Ghana NCD Alliance: Non Communicable Diseases Claim 94,000 Lives in Ghana Yearly

Accra, Ghana, May 22, 2019//-Statistics from the Ghana NCD Alliance and health authorities revealed that Ghana loses 94,000 lives yearly to the growing Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in the country.

The NCDs which are mainly cancer, cardiovascular, chronic respiratory and diabetes are further responsible for 43% of all deaths in Ghana, placing the country’s health system under-stress.

Similarly, World Health Organisation (WHO) disclosed that NCDs kill about 40 million people globally each year, accounting for 70% of all deaths. About 15 million of those deaths are among people between the ages of 30 and 69.

It added that low and middle-income countries are particularly affected by NCDs with more than 80% of all deaths from NCDs occurring in these countries.

Most of these premature deaths from NCDs are largely preventable by enabling health systems to respond more effectively and equitably to the healthcare of people with NCDs and influencing public policies in sectors outside health that tackle shared risk factors –namely tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and the harmful use of alcohol.

Treatment of NCDs

Speaking at the launch of the Advocacy Agenda of People Living with NCDs, members of the Ghana NCD Alliance lamented: “Treatment of NCDs warrants a huge cost that extends beyond health, undermines workforce productivity and economic prosperity of the country”.

Promoting healthy diets, physical activity, alcohol and tobacco control as well as combating air pollution through effective measures are critical to reduce premature death and disability from NCDs, they told journalists in Accra.

The Coordinator of the Ghana NCD Alliance, Labram Musah said: “Ghana cannot afford to exclude NCDs from it national health and development agendas any longer and nor can it ignore the role that those people living with NCDs must play in policy making if we are to turn back an epidemic that is ripping communities apart and forcing catastrophic, out of pocket health expenditures”.

“We also know that we could save 22,000 lives annually if we implemented the WHO Best Buys of prevention and control of NCDs but to get there, we need the meaningful involvement of People Living with NCDs in the rollout of policy”.

Effects

A person living with NCDs and an advocate, Joshua Makubu narrated how tedious people with the diseases are going through financial crisis due to the acquisition of expensive drugs to cure the diseases.

He said: “These diseases impact families and communities by disabling and cutting short lives, impoverishing families, and fueling stigma and discrimination”.

Mr Makubu continued: “People living with NCDs often become disabled due to their conditions and are discriminated against in terms of access to public services-education, information, participation and employment opportunities”.

Addressing the NCDs

Deputy Minister of Health, Alexander Kwodwo Abban, announced that in an effort to prevent and eradicate the NCDs in the country, the government would soon include the diseases in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

He added that the government was working to impose tax on tobacco products and alcoholic beverages in the country.

Furthermore, Mr Abban revealed: “The Ministry of Health is making NCD prevention and control a key priority and will ensure that the draft National NCD policy is completed and adopted according to deadline”.

“Implementation of NCDs policies in years gone has been a huge challenge but I wish to assure the Ghanaian people that my government is up to the task and that this policy which places people at the heart of the response, will when ready, get the full support from the ministry for effective implementation”.

By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, African Eye Report

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