The Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) on the 14th of November, 2024, hosted a group of esteemed collaborators from the Arnhold Institute of Global Health – Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in addition to researchers from the Kintampo Health Research Centre, Dodowa Health Research Centre (DHRC), and the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT UTAS) to engage in discussions on a series of health research themes.
As part of the collaborative visit, a strategic planning workshop was held at NHRC on a series of diverse yet purposely unified health research related themes centering around Environmental Health, Adult Non – Communicable Diseases (NCDs), Child and Youth Health, Infectious Diseases, and Health Systems Strengthening and Scaling, Research Structure and Capacity Building and Education.
The focal point of the collaboration between the Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC), and the C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) is exploring health research innovations and crafting actionable strategies to build capacity, work together to achieve quality healthcare delivery for all and ultimately contributing to creating healthier communities.
The Director of NHRC, Dr. Patrick Ansah, in his opening remarks, emphasized the importance of continuous partnerships among the institutions to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery. Highlighting the theme “Turning Research into Policy,” he underscored the shared commitment to fostering an all-inclusive healthcare system that actively responds to the health needs of the populace.
Following the opening remarks by Dr. Patrick Ansah, Dr. Rachel Vreeman, Chair of the Department of Global Health and Health System Design, facilitated a visioning exercise that focused on the theme: “Quality Healthcare for All” while highlighting screening, prevention, treatment, and access as pivotal to the initiative.
In a similar address, Dr. Jeb Weisman, Director of Global Health at the Arnold Institute of Global Health, who also doubled as the moderator of the program remarked, “As far as strategic planning is concerned, we are way ahead,” reflecting optimism about the initiative’s potential impact.
The event featured Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) aimed at formulating specific goals under the broad seven priority areas which are crucial for healthcare advancement in Ghana. The key priorities include, Systems design and scaling, Research Structure and Capacity Building, Infectious Diseases, Adult Non-communicable Diseases, Education, Environmental Health and Child, adolescent, and Maternal Health.
The discussions, which led to the formulation of goals to be achieved over the next five years aimed at enhancing healthcare delivery in Ghana by strengthening health system leadership through evidence-based training, reducing hypertension mortality in six districts, and implementing adolescent mental health programs in 50% of surveillance sites contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable healthcare system. Additional initiatives to reduce pesticide exposure among farmers were deemed vital.
The 3-day event, which climaxed on the 16th of November, 2024 underscores the importance of global and local partnerships in addressing healthcare challenges. By integrating research into policy and action, the Navrongo Health Research Centre and the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the participating institutions aim to create a sustainable and inclusive healthcare system for all in the sub-region and Ghana at large.