Our Story
On January 13, 2019, my father died of a stroke.
Stroke is not sudden. It is the end of years of undetected hypertension.
The Initiative exists to change that.
Mavis Amegah-Dorr, Founder
Ma wo koma mmɔ. Let your heart beat.
A Stopped Heart Cannot Build a Nation
The Initiative connects screening to lasting care, so that people found at risk reach care and stay there.
The Challenge
Ghana Stands at a Critical Crossroads
Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular death in Ghana. Among informal sector workers (trotro drivers, market women, and their families), access to preventive healthcare is nearly nonexistent. Most will never know their blood pressure until a crisis strikes.
65%
are unaware of their condition
Only 22% receive treatment; just 6% are controlled. PLOS ONE Meta-analysis, 2021
Who We Serve
The Heartbeat of the Economy
The informal sector workers most often missed by facility-based care.
Transport Workers
Vendors
Produce Sellers
And the customers and families who pass through with them.
Our Measure of Success
The Initiative measures success by how many people stay connected to care over time. Our goal: 1,000 people already screened, linked to care and kept there for a year.
We stay until care continues.
Fund the Staying
Hypertension is detected in seconds. Care continues for years.
Support the Initiative