AstraZeneca, Edusei Foundation to sponsor symposium on NCDs

Accra, July 30, GNA - AstraZeneca and Edusei Foundation are sponsoring a day's symposium on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in response to policy actions.

The symposium is slated for August 11, at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Legon, Accra.

It would be attended by the Ghana Dietetic Association (GDA), the Ghana Institute of Horticulturist (GhIH), the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Biomedical Health & Allied Sciences (SBHAS), University of Ghana and Let's Go Africa Foundation.

The proposed event is an outcome of direction given by the two major sponsors, AstraZeneca and Edusei Foundation in 2015.

Mr Mark Mallon, an Executive Vice President of AstraZeneca, stated in September 2015 that AstraZeneca has an important role to play in making a difference in NCDs and has an obligation to use its resources to help address the issues.

AstraZeneca plans to reach 10 million hypertensive patients by 2025 in Africa.

Dr Kwame Bawuah Edusei - Former Diplomat, Medical Doctor and Businessman also said in a message delivered to the University of Maryland, College Park, at the Food Security in Africa conference in January 2015 that, based on available evidence of the impact of nutrition, physical activity on NCDs, there is a need for effective policies and interventions to reduce the common risk factors.

Following these statements of intent, the Let's Go Africa Foundation- a social impact group, organised a team effort and partnerships between GDA, GhIH and SBHAS to implement the call and directives for the proposed high level event at GIMPA.

Their messages would highlight the fact that cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes are the four main that kill many people.

This has been a great concern, considering the serious socio-economic harm in Africa, with Ghana being no exception.

It was noted that the Ministry of Health (MOH) has a major role in NCD education, especially to reduce the excessive risk and burden of morbidity, mortality and disability in the poor and marginalised groups.

This is in line with the UN mandate to reduce the number of premature deaths from NCDs by 25 per cent by 2025.

The partners at the conference, in the public/private sector models of collaboration in health, would showcase expert panels and action programmes.

Officials at the MoH and World Health Organisation have been invited.

The inaugural welcome will be given by Professor Ayeh-Kumi, the Dean of School of Biomedical Sciences and Allied Health, University of Ghana and the Keynote Speech by Dr Margaret Udahogora, Director of the Dietetic Programme at the University of Maryland.

Other Speakers on the agenda are Dr Ebenezer Appiah-Denkyira; Director General of the MoH, Dr Francis Appiah, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology; Dr Gladys Peprah Boateng, 37 Military Hospital; Ms Tisungeni Zimpita, National Coordinator, Scaling-Up Nutrition, Malawi; and Dr Iris Ekow Essien of the UK.

Other programmes would include next steps workshop to draft a course of future action to implement directives, statements of intent and conference outcomes.

The Healthy Living and Wellness Education on NCDs event would highlight the main voluntary global targets on tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity that increase people's risk of developing these diseases.

Edusei Foundation and AstraZeneca in collaboration with local institutions see this as a public/private effort in Ghana that would promote the fact that physical activity and plant-based diets reduce NCD risk.

The messages would emphasise that energy-dense foods and sugary drinks are not healthy and that alcohol consumption influences NCD risk.

According the WHO, NCD account for 42 per cent of total deaths in Ghana, the partnership aims to reduce this figure as their contribution in building human capital and to accelerate social and economic development in the Country.

The event comprising lectures, exhibits and demonstrations is free, but registration is required through the respective associations or partnerships, invited professional Associations or Departments and by sending an email to [email protected].

AstraZeneca is a global, biopharmaceutical business with innovative medicines used by millions of patients worldwide and with operations in about 15 countries in Africa.

AstraZeneca is one of the most respected pharmaceutical companies in Ghana: A partner in the healthcare fraternity, adding value to delivery of healthcare through not only providing good quality medicines, but also at the forefront of bringing knowledge to the doorstep of all categories of healthcare personnel in Ghana.

Edusei Foundation is an international organisation engaged in knowledge transfer, empowerment of the Ghanaian youth by building their human capital and economic potential.

The Foundation engages in social protection responses to food insecurity, promotes livelihoods and is currently building an integrated health care facility to eradicate child malnutrition in Ghana.

GNA