A health initiative aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to undergo routine health checks during their birth month to reduce the burden of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, depression and cancer has been rolled out in the Northern Region.
Dubbed “Birth Month Screening Programme”, the intervention seeks to make preventive screening and linkage to care a routine part of life—just like celebrating a birthday.
As part of the rollout, the first six weeks would be dedicated to screening health workers, their families and community health volunteers in order to prepare them to champion the programme.
Afterwards, it would then be extended to cover the general public.
Free screening services would be available at district hospitals, health centres and community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds for persons celebrating their birthdays.
The free screening covers blood pressure, blood sugar, depression, as well as cervical and breast cancers.
The programme is being implemented by AMPATH Ghana, a non-profit organisation, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), the University for Development Studies (UDS) and the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
Launching the programme in Tamale, the Director-General of the GHS, Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, in a speech read on his behalf by the National Director of Public Health, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, revealed that more than half of Ghanaians were living with high blood pressure without knowing it, while nearly 25 per cent have never checked their blood pressure.
He said the intervention was in line with GHS's commitment to quality healthcare and improving the well-being of all Ghanaians.
He added that “early detection can prevent life-threatening complications such as stroke, heart attack and kidney failure".
Prof. Akoriyea indicated that over 450 health workers had already been trained, clinics established, and essential equipment provided to support the success of the intervention.
He, however, appealed to policymakers and health workers to prioritise non-communicable diseases, describing them as “silent epidemics” threatening the nation’s future while encouraging the public to use their birthdays as a guide for routine health checks.
Non-communicable diseases
For his part, the Executive Site Director of AMPATH Ghana, Dr Laud Boateng, highlighted that non-communicable diseases accounted for about 45 per cent of all deaths in Ghana, often detected late.
He added that only about 25 per cent of Ghanaians have ever checked their blood pressure, while nearly 70 per cent have never tested their blood sugar.
He stressed that when health workers and their families lead healthy lifestyles, it encourages communities to seek preventive care.
He further noted that the long-term goal of the project was to build a sustainable model that the government and partners would integrate into Ghana’s health system and culture.
The Northern Regional Coordinating Director, Abdul Rahaman Baba, commended AMPATH Ghana and its partners for the initiative.
Writer’s email:mohammed.fugu@graphic.com.gh
