Cardiovascular disease is increasingly posing a public health challenge, with hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol placing millions of people at risk of heart attacks, strokes and other life-threatening complications.
In Ghana, healthcare professionals are intensifying calls for early detection and preventive care, particularly as hypertension increasingly affects younger adults who may be unaware of their condition.
Against this backdrop, St. Michael’s Specialist Hospital (SMSH) marked its third anniversary with a free health screening exercise and voluntary blood donation drive at its facility in Lapaz, Accra, as part of activities commemorating World Heart Day.
The exercise, which ran from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., offered community members an opportunity to assess their health status, identify potential cardiovascular risk factors and receive medical guidance on follow-up care.
One of the major concerns identified during the exercise was the discovery of dangerously high blood pressure readings among some younger participants.
According to Dr Genevieve Ama Brown, a Family Physician Specialist at SMSH, some young people screened recorded blood pressure readings exceeding 200/120 mmHg despite being unaware of their condition.
Such readings require urgent medical assessment, particularly where symptoms suggest possible organ damage.
The observation highlights the dangers of hypertension, which can develop without noticeable symptoms and remain undetected until serious complications occur.
Dr Brown’s observations reinforce calls for regular blood pressure checks and routine medical examinations, irrespective of age.
The screening exercise included blood pressure monitoring, blood glucose testing, body mass index (BMI) calculations, electrocardiograms (ECGs), full blood investigations and complimentary lipid profile tests to assess cholesterol levels.
Participants with concerning results were referred to the hospital’s medical specialists for further assessment and appropriate follow-up care. The hospital also offered medication subsidies to support patients requiring continued treatment.
Madam Tina, Nurses Manager at SMSH, said the initiative formed part of the hospital’s third-anniversary celebrations and was intended to serve residents of its immediate community and people from beyond the area.
She said it was the second time the hospital had organised a dedicated cardiac screening exercise and indicated that the programme would continue.
“Our promise of exceptional care, exceptional comfort, every patient, every day means we do not leave anyone halfway,” she said, emphasising the hospital’s commitment to guiding patients beyond screening to treatment and recovery.
Dr Laurencia Ankomah, Clinical Coordinator at SMSH, also stressed the importance of regular medical examinations, warning that cardiovascular risk factors could remain undetected when people neglected routine check-ups.
She urged the public to monitor blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels and adopt healthier lifestyles to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Beyond screening, the hospital collaborated with the National Blood Service to organise a voluntary blood donation drive, which collected 41 donations to support national blood supplies.
The donations are intended to help meet the needs of patients requiring transfusions during emergencies, surgical procedures, childbirth complications and other medical conditions.
Since opening at Abete Link in Lapaz, Accra, SMSH has developed a multidisciplinary healthcare facility offering services in obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, cardiology, dentistry, ear, nose and throat (ENT), and clinical dietetics.
Its facilities include three modern surgical theatres, a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and an in-house dialysis centre supported by consultant nephrologists. It also operates a 24-hour emergency pharmacy service.
As the hospital enters its fourth year, the anniversary initiative highlights the importance of preventive healthcare, early detection and access to appropriate treatment.
The hospital’s outreach also serves as a reminder that cardiovascular disease prevention requires sustained public awareness, regular health checks and timely medical intervention, rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe.
