A total of 106, 626 cases of hypertension were recorded in the Ashanti Region in 2020, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has disclosed.
According to the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Health Service, Dr. Emmanuel Tenkorang, this figure is the highest number of cases across all regions.
Hypertension has been identified as one of the illnesses contributing to premature mortality among young adults across the country.
In Ghana awareness for hypertension is very low, with only 37 percent of women and 14 percent of men aware of their high blood pressure status.
Addressing the media at the 2021 world Hypertension Day Awareness Creation in Kumasi, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, said, the day offers an opportunity to raise awareness of the dangers of elevated blood pressure, ensure prevention and early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment of the disease.
He noted that hypertension is one of the non-communicable diseases accounting for 42 percent of deaths in Ghana, with premature mortality.
It contributes to 20 percent of cardiovascular diseases such as Stroke accounting for 19 percent of non-communicable diseases related mortalities.
Control of hypertension in Ghana is very low with only 17 percent of women and 6 percent of men with the disease taking medication and having their blood pressure under control.
In view of the development in the region, special attention has been given to the 2021 global hypertension day cerebration.
Blood pressure screening, among others, is being held at the regional directorate of the Ghana Health Service and the Ashanti Regional Coordination Council among other communities.
This year’s world hypertension day celebration is under the theme; measure your blood pressure accurately, control it, live longer, focusing on combatting low awareness rates worldwide, especially in low to middle-income countries, and the importance of accurate blood pressure measurement methods.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5FM
