While Ghana has made some strides in the general well-being of citizens, the nation faces a significant health paradox: systemic weaknesses, stark financial barriers, and a burgeoning crisis of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
This ultimately determines life expectancy, pegged at 65.5 years as of 2023.
While the life expectancy has seen an increase in recent years, it remains below the global average of 72.24 years, raising concerns and discussions on improving survival rates.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, the Public Health Director at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), delivered a sobering assessment on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, June 24, highlighting the multifaceted challenges impacting the average Ghanaian’s life expectancy.
[embedded content]Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe painted a stark picture contrasting Ghana’s health outcomes with those of developed nations as he examined the health sector.
As the debate continues on life expectancy and the ways of improvement, Dr Asiedu-Bekoe has highlighted some factors that are likely to determine how long you are likely to stay alive if you live in Ghana.
1. Systemic deficiencies in healthcare (Ghana vs. Developed World): Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe highlights that Ghana’s health system capacity directly impacts life expectancy and disease outcomes.
He contrasts Ghana, where children are more likely to die from vaccine-preventable diseases or malaria in their early years, with developed countries where this is rare.
For older age groups, Ghana’s lack of structured screening systems means diseases like diabetes and hypertension are often detected late, leading to complicated and often fatal outcomes that could be averted with early detection and management.
2. Financial barriers to healthcare access: A significant factor in Ghana’s health outcomes, particularly for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), is the financial capacity of individuals.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe points out that even if NCDs are detected, the long-term medication and management costs can be prohibitive for those lacking financial means, leading to poor adherence and complications.
3. Geographic disparities in healthcare: Access to specialised care is a major determinant of survival, especially for complex NCDs.
Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe notes that individuals in rural parts of Ghana face limited access to specialists and high-level medical facilities, making it challenging to manage complicated conditions effectively, unlike in developed nations with more equitable healthcare distribution.
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4. Success in vaccine-preventable diseases, shift to NCDs: Ghana has achieved “very impressive vaccine coverage” and is “one of the best in Africa” in this regard.
This success has led to a significant reduction in vaccine-preventable diseases and a corresponding decrease in under-five mortality rates.
The primary health challenge has now shifted to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), where Ghana is currently “struggling.”
5. Complexity of NCD management and environmental factors: Dr. Asiedu-Bekoe emphasises that tackling NCDs is a “very complex condition that goes beyond health.”
He points to the lack of “enabled environments” for healthy lifestyles, giving examples like the absence of safe places for children to ride bicycles or for people to walk.
He stresses that achieving higher life expectancy for NCDs requires addressing broader societal issues and creating environments that support healthy choices.
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