CSOs and Media Charges to Intensify Advocacy Ahead of UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs

Stakeholders in the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been urged to step up advocacy efforts and push for stronger government commitment ahead of the 4th UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September.

This call to action was made at a capacity-building seminar for media professionals, civil society organizations (CSOs), and persons living with NCDs.

Mr Labram Musah, National Coordinator for GhNCDA, underscored the urgent need for increased investment in NCD prevention and control, emphasizing the critical role these measures play in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Ghana.

Musah called on the government and stakeholders to prioritize NCDs in national health agendas and allocate more resources to combat these diseases.

Mr Jeorge Wilson Kingston, Chairman of the Media Alliance in Tobacco Control and Health (MATCOH), emphasized the urgent need for action to curb the rising burden of NCDs in Ghana, which now account for about 45% of all deaths in the country.

Mr Kingston noted that despite some progress, Ghana still faces significant barriers in the fight against NCDs, including high treatment costs, inequitable access to healthcare, and insufficient mental health support.

The seminar, organized by the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA) in collaboration with MATCOH and the Private Newspaper and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), aimed to equip participants with the necessary skills to advocate for improved policies, universal health coverage, and increased government investment in NCD prevention and mental health services.

The workshop emphasized the importance of holding the government accountable for its commitments to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.4, which seeks to reduce premature mortality from NCDs and achieve universal health coverage.

Stakeholders were urged to use their platforms to advocate for greater government investment in healthcare, particularly in NCD prevention and mental health services.

The NCD Alliance includes Ministry of Health, Ghana World Health Organization Ghana World Health Organization African Region Africa NCDs Network and Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana