Roche, a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Health aimed at improving access to health care for breast cancer and hepatitis patients.
The agreement will build upon Ghana’s existing National Strategy for Cancer Control and National Hepatitis Policy established by Ministry of Health in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
The MoU is also geared towards improving the nation’s response to cancer and hepatitis challenges.
Speaking at a short ceremony in Accra to announce the agreement, the Minister of Health, Alex Segbefia said the programme will help boost Ghana’s capacity in the fight against cancer and hepatitis.
[contextly_sidebar id=”Th8hNCbPzqQt0ZCyJ2sz36pP76wzXmDo”]He said though “there are effective tools available to prevent infection with viral hepatitis which include hepatitis B vaccination, surveillance, education, screening, and treatment; however the challenge is to build the capacity to extend these interventions country-wide.”
The Minister said the programme with Roche is committed to raising the standard of care in Ghana, and reducing the need for Ghanaians to travel to other countries to access treatment.
He also said his outfit has tabled a proposal before the National Health Insurance Review Committee to see how they can extend the benefits to cover breast cancer and hepatitis cases.
For his part, head of Roche for sub-Saharan Africa, Markus Gemuend, said they will also train Ghanaian doctors to help in championing this agenda.
“The comprehensive agreement reflects a multidisciplinary approach to improving care and helping to ensure patients in Ghana get earlier diagnosis and improved treatment that is so desperately needed. We aim to support the government of Ghana in this critical endeavor, alongside other partners, to thoughtfully address the challenges of treating breast cancer and hepatitis.”
“It’s critical that we work together to improve outcomes for breast cancer and hepatitis patients in Ghana who are not getting the access to care they need for their life-threatening diseases,” Markus Gemuend added.
He noted that mammograph devises have been installed at the Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye Teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi respectively as part of the programme.
The breast cancer agreement includes: disease awareness programs, screening to promote early detection, establishment of two centers of excellence, referral pathways to tertiary centres, improvement of diagnostics facilities at treatment centers, training of specialists, development of National Cancer registries to establish disease burden to aid planning, development of national treatment guidelines, and access to treatment for breast cancer under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Breast cancer/ Hepatitis statics in Ghana
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Ghana, with about 2,900 cases diagnosed annually, a rate of approximately 17 percent.
One in eight women with the disease are likely die from it if unchecked. Early detection of breast cancer remains the cornerstone of managing the disease.
Viral hepatitis is also a major global health issue with the highest rates found in sub-Saharan Africa.
Approximately four million of Ghana’s 25 million people have the disease, a national rate of greater than 8 percent, with the Upper West region of the country as high as approximately 19 percent.
Viral hepatitis is a potentially life-threatening liver infection caused by the hepatitis virus.
It can cause chronic infection and put people at high risk of death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
WHO calls for urgent action to curb hepatitis
The World Health Organisation (WHO) last year called for the need for countries to enhance action aimed at preventing viral hepatitis infection.
A statement issued by Christian Lindmeier, WHO Communications urged nations “to ensure that people who have been infected are diagnosed and offered treatment.”
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin