The National Coordinator for Ghana NCD Alliance, Labram M. Musah, says millions Persons Living With Non-Communicable Diseases (PLWNCDs) lack access to essential life-saving medicines and products in the country.
According to him, the inability of PLWNCDs to access basic medication is a result of majority of them falling within the bracket of those who earn low incomes, abject poverty, and vulnerable.
He indicated that there was particular concern with the inadequate supply of glucometers at the community health centres for diagnosis.
Mr Musah asserted that denied of access to affordable health is tantamount to denial of a fundamental human right and social justice.
This, he said, and the huge cost associated with the treatment for NCDs have caused many PLWNCDs to lose their lives, businesses and incomes, leading to total neglect by their families and friends.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has underpinned the value of US$1 invested in scaling up action to address NCDs in low and lower-middle-income countries, which will inure to the benefit of employment creation, productivity and long life.
Mr Musah noted that political actors’ ability to protect PLWNCDs financially will go a long way to help them reduce the health risks and improve their life chances.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic has even exacerbated the situation, with many of them losing faith in their survival.
He said PLWNCDs, with support from the state, can contribute meaningfully national development, while Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the sector could also support the national agenda with research, policymaking, programme planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability efforts.
“We want bold leaders [who] can take bold decisions including holding harmful industries accountable for the havoc they have and continue to cause the citizens. We have had enough NCDs deaths. It is now time to act on NCDs in this country to protect present and future generations,” he stated.
Archibald Adams of Universal Access to Health Care Campaign (UAHCC) expressed concern over how Ghanaians are dying of diseases that are largely preventable.
He said: “From 2002 to 2017, the 10 illnesses and underlining causes of death in Ghana are mainly preventable and [a] result of poor nutrition, pollution of the environment and air in particular, unsafe water, poor sanitation and lack of exercise (obesity),” he said.
The post Make access to healthcare affordable for PLWNCDs -NGO appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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