Success Stories from the Field

At just 47 years old, Kwame—a teacher and father of three from Eastern Ghana—suffered a minor stroke that left him with weakness on his left side and slurred speech. Weeks earlier, he had been struggling with extreme fatigue and shortness of breath, but never sought care, assuming it was stress related. Like many in his community, he had little access to specialized cardiovascular services.

Through a regional health screening event organized under G-ACT's BEAT and CARDIA Initiatives, Kwame received a full clinical assessment, including a portable echocardiogram. The diagnosis: dilated cardiomyopathy with severely reduced heart function—likely the underlying cause of his stroke.

Thanks to G-ACT's rapid referral network and support for essential medications, Kwame began treatment immediately. With continued follow-up and rehabilitation, he regained mobility, speech, and most importantly, hope.

"I didn't know I had a heart problem," Kwame says. "Now, I understand my condition and how to manage it. G-ACT saved my life and my family's future."

Efua Owusu, a community health nurse in the Central Region of Ghana, has served her village clinic for over a decade—often as the first and only point of contact for patients with cardiovascular symptoms. Before G-ACT's intervention, Efua relied on limited resources and broad guidelines, making it difficult to triage or manage cases with confidence.

Through G-ACT's SHAPE and CARDIA Initiatives, Efua received hands-on training and access to streamlined clinical protocols tailored for low-resource settings. These tools empowered her to efficiently screen hypertension, heart failure, stroke risk, and arrhythmias, and to refer patients through clearly defined care pathways.

"Now, I don't feel alone," Efua shares. "With G-ACT's protocols, I know exactly what steps to take. I can explain things better to patients, act faster, and even prevent emergencies."

Thanks to her enhanced confidence and competence, Efua has become a cornerstone of early cardiovascular detection and care in her community—proving that empowered nurses save lives.