The Novartis Foundation and its partners have begun screening
patients in the Community-based Hypertension Improvement Project
(ComHIP), a two-year program designed to evaluate the impact of an
innovative healthcare model on hypertension management and control in
Ghana.
With the innovative healthcare model, the Novartis Foundation and its
partners aim to improve the control of hypertension, a major risk
factor for cardiovascular disease, by making services more accessible in
the community while empowering individuals to manage their
hypertension. More than three quarters of deaths from cardiovascular
disease take place in low- and middle-income countries.
Carried out in a district close to an urban center in Ghana, ComHIP will
shift the point where patients access healthcare from the hospital,
which is often distant and crowded, to the community. Local businesses
and healthcare workers based in the community will be trained to screen
and care for hypertensive patients. Mobile devices and telemedicine will
be used to support community nurses in decision making and ensuring
seamless connection with community healthcare workers and physicians as
needed. In addition, SMS / voice messaging will be used for patient
education to reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease and to
support adherence to therapy.
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are still coping with
infectious diseases and maternal and child health issues, while at the
same time, the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart
disease, diabetes and cancer has risen dramatically. Almost 70% of all
deaths globally are associated with NCDs and four out of five of these
deaths occur in LMICs.
