Ghana has taken a major step in strengthening its healthcare system with the launch of the AYA Integrated Healthcare Initiative, aimed at improving the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases and Type II diabetes. The initiative, introduced in September 2024, is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ghana Health Service (GHS), and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
Senior Project Manager Fionn Harnischfeger, leading the AYA team, met with the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to discuss the initiative’s progress and strengthen cooperation between GIZ and the government. Minister Akandoh welcomed the project, noting its alignment with the country’s healthcare priorities and the government’s commitment to improving medical services.
The Minister stressed the need for capacity-building among healthcare professionals, particularly at the grassroots level, to ensure efficient service delivery. He reaffirmed the government’s support for the initiative, recognizing it as an important step in addressing the increasing burden of NCDs in Ghana.
The AYA Integrated Healthcare Initiative is a 39-month modular project implemented by GIZ on behalf of three international pharmaceutical companies and one foundation. It builds on the achievements of the Ghana Heart Initiative (GHI) and aims to improve healthcare services, expand access to early screening, and enhance disease management across the country.
