Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued its first Global Traditional Medicine Strategy, which aims to incorporate old therapeutic traditions into modern healthcare systems while striking a careful balance between scientific validation and cultural preservation.  The decision, finalized at the 78th World Health Assembly, is an important turning point for a field that has long been ignored in conventional medicine, despite the fact that it is used by more than 80% of the world’s population. The approach aims to balance evidence-based healthcare with traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine (TCIM), including Indigenous healing, acupuncture, and Ayurveda. But there is a lot…

Representatives from the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) visited the Sichuan Vocational College of Health and Rehabilitation in Zigong City, China, on June 9th, 2025 to discuss academic collaboration and strengthen bilateral ties in healthcare education and training. The tour, which highlights Ghana and China’s increasing medical partnership, intended to promote student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research efforts, and the sharing of best practices in nursing and healthcare education.  The Ghanaian delegation toured the college’s cutting-edge facilities, which included a smart elderly care training base, a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) culture popularization…

On June 6, 2025, an important visit to Hefei focused on strengthening links between West African health authorities and Chinese medical technology developers.  A high-level delegation, comprising officials of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA), examined major facilities at the Sino-Life Science and Technology Achievement Transformation Centre. Led by the HCOWAA President Jiang Sihong and Gaetan Charles Adangabey, Deputy Director General of the GHS, the delegation engaged in substantive discussions with representatives from the Big Health Research Institute of the Hefei National Comprehensive Science Center. The visit provided a platform for mutual…

In a decisive move to accelerate healthcare transformation, high-level delegations from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Health Community of West Africa Association (HCOWAA) are currently in China for intensive planning sessions with HCOWAA China. The mission is to finalize preparations for the upcoming 2025 HCOWA West Africa Medical Industry Investment Summit and Expo this August—a premier platform poised to unlock unprecedented opportunities for medical innovation and cross-continental partnerships. The Expo—hailed as West Africa’s most significant healthcare industry gathering—aims to unite policymakers, investors and innovators to tackle critical challenges: from hospital infrastructure gaps to pharmaceutical manufacturing. Central to the…

The Ghanaian government has announced that dialysis coverage will be included in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), a significant step toward alleviating the financial burden on those with kidney disease condition. This long-awaited development promises substantial relief for vulnerable individuals struggling to afford the high cost of life-sustaining dialysis treatment. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, confirmed the policy adjustment in Parliament within the week. He made dialysis an official part of the NHIS coverage package, alongside treatments for illnesses such as malaria. “The policy direction is that we are going to fund the dialysis issues in this…

The pharmaceutical sector in Ghana have announced immediate price cuts of 5% to 15% on a wide range of pharmaceutical products, a remarkable gesture for which citizens have expressed gratitude.  According to industry leaders, the steady growth in the Ghanaian cedi’s value against the US dollar in recent months is directly responsible for the price drop. The decision was confirmed in a joint statement issued on Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, by the Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCoP) and the Pharmaceutical Importers & Wholesalers Association (PIWA). Both organisations specifically praised the Government of Ghana, the Ministry of Finance, and the…

A groundbreaking international trial has revealed that an exercise program for colon cancer patients can significantly reduce the risk of death. According to the study, patients who participated in a tailored exercise regimen had a 37% lower risk of death and a 28% reduced risk of cancer recurrence compared to those who received standard health advice. The trial involved 889 colon cancer patients who were randomly assigned to either an exercise program or a control group that received general health advice. The exercise program, which lasted for three years, aimed to get patients doing at least double the recommended amount…

In a major step to combat a leading threat to infants, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever guidance on immunizing babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). This virus is known as the primary cause of severe lower respiratory infections in children globally, claiming approximately 100,000 lives and causing over 3.6 million hospitalizations annually among children under five. Alarmingly, half of these deaths occur in infants younger than six months, with a staggering 97% happening in low- and middle-income countries where critical medical support like oxygen is often scarce. Published in its Weekly Epidemiological Record, the WHO position…

Multivitamins lining pharmacy shelves might look appealing, often appearing as colourful gummies, sweet syrups, or simple tablets, but Pharm. Tokonila Helga Thomas delivers a crucial message during an interview with Health Pulse Magazine for the Health Community of West Africa Association(HCOWAA) : they are medicines, not mere supplements. Speaking on responsible use, Pharm. Thomas emphasized that these products, while containing essential vitamins, demand the same caution as any other medication. “People who are deficient or weak are those that usually take them, before anyone takes them, they would have to consult a healthcare professional. Self-medicating with multivitamins, carries significant health…

Uganda’s Minister of Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng Oceng, announced the end of the country’s eighth Ebola outbreak on April 26, 2025, 42 days after the last case was discharged. The outbreak, caused by the Sudan strain of the Ebola virus, was declared on January 30, 2025, and spread across seven districts and three cities, including Kampala. The swift response from Uganda’s Ministry of Health, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), WHO, UNICEF, and partners helped contain the outbreak, despite the absence of approved vaccines or treatments for the Sudan strain. Communities played a key role in…