ANAQ Foundation Statement – The Universal Health Coverage Agenda: The Role Of The Youth
ANAQ Foundation, supported by Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (GhNCDA)
and Mankranso Senior High School welcome and endorses The Ghana Advocacy Agenda
of People Living with NCDs which was developed as part of the Our Views, Our Voices
initiative to promote the meaningful involvement of people living with NCDs in NCD
response.
We call on the Government and Secretariat to:
1. Provide greater platforms to educate the masses especially the youth using our
life experiences and insights.
2. Provide opportunities for the youth in NCDs trainings and workshops.
3. Include Health Education on NCDs at least in our Senior High Schools
4. Expand the National Health Insurance Scheme to cover more comprehensive
services, treatment and care.
Ghana has made some progress on strengthening NCDs fight. These include:Engaging
severally with the office of the Ghana NCD Alliance through the Health Ministry.
However,
we remain concern about role of the youth in the fight against Non-Communicable
Diseases. Many people in our communities including the youth lack access to information
which are relevant to the management of NCDs and other diseases.
Majority of the youth
are getting marriage without knowing the sickle cell statuses, due to lack of information.
We call for support, training and guidance to improve the knowledge and skills and
effective participation of the youth in this regard We welcome support from Government, policymakers, stakeholders, CSOs, individuals
etc. to improve on the awareness creation.
It’s time to accelerate action on sickle cell as public health priority, and ANAQ Foundation
members are ready to support GhNCDA and Government in doing so.
STORY BY MICHAEL OFOSU-AFRIYIE, KUMASI.