent care.  According to Aisha Kamagate, a Midwifery Officer at the Pentecost Hospital in Madina during an interview with the Health Community of West Africa Association, the condition occurs when the unborn child fails to pass through the pelvis, putting pressure on the blood vessels that supply vital organs, resulting in tissue death and the formation of an abnormal opening between the vagina, rectum, bladder or uterus. Midwife Kamagate sheds light on this neglected…