Faith groups urged to lead fight against NCDs

Faith-based organisations in Ghana are being encouraged to lead the fight against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by leveraging their influence and community networks, according to Dr Wallace Odiko-Ollennu, the Programme Manager of the NCD Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service (GHS). NCDs, including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, are rising in burden, and Dr Odiko-Ollennu believes collective action, particularly from faith-based groups, is essential to encourage lifestyle changes and promote healthier populations.

At a "Food and Faith for Healthy Living" workshop organized by the Communication Initiative for Change (CIC) and involving some Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) member churches, the focus was on promoting healthy eating habits, regular exercise, and routine health checks within religious communities. Dr Odiko-Ollennu highlighted the importance of regular screening for NCDs, as early symptoms may be absent, and urged churches to educate their members on modifiable risk factors for these diseases and promote healthy habits from a young age.

Mrs Mabel Asafo, Acting Director of the GHS’s Health Promotion Division, emphasized that NCD prevention required collaboration across sectors, with churches being key partners due to their wide reach and influence. She encouraged faith leaders to promote healthier food choices while preserving Ghana's culinary traditions. The initiative of "Meatless Mondays" (MM) was discussed, which encourages reducing meat consumption by one day each week and replacing it with plant-based foods to mitigate excessive meat intake.

Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, Executive Director of the CIC, clarified that MM was not a vegetarian program but a practical approach to lowering meat consumption. He invited churches to utilize this initiative to enhance healthier eating habits among their congregants.