As Ghana faces a rising tide of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the need for early prevention and evidence-primarily primarily based totally interventions has never been more pressing. In most up-to-date years, circumstances comparable to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular illness, and a few cancers had been on the upward push — many linked to unhealthy behaviours that originate up in childhood and formative years. Wretched dietary habits, physical instruct of no activity, tobacco employ, and spoiled employ of alcohol amongst young of us and children are contributing to this rising burden of illness, threatening the prolonged-term wellbeing of the nation’s formative years.
In response to this rising order, Ghana is making ready to roll out the 2025 Global College Neatly being Perceive (GSHS) — a nationally handbook initiative designed to gather severe records on the health behaviours and maintaining factors amongst college-going children. The conception, collectively led by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Neatly being, and Ghana Education Service with technical fortify from the World Neatly being Group (WHO) and UNESCO, objectives to provide the evidence mandatory to inform policy and form responsive, college-primarily primarily based totally interventions.
To ensure the a hit rollout of the conception, a national coaching programme has been held in Kumasi for 20 records collectors and compare administrators. People were equipped with technical records, ethical guidance, and good tools to administer the conception effectively and responsibly in colleges across the country.
In her opening remarks, the Director for College Neatly being and Education Programme (SHEP) at the Ghana Education Service, Mrs Theresa Oppong Mensah, acknowledged, “In the Ghana Education Service, we’re totally dedicated to supporting this important records collection exercise. The insights we gather will most certainly be severe in shaping more responsive health and training interventions for teenagers across the country”.
The coaching coated the corpulent GSHS protocol and questionnaire, including modules on food regimen, physical activity, psychological health, alcohol and drug employ, sexual behaviour, and the position of family and see fortify. As smartly as, participants bought hands-on instruction on precisely measuring height and weight — important records for assessing threat factors for NCDs.
Dr. Pascal Mwin, Technical Officer for Noncommunicable Ailments at the WHO Country Office, speaking on behalf of the WHO Consultant at the coaching, emphasised the significance of the initiative. “This coaching is a severe funding in building a stronger foundation for adolescent health in Ghana. By equipping records collectors with the honest abilities, we’re guaranteeing the reliability of the records — and in a roundabout arrangement, the effectiveness of the insurance policies and interventions they will inform.”
To reinforce studying, the coaching included mock interviews, position performs, and a discipline pre-test in chosen colleges. These good components enabled participants to simulate true-lifestyles scenarios, sharpen their abilities, and invent self belief sooner than the conception rollout.
Mrs Yaa Serwaa Assan Ninson, a Programme Officer from UNESCO added, “We’re not real coaching records collectors — we’re making ready the floor for national motion. This information will suppose us the place our teenagers are most susceptible and how colleges can grow to be areas that defend, fortify, and promote healthier futures”.
This activity is share of WHO’s broader fortify to strengthen college health systems thru guided national programmes on planning and implementation. It also builds local ability, supports carrier birth and governance, and promotes adolescent participation in shaping health responses that private an price on them.
As Ghana strikes nearer to enforcing the 2025 GSHS, WHO will continue to work with other partners to fortify authorities in building healthier college environments by bettering records systems, fortify carrier birth, guiding national planning and selling adolescent participation. These efforts are central to enabling colleges to support not real as locations of studying, but as platforms for selling lifelong health and wellbeing.
For Further Information or to Attach a query to Interviews, Please contact:
Abdul-Lahie Abdul-Rahim Naa
Communications Officer
WHO Ghana Country Office
Email: abdullahiea [at] who.int (abdullahiea[at]who[dot]int)
Tel: +233 20 196 2393
