Ghana heading for an ageing epidemic?

Accra, June 16, GNA - Professor Samuel Ofosu-Amaah, President of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, has said that 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.

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 Professor 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 under the theme: "Prolonging Longevity and Quality of Life Among Ghanaians," 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 tha t 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. There are no diseases peculiar to old age and very few from which it is exempt. Although the risk of diseases with advancing age, poor health is not an inevitable consequence of aging," he said.

Prof. Ofosu-Amaah said according to the 2000 census over one million persons over the age of 60, mostly rural, had poor education, were financially poor and struggling to make ends meet as most work in the non-formal sector and rely mainly on traditional health beliefs.

"This statistics gives an indication that there is actually going to be a huge problem with sustainable pension and healthcare for these number of persons, thus the problems associated with aging becomes inevitable," he said.

He called on all health professionals to lead in the crusade of advocating better recognition of issues concerning the aging population in the country and also advised members of the society to live responsible lives, taking care of their nutrition and health to help prevent future health problems.

Prof. Samuel Owusu, President, GSIM explained that the Society offers opportunity for young specialists interested in Internal Medicine, to present their ideas either in research or observation for critical analysis, discussion and suggestions for improvement before presenting them to wider and international audience.

He said the issue of prolonging longevity and quality of life among Ghanaians must be a centre for discussions in all circles of life as aging and its possible health problems were inevitable. He said though the Holy Bible predicted life at 70 years and beyond, current poor state of health and other problems were gradually robbing Ghanaians of this privilege.

"The gradual reduction in life expectancy of Ghanaians, is becoming very worrying and it was time we find a lasting solution to the causes, to ensure longer and healthier lives," he said.

Prof. Owusu said people could live longer and healthier lives if they became more conscious of what they eat, drink and took exercising as a daily routine to activate pores and aid blood circulation. He supported the idea that a Commission be established to take care of all issues concerning the aged, saying aging in Ghana had become something like a mental and psychological torture for many, which should not be the case.

He called for serious networking and collaboration with both government and economists to deal with the effects of the poor health of an aging population on national development.