Some patients living with hypertension and diabetes in the country are now experiencing a unique and more personalized form of care following the introduction of a Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Mobile Application with self-management tools.
The mobile app, known as NCD Care, has built-in protocols that allow patients to enter their daily blood pressure and blood sugar measurements to be monitored and managed remotely by their doctors in real time.
Non-communicable Diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cancer are leading causes of death worldwide, representing an emerging global health threat.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has predicted that by 2030, NCDs are expected to become the leading cause of death in Africa.
In Ghana, hypertension is a common cause of medical emergencies such as heart failure and kidney failure.
Over the years, it has become increasingly challenging to sustainably include and retain the growing numbers of people living with NCDs in care using the current service and pricing models.
Over 280,000 Ghanaians live with type two diabetes
Therefore, the NCD Care programme, introduced in 2020 by the Global Health Organization, PharmAccess Foundation, and Luscii, a digital health innovator, has improved access to care for some patients who have been on the app since its introduction.
Madam Baaba Otu, a user of the mobile app, speaking to Journalists in Accra on the NCD Care as part of the Global Week for Action on NCDs, said the app was very convenient to use.
“I was introduced to the programme by my doctor and given my own monitor, so I can check my BP from the comfort of my home,” she said.
She said with the NCD Care programme, patients measure and input their BP or blood sugar measurements in the app, and their doctors receive automatic alerts, which provide information on the patient’s health condition, thus, enabling the medical doctor to reach out via phone or messages as soon as risks are detected. The app also allows patients to be put on appropriate care based on risk levels, perform self-monitoring, and access health information, lifestyle advice, and medication reminder messages
