Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

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…

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…