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Mobilization Survivors, Empowering Communities: A 2-Day Workshop on Stroke Survivorship and Advocacy

Join us in Ho Volta Region, a we bring together persons living stroke, caregivers, etc to promote awareness , support , and inclusive care

Empowering Voices , Enhancing Lives

Date: 15-16 December, 2025

Venue: Kekeli Hotel, Ho Volta Region, Ghana

Time: 9:00AM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES

Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET GHANA) Calls for Urgent Action to Ensure Patient Safety from the Start

Accra, Ghana – September 17, 2025

As we commemorate World Patient Safety Day today, the Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET GHANA), a national organization and member of the World Patients Alliance, urges the government to prioritize primary health care as a critical component of achieving universal health coverage. The theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child’ with the slogan ‘Patient safety from the start!’ highlights the vulnerability of this age group to risks and harm caused by unsafe care.

SASNET GHANA emphasizes that the government cannot achieve its universal health coverage agenda without the realization of primary health care, making healthcare accessible and affordable, especially for newborns and children. We urge the government to:

1. Strengthen Primary Health Care: Ensure that primary health care is well-funded, well-resourced, and accessible to all, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
2. Prioritize patient safety: Eliminate avoidable harm in pediatric and newborn care by implementing sustainable strategies for safer care.
3. Increase access to healthcare: Ensure that all newborns and children have access to quality healthcare services, regardless of their geographical location or economic status.
4. Promote respectful maternity care: Address institutional challenges, including insufficient respectful maternity care (RMC) and cultural insensitivity in healthcare delivery.
5. Empower parents and caregivers: Educate and involve parents and caregivers in patient safety, promoting awareness and active participation in care.

In Ghana, many women face cultural barriers, healthcare inaccessibility, and inadequate maternal education, limiting their ability to navigate healthcare systems effectively. These challenges are exacerbated by institutional weaknesses, including insufficient respectful maternity care and cultural insensitivity in healthcare delivery.

Primary health care is the foundation of a strong healthcare system, and its realization is essential for achieving universal health coverage. By prioritizing primary health care, the government can ensure that all Ghanaians, especially newborns and children, have access to quality healthcare services, reducing health inequities and improving health outcomes.

SASNET GHANA is committed to working collaboratively with organizations and like-minded stakeholders to improve health outcomes in Ghana. We urge the government, healthcare organizations, professional bodies, and civil society to join forces to:

1. Raise national/regional/global awareness: Highlight the specific needs of children, families, and caregivers in pediatric and newborn care.
2. Mobilize action: Implement sustainable strategies for safer care for newborns and children.
3. Strengthen research: Advocate for research on patient safety in pediatric and newborn care.

As we commemorate this year’s World Patient Safety Day 17th September 2025, SASNET GHANA reaffirms every child’s right to safe and quality care. We call on all stakeholders to join us in this effort, working together to make healthcare safer for every newborn and every child.

Link to other published article in the media

World Patient Safety Day: SASNET Ghana urges Government to strengthen Primary Health Care

Ebenezer Ad Adams

Executive Director

Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET GHANA)

World Patents Alliance African Region Committee member

info@sasnetghana.org

World Patient Safety Day 2025

“Safe care for every newborn and every child”

This year, the theme is “Safe care for every newborn and every child”, with the slogan “Patient safety from the start!” recognizing the vulnerability of this age group to risks and harm caused by unsafe care.

World Health Organization , World Patients Alliance  , SASNET-GHANA and partners call for urgent action to eliminate avoidable harm in paediatric and newborn care, building on the efforts of previous campaigns on ‘safe childbirth’, ‘prioritizing patient safety’, ‘health worker safety’, ‘medication safety’, ‘patient and family engagement’ and ‘diagnostic safety’. World Patient Safety Day 2025 aims to drive meaningful improvements and reaffirm every child’s right to safe and quality care.

Objectives of World Patient Safety Day 2025

1. Raise global awareness of safety risks in paediatric and newborn care in all health care settings, emphasizing the specific needs of children, families and caregivers.
2. Mobilize governments, health care organizations, professional bodies and civil society to implement sustainable strategies for safer care for newborns and children, as part of broader patient safety and quality initiatives.
3. Empower parents, caregivers and children in patient safety by promoting education, awareness and active participation in care.
4. Advocate for strengthening research on patient safety in paediatric and newborn care.

Working together to make health care safer

Contact us at sasnetghana@gmail.com

The 2024 ICORR-SASNET Ghana Neurorehabilitation Robotics workshop, convened on March 15-16, 2024, in Accra, Ghana, brought together 22 speakers and 27 attendees from nine countries to address the pressing need for enhanced access to neurorehabilitation services and rehabilitation robotics in Africa. Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) face substantial challenges in providing adequate rehabilitation services. This exacerbates the burden of disability and impedes the recovery and quality of life of individuals with stroke and other neurological conditions. The workshop aimed to: (1) discuss current trends, challenges in neurorehabilitation services and rehabilitation robotics in Africa; (2) identify gaps in access to rehabilitation services and assistive technologies in LMICs; (3) develop strategies for improving access to these services; and (4) promote collaborative efforts and knowledge sharing among health professionals and stakeholders. A purposive sampling method was employed to recruit a diverse cohort of practicing health professionals, policy makers, and a stroke survivor/advocate. The workshop featured expert presentations and discussions centered on three key questions: (1) the current status of stroke rehabilitation in Africa and driving policies, (2) the role of assistive technology and rehabilitation devices in Africa, and (3) strategies for inclusive implementation culminated into 10 targeted recommendations for integrating rehabilitation robotics into conventional therapies. A roadmap was developed, featuring future initiatives, awareness campaigns, and technology transfer programs, with a planned second workshop in 2026, aiming to enhance access and promote sustainable solutions.

