Ageing epidemic looms in Ghana

Ghana seems to be heading for an aging epidemic as indicated by current widespread of diseases, says Professor Samuel Ofosu-Amaah, President of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons.

He said diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, mental problems and various types of cancers were formally uncommon within the society.

He expressed worry about the non-availability of documented policies and programmes that took into account issues concerning the aged in the country.

Addressing a meeting of the Ghana Society of Internal Medicine in Accra on Saturday, Prof Ofosu-Amaah said all the health policies had sidelined issues on the aging population, focusing mainly on women, children and the youth.

"Ghana seems to be heading for an aging epidemic as indicated by current widespread of diseases including diabetes, hypertension, stroke, mental problems and various types of cancers, which were formally uncommon within the society."

Prof. Ofosu-Amaah said if care was not taken the nation would be facing serious health crises in the near future, as a higher percentage of its health budget would have to be spent on treating the aged at the expense of pursuing the implementation of childhood healthcare programmes.

He advocated the establishment of a Commission on Old Age, which would coordinate all issues including the collection of data and playing advocacy role in ensuring that issues of aging caught the attention of politicians and other decision makers in the country.

The meeting brought together about 50 health professionals to discuss issues such as Peripheral Artery diseases, Diabetes, Nutrition and gastrointestinal and liver diseases.

Prof. Ofosu-Amaah said the neglect of the aged and the gradual erosion of the nation's traditional practice of catering for the aged had left the aging population with lots of stress and depression, as people were now left with no option than to work extra hours without any vacations.

He stated that as much as it was prudent for a nation to design health programmes to eliminate childhood health problems, it was also important to pursue pragmatic programmes that would expand such facilities to ensure a reduction in the disease burden of the aged.

"Aging is not a singular process, we age biologically, physically and sociologically and the aging experience is determined by the unique interactions between these various clocks," he said.

Source: GNA