Epidemiologist, Dr. Cherish Frimponmaa Tengabo, has disclosed that a majority of the world’s population die from chronic diseases which could have otherwise been prevented.
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She explained that 80 percent of this percentage of the world’s population die from 4 main chronic diseases. “There are differences in chronic diseases and 71 percent of the world’s population die from chronic diseases. A majority of these deaths are caused by 4 main diseases. The 1st of these diseases is the cardiovascular disease and the top 2 from this category are stroke and heart attacks. The 2nd chronic disease is cancers of all type. Here, the top cancers recorded in Ghana are prostate cancer in males and breast and cervical cancer for ladies.
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The 3rd is respiratory diseases with asthma leading this. The 4th disease and the one on top of the list is diabetes,” he told Sefah-Danquah on the Happy Morning Show aired on e.TV Ghana and Happy98.9FM.
According to her, these diseases are of a high prevalence in low to middle class countries. “Our health care system and our culture do not promote regular checkups. We don’t have the culture of checking our health all the time and only wait to be unwell before seeking medical attention.”
She noted that chronic diseases are major issues that need to be spoken about all the time to sensitize all persons.
Dr. Frimponmaa Tengabo revealed that out of the top 10 chronic diseases killing Ghanaians, heart attacks and strokes lead “and that is worrisome.”
She categorized chronic diseases under two main categories; behavioral and metabolic diseases. “The behavioral cause of chronic diseases are mostly the things we have control over. Our level of salt intake, the time we eat affects our cholesterol levels, smoking and the improper use of alcohol and lack of regular exercise are the main behavioral causes of chronic diseases.”
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Explaining metabolic causes of chronic diseases, she went on to say, “these are diseases that take a doctor to identify. Hypertension, high sugar levels and obesity are some of the metabolic causes.”
The medical professional furthered that managing chronic diseases is difficult in Ghana “and this stems from our culture. When you lose weight, you’re asked if you’re hungry or dealing with stuff. But losing weight is healthy.”
A multi factorial approach is the only way one can deal with chronic diseases according to research by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, public education and campaigns must be paramount. “A number of factors come together to help you come out of chronic disease. We have doctors, dieticians, and fitness people, pharmacist that will counsel you on medication and we all have to work together and help the person to come out of it.”
