Over 600,000 people were diagnosed with hypertension in Ghana last year, 2022, the Programme Manager for Non-Communicable Diseases at the Ghana Health Service, Dr Efua Commeh has said.

According to her, about 200,000 cases of diabetes were also recorded within the same year.

The figures, Dr Commeh explained exclude those with Non-communicable diseases who did not report to the hospital.

Speaking in an interview with Class FM's Ashanti Regional Correspondent, Elisha Adarkwah on the sidelines of a maiden meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases in held in Kumasi, Dr Commeh bemoaned the increase in Non-communicable diseases in recent years as compared to previous years.

She revealed that lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, strokes, and cancer among others were years ago diagnosed in people aged 60 and above.

However, in recent times, people aged 40 and below, are getting Non-communicable diseases, with  some  losing their lives without knowing they were living with such diseases.

Dr Commeh further revealed that in 2020, over 94,000 people died from Non-communicable diseases in Ghana.

Non-communicable diseases are diseases that cannot be transferred from one person to another, unlike infectious diseases. These include hypertension among others.

She therefore urged the general public to undergo regular medical checkup to know their health status. 

“Prevention is better than cure, don’t wait to get sick before you seek help. Now that you are not sick walk into any health facility and ask for a medical check up or do screening,” Dr Commeh said.

She advised people with non-communicable diseases to take their medication religiously.

 “It’s important that you continue taking your medications, once you take your medicines, your disease will be well controlled.”

Dr Commeh also stressed that being on medication controls the disease but once a person stops, the diseases flares up and can lead to death.