GHS expresses concern over increasing levels of communicable diseases
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has expressed concern over the increasing levels of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, cancers, kidney and other non-communicable diseases in the country.
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It attributes the trends to poor eating habits, excessive intake of alcoholic beverages, smoking and lack of regular exercises. The programmes Officer at the GHS, Dr Efuah Commeh, therefore advised Ghanaians to eat balanced diets, reduce alcohol intake and exercise regularly.
She was speaking at the launch of a health booklet titled, “Changing Disease Patterns in Africa”, authored by a team of doctors from the Network of African Science Academies (NASAC).
The launch of the book was organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) to create awareness of disease patterns in the country and how to reduce the risk of contracting diseases.
It was launched by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Dr Richard Anane.
Alcohol intake
Dr Commeh said the excessive intake of alcohol was a contributory factor to the increased incidence of non-communicable diseases in the country.
For instance, she said, many people spent about twice the money they expended on food on alcoholic beverages in the country. Dr Commeh blamed the situation on the competing advertisement of alcoholic beverages on television. According to the officer, the continuous advertisement of the beverages, coupled with its attractive packages, influenced some youth to patronise the products.
Dr Commeh said most Ghanaians did not also eat fruits, which she said were very essential to preventing diseases.
Statistics
Dr Commeh indicated that715,000 cases of hypertension were recorded in various health facilities across the country in 2015,while stroke had become the top five causes of death in the country. She, therefore, urged the public to always report their ailments to health centres to ensure early detection and treatment.
Disease pattern
A member of the GAAS, Professor Isabella Quakyi, said there had been a shift in the pattern of diseases from predominantly communicable to non-communicable diseases in Africa.
She said the booklet prescribed the best options and also gave realistic recommendations for dealing with diseases in Africa.
Prof. Quakyi observed that the implementation of the commendation in the booklet, including investment in research and surveillance, “will place Africa back on the right path”.
The Chairman of the GAACS, Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr, stressed the need for people to conduct regular check-ups to keep them informed of their health status.
