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educating and developing health workforce

Project Summary

The Capacity Strengthening of Transdisciplinary education for Non-communicable disease care in West Africa (CAPSTONE)

It is a project that seeks to address the urgent need to educate and develop a health workforce that can respond to the steady increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in sub-Saharan African countries.

This new workforce should contain doctors, nurses, allied and other health professionals who are specialised in screening, treating and referring patients with NCDs at all levels of the health care system. Traditionally higher education for these health care professionals has focused on infectious diseases and takes place in silos with little to no interaction between the different health care workers during their education. CAPSTONE will build capacity at the participating higher education institutions (HEIs) to develop and deliver transdisciplinary challenge-based NCD education in Ghana and The Gambia, targeting the healthcare workforce of the future.

Needs analysis for NCD training in Ghana and The Gambia


Ghana: NCDs account for 43% all-cause mortality in Ghana, with major NCDs such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory disease being common in health facilities. The likelihood of premature death between 30 and 70 years due to the major NCDs in Ghana is estimated to be 21%, higher than the global average of 18% (WHO, 2018).


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Capacity building will take place through :

The collaborative co-development and delivery of 6 new NCD focused courses, that can be offered as accredited short courses for professionals. This will form the basis for two newly accredited Master Degrees in Public Health with a focus on NCDs provided by the participating third country HEIs in Ghana and The Gambia.

  • Innovative Educator Training: We will train up to 50 educators in cutting-edge teaching methods and techniques, ensuring the highest quality of instruction.

  • Interdisciplinary Healthcare Collaboration: Healthcare professionals from various disciplines and levels within the healthcare system will come together and learn from each other. promoting a holistic approach to non-communicable disease care.

  • Engagement with Students and Employers: The program will actively engage students and future employers, fostering practical skills and ensuring that education outcomes meet real-world needs.

  • International Partnerships: This initiatives will strengthen international connections in health education and capacity building between Ghana, The Gambia, and European partner institutions.

    • At the end of the three-year program, the curriculum we co-develop will be shared with other higher education institutions, both within and outside the participating non-EU countries, to broaden the impact and enhance non-communicable disease education.