The Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) has intensified efforts to strengthen research and innovation to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.
This focus emerged during the Centre’s annual review meeting, which brought together health managers, researchers, stakeholders and development partners to assess the institution’s performance and outline strategies for tackling emerging health challenges.
Held under the theme, *“Improving Non-Communicable Disease Prevention and Management at the Primary Healthcare Level: The Role of Health Research,”* the meeting also served as a platform to share research findings and discuss priorities for the future.
Dr Patrick Odum Ansah, Director of the NHRC, said the review formed part of the Ghana Health Service’s annual performance assessment framework for its institutions.
He explained that the Centre was reviewing its activities from January to December 2025 to measure progress and ensure its work remained relevant to national and global health priorities.
“Our main objective is to remain a Centre of Excellence, conducting research that is highly relevant to both the country and global health,” Dr Ansah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
He noted that despite some operational challenges, the Centre had achieved significant milestones, particularly in research publications and contributions to national policy and guideline development.
Dr Ansah also highlighted ongoing infrastructure expansion at the Centre, including the construction of a new laboratory and plans to establish a clinical trial facility and dedicated offices for the clinical research team.
According to him, the initiatives would strengthen Ghana’s capacity to support drug and vaccine development.
“Ghana is moving toward self-sufficiency in drug and vaccine development, and clinical research is an essential part of that journey,” he said.
“We are supporting the government and the Ghana Health Service by providing cutting-edge facilities to ensure that drugs and vaccines manufactured in the country are tested to the highest standards.”
Delivering the keynote address, Dr John Williams, former Director of the Dodowa Health Research Centre (DHRC), described NCDs as a growing health threat in Ghana.
He noted that diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, diabetes and respiratory illnesses were now among the leading causes of death among adults.
Dr Williams explained that hypertension and diabetes, which are often linked to lifestyle choices, were increasingly affecting younger populations.
“These days, people are dying fairly young. You see 40-year-olds with strokes. In Accra, stroke units report seeing patients in their teens and twenties. Behind this trend is hypertension,” he said.
He therefore urged the public to adopt healthier lifestyles, including regular physical activity and balanced diets, while avoiding smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and high sugar intake.
Dr Braimah Baba Abubakari, the Upper East Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, described the meeting’s theme as timely and important, noting that NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases were becoming major public health concerns.
He stressed that strengthening prevention and management of NCDs at the primary healthcare level required strong research evidence.
“This is where institutions like the NHRC play a vital role. For decades, the NHRC has been a pillar of health research in Ghana, contributing significantly to policy development and the improvement of healthcare delivery,” he said.
