THE STATE OF HEALTH CARE IN GHANA
With COVID 19 Pandemic, Ghana faces multiple burden of disease. Prior to
Covid-19 we were battling with high prevalence of communicable diseases,
including malaria, Typhoid, tuberculosis (TB) and diarrhea as well as a rising
incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular
disease, cancers, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes mellitus and sickle cell
diseases.
On 12th March, 2020 Ghana announced its first two cases of confirmed Corona Virus and by
16th
January official figures stood at 55,899 with active cases of 2,174, and 358 deaths.
The truth is that, as country our health sector has been stretched and many frontline workers
had lost their lives whiles compliance to precautions is still low.
Containing this virus is proven to be a medical albatross! Thanks to the discoveries of the
Vaccines. There is absolutely the need for partnerships at all levels and new innovations
in health care delivery and public education to enhance compliance to safety precautions
as well as manage active cases
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 11 percent of the world’s population, yet bears 24 percent of the global disease burden and commands less than one percent of global health expenditure