By Samira Larbie
Accra, Nov 6, GNA- The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization, has launched findings from Ghana’s first nationwide survey on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) risk factors.
The report, titled National STEPS Survey 2023, provides household-based data on NCDs and serves as a baseline for the country’s response and management strategies.
The data will support efforts in combating NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes in Ghana.
NCDs are a major health and development challenge of the 21st century, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs account for 41 million deaths globally each year, with 85 per cent of these premature deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
In Ghana, available data shows that NCDs are responsible for approximately 45 per cent of all deaths.
Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Minister of Health, in a speech read for him, stated that the launch of the findings came at a crucial time as nations intensified their efforts to address the growing burden of NCDs.
He emphasized that the rising incidence of NCDs posed a significant challenge not only for developed nations but also for developing countries, with Ghana experiencing an increasing trend in such diseases.
Dr. Okoe-Boye explained that the STEPS survey would serve as a baseline for more effective monitoring and surveillance, enabling the tracking of both national and global progress and providing insight into Ghana’s performance in achieving NCD-related targets.
He reiterated Ghana’s commitment to implementing the 2013-2030 Global Action Plan for NCDs and advancing reforms in social insurance and human capital development to address the growing NCD burden better.
Dr. Dennis Laryea, the Principal Investigator and Deputy Director of Disease Surveillance at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), who presented the findings of the survey, expressed concern over the rising rates of NCDs in the country.
The 2023 Ghana STEPS survey revealed a high prevalence of risk factors for NCDs and provided crucial data for the development of strategies aimed at preventing and managing these diseases.
Key risk factors identified include tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor diets, obesity, high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose, high cholesterol, cervical cancer, and issues related to oral and mental health.
The report revealed several concerning statistics regarding risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Ghana.
It found that 4.8% of the population use tobacco, 7.8% smoke Shisha and 2.5% engage in alcohol consumption. Additionally, 22.8% of adults aged 18-29 often consume processed foods high in salt.
The report also highlighted that over 14.6% of women and 5.5% of men fail to meet the physical activity recommendations set by the World Health Organization.
Other key findings include that more than half (51.1%) of hypertensive individuals are unaware of their condition, 49.8% of women and 19.7% of men are overweight, and 97 out of 100 women have never been screened for cervical cancer.
Furthermore, eight out of 10 adults have never received dental care, and on average, four out of 100 adults have contemplated suicide in the past year.
In response to these findings, Dr. Laryea called for the strict enforcement of existing regulations on NCDs to help reduce the burden of these diseases.
Dr. Frank Lule, the WHO Country Representative, urged for the implementation of comprehensive strategies to address NCD risk factors and alleviate their impact on the country.
He emphasized that the findings of the survey are vital for assessing Ghana’s 2022-2027 Multisectoral Action Plan for NCDs, and expressed hope that the valuable data would be effectively utilized by both health and non-health sectors to help reduce the burden of NCDs in the country.
GNA