Improving Blood Pressure Care in Ghana: Over 13,000 People Screened And 300 Community Health Workers Trained Through TASSH Study
December 14, 2024 | News Feed | Reading time: 5 min
In communities that once faced limited access to healthcare, over 13,000 individuals have now had their blood pressure screened, and 300 community health workers trained to identify and manage hypertension cases properly, thanks to the Uptake of Task-Shifting Strategy for Blood Pressure Control in Community Health Planning Services (TASSH) Project being implemented by the Kintampo Health Research Centre (KHRC) with funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH)/NHLBI.
For many community members, this simple act of screening marked the beginning of a journey toward better health. Among them is *Saida, a 45-year-old small-scale farmer who discovered she had a dangerous level of high blood pressure. With timely intervention and care, her life took a healthier turn. Sadia’s story is one of many such life-changing stories of beneficiaries in Kintampo North, Kintampo South and Nkoranza North Districts, all in the Bono East Region of Ghana.
Among these life-changing stories are also 300 dedicated community health workers in the three (3) districts who have received training to properly screen and refer hypertension patients to specialists. These health workers, equipped with new skills and resources, are now pillars of support within their local communities. “Before this training, I felt helpless when patients showed symptoms of hypertension,” says *Amankwa, a community health nurse in one of the project districts. “Now, I know exactly what to do with the right equipment available to me, and it’s very empowering.”
The impact of TASSH goes beyond individuals. Since the project’s inception in May 2017, Community-wide awareness about hypertension has shot up, rising from 43% to 80%. Conversations about blood pressure and healthy living are now common in homes, schools, and markets. This cultural shift is rooted in TASSH’s extensive outreach and education efforts, encouraging people to prioritize their health.
Strengthening primary healthcare systems has been at the heart of TASSH. Local facilities, once under-equipped, now have the logistics and tools needed for effective hypertension screening. This foundation ensures that the progress made can continue for years to come.
Central to the project’s sustainability is a training manual created for frontline health workers. This resource has become a guide for effective community-level care, ensuring that the knowledge and skills gained during the project will be passed on to future health workers.
The results are clear: about 70% of hypertension patients who received care through TASSH achieved better blood pressure control. Behind this statistic lies the story of lives saved, complications avoided, and futures reclaimed.
This seven-year TASSH Study, which spanned from 2017 to 2024, reminds us that the most pressing healthcare challenges can be addressed with the right focus. TASSH’s journey is one of hope, collaboration, compassion, commitment, and transformation, leaving a lasting impact in every community it reaches.
Read more about TASSH https://www.kintampo-hrc.org/pages/uptake.html
*Names have been changed for data protection purposes.