The Accra Metropolitan Director of Health Services, Dr. Abena Okoh, has sounded the alarm on the increasing cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the capital city. According to Dr. Okoh, cardiovascular ailments are a major killer of the aged and middle-aged residents, with hypertension being the fifth highest cause of death in Accra for three consecutive years (2021-2023).
“About 38,826 hypertension cases were recorded in health facilities in Accra, with 12,451 in 2021, 12,671 in 2022, and 13,704 in 2023,” Dr. Okoh revealed. Asthma and cardiac diseases also rank high, with stroke being a significant concern, particularly among women in the James Town suburb who smoke fish with firewood.
Dr. Okoh emphasized that environmental pollution and unhealthy lifestyles are major causes of NCDs, which tend to be chronic. She urged communities and policymakers to take measures to minimize environmental pollution, assuring that many deaths from NCDs are preventable.
The health director advised the women smoking fish at James Town to switch to clean cook stoves for a healthier life. According to her, James Town consistently ranks high in cases of lung cancer and other chronic respiratory diseases.
Dr. Okoh’s warning comes as Accra records about 200 fatalities from cardiovascular diseases in three years, highlighting the need for urgent action to address the rising cases of NCDs in the capital city.
