AcIn Accra, the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rapidly rising, with heart conditions accounting for a large portion of the death toll among the elderly and middle-aged.
The statement was made by Dr. Abena Okoh, the Metropolitan Director of Health Service, who stated that NCDs, commonly referred to as chronic respiratory disorders, have a protracted course.
She mentioned bad lifestyle choices and environmental pollutants as the main contributors to the ailments.
The breakdown:
In further explanation, Dr. Okoh said that for three years in a row, from 2021 to 2023, hypertension is the fifth leading cause of mortality in Accra.
According to the Health Director, there were 38,826 cases of hypertension reported in Accra’s medical institutions overall—12,451 in 2021, 12,671 in 2022, and 13,704 in 2023.
She stated that asthma came in second on the log, with 1,364 cases in 2021, 2,112 cases in 2022, and 1,661 cases in 2023.
After producing 418 instances in 2021, 249 in 2022, and… in 2023, cardiac illnesses came in sixth.
Stroke is considered a serious illness by the Accra Metro Health Directorate, as evidenced by the 187 instances reported in 2021, 304 in 2022, and… in 2023.
Possible causes
According to the Health Director, over the three years under evaluation, roughly 200 Accra citizens passed away from cardiovascular diseases as a result of the NCDs brought on by environmental pollution.
She revealed ladies in James Town who smoke fish over firewood run the risk of contracting fatal illnesses.
According to the medic, James Town consistently has a high rate of lung cancer cases and other chronic respiratory disorders among the capital’s suburbs.
As a result, she counseled James Town ladies who smoked fish to use clean cooking stoves in order to live healthy lives.
Dr. Okoh gave reassurance that, with the correct policies and community initiatives to reduce environmental pollution, many fatalities from non-communicable diseases can be avoided.
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