Dr. Daniel Boateng, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi has joined international researchers in urging Ghana to adopt a more coordinated and multidisciplinary approach to non-communicable disease (NCD) research, warning that fragmented efforts are slowing progress against a growing public health crisis.

In a paper published in Frontiers in Public Health, they highlighted the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary research approach and emphasized the critical need for strong collaboration among all stakeholders, including the public, for implementing effective lifestyle interventions to improve the health of Ghanaians.

The recommendations were drawn from a hybrid workshop organised by the Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB) at Loughborough University, including KNUST and other Ghanaian Universities. The event gathered 35 participants from Ghana, Kenya, the UK, France, the Netherlands and the United States.

Despite Ghana’s progress in developing NCD-related research and policy, participants noted that many initiatives remain disconnected, with researchers often brought into policy discussions at later stages.

This, they argued, limits the ability of scientific evidence to guide national health strategies. They also urged a re-examination of Ghana’s health research agenda by paying closer attention to the influence of large-scale food policies and marketing on dietary choices.

Integrating local knowledge into policymaking, they said, would help ensure lifestyle interventions such as diet and physical activity programmes are culturally relevant and effective.

The researchers also highlighted the need for dedicated funding streams, including a possible national research fund, to sustain efforts on NCD prevention.

They said adopting a comprehensive and multisectoral approach would not only strengthen Ghana’s response to the NCD crisis but could also position the country as a model for other African nations.
 
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Find out more about CLiMB Ghana: https://lnkd.in/giBfA3P7