Read full article by via the link below:

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/stroke/articles/10.3389/fstro.2025.1565651/full

Condolence Message and a 7- Point  Proposals for Enhanced Safety Measures

To: All Media Houses

The Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET GHANA) extends its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the August 6th helicopter tragedy and stands in solidarity with the nation during this difficult time.

Understanding the Impact

We recognize the emotional toll this incident has taken on the nation, particularly the families of the deceased. SASNET GHANA acknowledges the need for immediate support and proposes the following measures to mitigate the psychological impact and enhance safety protocols:

Proposed Measures:

1. Psychological Support for the President and his family: The State must provide the President and his family with professional psychological support, including music therapy and spiritual guidance, for a period of two days.
2. Counseling for Deceased Families: Offer one-week psychological support and counseling to the families of the deceased to help them cope with their loss.
3. Removal of Distressing Images: Request the removal of graphic images of the incident from social media platforms to prevent further distress to the public.
4. Presidential Jet Replacement: We strongly urge the state to consider acquiring a new presidential jet to ensure the safety of the President and government officials.
5. Expert Committee for Military Assets: Establish a committee comprising experts and military commanders to assess the condition of military aircraft, vessels, and vehicles, as well as those of state security services.
6. Airline Safety Assessment: The State must Commission a committee to evaluate the safety standards of all airlines operating in the country.
7. Enhanced Pilot Screening: The State must ensure that pilots handling presidential and government official travel possess the highest standards of expertise and are closely monitored.

Acknowledging Philanthropic Efforts

We would also like to take this opportunity to commend Mr. Ibrahim Mahama for his kind gesture in making his private jet available for use by the country and state officials for their travel. This selfless act demonstrates his commitment to the well-being of the nation and deserves recognition.

Spiritual Support

In addition to these measures, we recommend initiating monthly intercessory prayers for the nation, seeking divine intervention and protection against future disasters.

Implementation

We believe that implementing these proposals will significantly enhance the safety of our leaders and the nation. We urge the government to act with urgency and wisdom in addressing these concerns.

May these measures bring solace and protection to our nation.

May the Lord God Almighty bless our nation Ghana and save us from any future disaster.

Ad Adams, Executive Director,

Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET GHANA)

Advocacy article featured in the World Obesity Federation newsletter, which urges heads of state and other stakeholders attending the forthcoming 4th United Nations High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, scheduled for September 25, 2025, in New York,USA.

To take resolute action in addressing these pressing global health issues. Specifically, the article calls for a paradigm shift from expediency to commitment in tackling NCDs head-on.

Click on the link below  for the full article https://www.worldobesity.org/news/repeating-mistakes-of-the-past-a-looming-ncd-pandemic-blog-by-sir-ad-adams-ebenezer

IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES

SASNET- GHANA PLEADS WITH GHANA REGISTERED NURSES AND MIDWIVES ASSOCIATION (GRNMA) TO RESCIND THEIR DECISION AND CALL OFF THE STRIKE TO SAVE LIVES WHILE NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE WITH GOVERNMENT

The Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana (SASNET GHANA), a national non-profit organization , a member of the World Patients Alliance (WPA) and the Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA)  working collaboratively with stakeholders to reduce the burden of stroke, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, and obesity in Ghana, acknowledges the legitimacy of the demands made by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA).

However, we strongly believe that the ongoing strike action should not come at the expense of suffering patients across the country. The consequences of this strike are dire and far-reaching, with lives being lost and patients’ conditions worsening due to lack of care. Specifically:

• Newborn babies are being denied critical care and attention, putting their fragile lives at risk.
• Children with life-threatening conditions are being forced to go without essential treatment, compromising their health and well-being.
• The aged and vulnerable populations, who rely heavily on healthcare services, are being left to suffer without proper care and support.
• Persons living with hypertension, diabetes, CVD, stroke, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are experiencing interruptions in their treatment, leading to potential complications and worsening of their conditions.
• Patients in need of emergency care are being turned away, putting their lives in jeopardy.

These consequences are unacceptable and demand immediate attention. SASNET GHANA urges the leadership of GRNMA to adopt a patient-sensitive approach to dialogue with the government through the Ministry of Health. We also call on the Ministry of Health, and labor unions to urgently engage with GRNMA leadership to address their concerns.

We all have a responsibility to protect and save lives. We implore all parties involved to prioritize the well-being of patients and work towards a swift resolution.

Ebenezer Ad Adams

Executive Director SASNET GHANA and Vice Chair, Ghana NCD Alliance

SASNET GHANA

ad.adams@sasnetghana.org

0594989495