Common Diseases That Plague Ghana
Ghana is a country that is located in west Africa, and it is the first sub-Saharan territory to obtain independence from British colonists. Its country’s name is synonymous with the phrase “warrior king” and the culture of respect and humility mirrors the moniker of this land. The country is well known for its gold and other natural resources, but its also home to a few deadly diseases as well. Here are three of the most common illnesses that threaten the lives of Ghana’s citizens.
Lower Respiratory Infection
This disease ranked top of the list due to its death toll percentile. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 percent of Ghana’s citizens die from this pulmonary illness. This type of infection can be either mild or severe in nature. The symptoms include: Coughing. Wheezing. Runny nose. Rapid or difficulty breathing. Using safe sanitary practices will help reduce the risk of this disease. An article written by UNICEF Ghana adamantly promotes the use of soap when hand washing. It states that good hand washing practices alone can dramatically reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as diarrhea and pneumonia. “Handwashing with soap alone could reduce diarrhoea by up to 50% and pneumonia by 25%, yet only 20% of Ghanaians wash their hands.”
Stroke
Stroke remains the second most common killer in the Ghanaian community. This silent killer disproportionally effects this African country, but little is known as to what causes the illness to be so wide spread. An article by NPR explains the connection between hypertension and hemorrhagic stroke cases. This particular type of stroke is the most dangerous of its kind; the survival rate is 50 percent, and the number of cases for this illness is steady growing. “Cardiovascular problems like hypertension were once rare in Africa, but today, the continent has the world's highest rate of high blood pressure.” The World Health Organization states that blood pressure levels have shown to positively correlate with health risks such as stroke and heart disease. Knowing these factors can help citizens improve their health. Incorporating more fresh vegetables and less sodium can positively impact one’s health.
Malaria
Malaria is a blood disease that is caused by the Plasmodium parasite, and it is spread from one individual to another by the female Anopheles mosquito. The Ghana Health Service website details information on the National Malaria Control Program; this program is aimed at reducing the spread of Malaria by equipping health facilities with the resources they need to tackle the illness and spread awareness. An article by the publication All Africa states that the efforts for reducing cases of this illness has saved many lives so far (an estimation of over three million people), but 627,000 people continue to die yearly.
Ghana is a country that continues to grow both economically and socially. Various efforts are being taken to improve the overall health of this nation, and with added awareness, advances in medical technology, and availability of health care, the average life span on Ghana’s citizens will increase substantially.
