Queen Máxima of the Netherlands has praised a digital remote monitoring system that enables people living with hypertension and diabetes to track their health from home without frequent hospital visits. During a visit to Manna Mission Hospital in Accra on Tuesday, November 3rd, the Queen, who is in Ghana as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Financial Health, watched a live demonstration of the NkwaPlus platform, which allows patients to record blood pressure readings and receive medical guidance remotely. She interacted with nurses, doctors and patients to understand how the technology is improving healthcare delivery while reducing the financial strain on patients.
One patient who stood out was 57-year-old Georgina Amedome, a widow and mother of three who has lived with hypertension for 18 years. Georgina said the system has cut down her hospital visits, giving her more time to run her business and care for her children. “I have been living with high blood pressure for 18 good years now. Because of NkwaPlus, I have not been coming to the hospital as often as before. I check my blood pressure twice at home. I send the readings to the doctor. If the reading is high, the doctor will ask me to come to the hospital immediately. But if it is normal, I can go about my business and work,” she told the Queen. She added: “As a businesswoman, I go to the market early in the morning to sell my goods, earn some money and take care of my children at home. It saves me money and time,” noting that each hospital trip previously cost her about GH¢20 in transport, apart from long queues.
Nurse Esther Nyadzorgbe demonstrated how patients are enrolled on the platform and trained to check their blood pressure on their own. She explained that the system has reduced treatment defaults and helped health workers monitor patients who might otherwise develop complications without timely care. “Some time ago, we used to have a lot of emergencies. Some patients defaulted on treatment, while others did not take their medications regularly. But with the NkwaPlus app, we are able to monitor them even from the comfort of their homes. It has reduced the long queues at the hospital and helped our patients save money to take care of their other needs and businesses,” she said.During the demonstration, Georgina entered a reading of 140 over 100, with a pulse of 80, into the app. The system instantly flashed an alert warning that her blood pressure was high and urging her to seek care. “We suggest that your blood pressure is too high. Please go to a hospital or the nearest health facility immediately,” the message stated. The Queen welcomed the innovation, describing the ability of patients to receive medical attention without regularly travelling to hospital as a major improvement in both healthcare and financial wellbeing.
