The Paediatric Society of Ghana (PSG) has called on government to urgently integrate childhood non-communicable diseases (NCDs) into national health planning and financing frameworks, warning that thousands of Ghanaian children are being left behind in access to diagnosis, treatment and long-term care.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the Society’s 32nd Annual General and Scientific Meeting (AGSM) held at Koforidua from February 5 to 7, 2026.
The meeting, which was held under the theme, “Leaving no child behind: advancing equitable health care for children and adolescents with non-communicable diseases,” brought together paediatricians and child health experts from across the country to deliberate on the growing burden of NCDs and other pressing child health concerns.
In its communiqué dated February 23, 2026 the Society noted that Ghanaian children and adolescents continue to face a double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, but efforts to manage NCDs remain inadequate.
According to the PSG, this gap has resulted in rising morbidity and deaths among children living with chronic conditions such as asthma, sickle cell disease, diabetes, epilepsy and childhood cancers.
The Society observed that the burden of NCDs falls disproportionately on poorer families, where limited health-seeking behaviour and financial constraints often delay diagnosis and treatment.
To address the situation, the PSG called on government and key stakeholders to integrate paediatric NCDs into national health plans and expand health financing mechanisms, including the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, to fully cover diagnostics, screening and essential medicines.
The communiqué specifically mentioned life-saving treatments such as erythropoietin, insulin, hydroxyurea, factor concentrates, cancer care and full dialysis services for children and adolescents.
The Society further urged authorities to strengthen the health workforce and build the capacity of district hospitals and polyclinics to provide basic NCD care and ensure timely referrals. Beyond clinical care, the PSG also raised concerns about stigma and discrimination faced by children living with chronic illnesses.
The Society called for an end to stigma associated with asthma, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, epilepsy and other NCDs, stressing that affected children require support both at home and in school to thrive.
It urged caregivers, parents, teachers and the broader community to recognize early warning signs and danger signals, monitor symptoms closely and support adherence to treatment plans.
The communiqué emphasised that compliance with management plans at home and in school settings is critical to improving outcomes and reducing preventable complications.
The Society did not limit its concerns to clinical issues alone. It strongly condemned illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey, describing them as a grave threat to public health and the future of Ghana’s children.
The PSG reiterated its call for the immediate cessation of illegal and environmentally destructive mining, which it said continues to degrade forests, contaminate water bodies and destroy farmlands at alarming levels.
According to the Society, environmental degradation poses a direct risk to children, who are disproportionately affected by polluted water, toxic exposures and the broader health consequences of ecological damage.
The communiqué called for strengthened policy enforcement, enhanced inter-sectoral collaboration and active community participation to curb galamsey activities.
It also urged deliberate public health interventions to safeguard children and ensure a safer and healthier environment for present and future generations.
In a strong call to action, the Society recommended that key actors prioritise investments in healthcare infrastructure and workforce development, while improving partnerships with international organisations, the private sector, traditional authorities, faith-based and community organisations to provide holistic care where children need it most.
The statement was jointly signed by the President of the Paediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. Hilda Mantebea Boye and the General Secretary, Dr. Gabrielle Obeng-Koranteng.
The Society concluded by stressing that children and adolescents everywhere in Ghana must have access to appropriate, effective and responsive healthcare, with renewed focus on prevention, treatment and management of non-communicable diseases.
