By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, Sept. 11, GNA – Professor Alfred Doku, a Cardiologist at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, has cautioned the public against alcohol consumption, saying no amount of alcohol was considered safe for human health.
He said contrary to the long-held belief that moderate alcohol consumption, such as a glass of wine a day, could provide health benefits, evidence from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other health organisations showed that alcohol consumption, in any quantity, could pose health risks.
Prof. Doku, also a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School, said alcohol could negatively affect vital organs, including the liver and heart, while increasing the risk of diseases affecting the oesophagus and stomach.
He made the remarks at the press launch of the 2026 World Heart Awareness Month, organised by the NCTC to draw public attention to the rising burden of cardiovascular diseases and their major risk factors in Ghana.
“We tell the community, don’t take alcohol,” he said, urging the public to avoid alcohol as part of efforts to protect their health and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Prof. Doku said heart disease and stroke had become major causes of death in Ghana, with hypertension identified as a major driver of the conditions.
The situation, he noted, was particularly worrying because many people living with hypertension were unaware of their condition until they developed serious, and sometimes fatal, complications.
He said about 70 per cent of Ghanaians with hypertension were unaware that they had the condition, while only a proportion of those who knew their status were taking medication and had their blood pressure adequately controlled.
Prof. Doku said uncontrolled hypertension could eventually lead to heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.
He, therefore, urged the public to undergo regular health checks to know their blood pressure and other risk factors, including diabetes and high cholesterol.
He advised people diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol to adhere to their treatment and ensure that their conditions were properly controlled.
The Cardiologist also urged smokers to quit and encouraged the public to adopt healthy lifestyles through healthy eating and regular physical activity.
He attributed the increasing prevalence of hypertension and related cardiovascular conditions partly to changing lifestyles among Ghanaians.
While diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and malnutrition had previously accounted for a significant proportion of deaths, heart disease and stroke were now posing a growing threat, including among people below 50 years, he noted.
He said the increasing incidence of the conditions among the productive population was a major concern, and urged individuals and families to take greater responsibility for their health through regular screening and preventive measures.
“Let’s keep our hearts beating,” Prof Doku said, stressing that controlling hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, quitting smoking and alcohol consumption, eating well and exercising were essential to maintaining a healthy heart.
The theme for the 2026 World Heart Awareness Month: “Heart Disease Can Hide in Plain Sight, Don’t Miss a Beat,” seeks to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases and encourage individuals and institutions to take preventive action.
World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29 to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, which remain the leading cause of death worldwide.
The day was established in 2000 by the World Heart Federation, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation, to unite individuals, communities and governments in promoting heart health.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
11 Sept. 2026
Reporter: Samira Larbie
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