Today Is Being Observed Globally As World Health Day

Today is being observed globally as World Health Day.

The Day which also marks the founding of the World Health Organisation in 1948, focuses on High Blood Pressure.

In a statement, Help Age Ghana describes the theme as appropriate to the Ghanaian situation because the risk of high blood pressure increases with age and the country is experiencing a rapid growth in its ageing population. 

It regrets that though cabinet had approved a National Ageing Policy and I Action Plan since October, 2012 it is yet to be implemented. 

The statement signed by the Executive Director of Help Age Ghana, Ebenezer Adjetey-Sorsey, says the commemoration of this year's World Health Day presents an opportunity for government and other stakeholders to take a second look at certain practices and policies which do not inure to the benefit of the aged.

It recommends that the age of exemption from payment of the minimum premium under the NHIS, be reviewed downwards from 70 to 60. And also,the disease and drug coverage of the scheme to be made more relevant to the healthcare needs of the older people and these should include urine retention, eye care, colon cancer, prostate cancer and Ear-Nose and Throat treatment.

GBC