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His Excellency Park Kyongsig, the Korean Ambassador to Ghana, paid a courtesy call to the Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, at the Ministry in Accra.
His visit is part of efforts to enhance the partnership in healthcare infrastructure, medical training, and strengthen health management capacity at the district and sub-district levels.
Ambassador Park Kyongsig highlighted Korea’s enduring support for Ghana’s healthcare development, emphasizing the importance of ongoing collaboration in maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and capacity building for healthcare workers.
“Korea is dedicated to strengthening Ghana’s health systems to ensure accessible and efficient medical services for all citizens”, he said.
The Korean Ambassador was accompanied by representatives from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH).
Hon. Mintah Akandoh welcomed the Ambassador and acknowledged Korea’s unwavering support and the impact of past and ongoing projects.
He highlighted key areas, including the construction of additional Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) facilities, the improvement of Ghana’s emergency medical services, upgrades to hospital infrastructure, and training programs for healthcare professionals.
He outlined the policy priorities under the John Mahama administration, which included the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, the provision of free primary healthcare, and the construction of regional hospitals in the newly created regions.
KOICA and KOFIH representatives presented their ongoing projects in Ghana, which include constructing modern healthcare facilities, providing medical equipment, and offering specialized training programs for local healthcare practitioners.
They reassured the Minister of their ongoing support for the advancement of Ghana’s health agenda.
Ministry of Health Ghana
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Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.