President John Dramani Mahama has shared his personal connection to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), using personal experiences to point out the need for greater investments in healthcare.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, he stressed the need for collaborative efforts to tackle the growing burden of NCDs.
“I have a personal connection to Non-Communicable Diseases and that is because my father died in 2001, and he died of prostate cancer. My mother died in 2016, and she died of complications of high blood pressure and diabetes. My stepmother died of breast cancer. I lost a friend and somebody who worked for me last year. We celebrated one year since she passed. I’m sure most of you know Mawuena Dumor; she died of breast cancer.
“And currently, I have a staff in my office whose son is in his 30s and is on dialysis, suffering kidney failure. And so, these are not things that are far away from us, these are things that are close to us. These are loved ones that we are talking about, we must not see them as statistics,” he stated.
President Mahama was hopeful the fund, also known as Mahama Cares, would alleviate the plight of Ghanaians suffering from NCDs.
“This is why today’s launch is so important. The Ghana Medical Trust Fund will make a difference in lives that are silently suffering. It will provide hope. It will provide support. And it will remind all of us that the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases must be personal because they affect all of us,” he added.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund seeks to improve access to quality healthcare for patients battling chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
JKB/AE
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