Lifestyle Disease on The Increase in Tema

Lifestyle related ailments; particularly Diabetes and Hypertension are reportedly in the increase in Tema New Town area.

Medical Superintendent at the Manhean Polyclinic, Dr. Joseph Donkor explains that because the community is predominantly a fishing community, alcoholism has been detected to be rampant among the people, giving rise to lifestyle diseases.

“We have realised that because they are largely fishermen, alcoholism is high, making the people susceptible to Diabetes and Hypertension. Sanitation is one of the challenges in the community, contributing significantly to the rate of sicknesses treated here,” Dr. Donkor stressed.

Mysterious Deaths

It would be recalled that recently, about 17 people died under unusual circumstances in the Tema New Town area.

A Chief Priest as a result asked residents of the community to take spiritual bath in the Sea to purge them of what he called a ‘curse’.

The priest had associated the curse to certain vices some young people had been engaged in.

The Ghana Health Service who in collaboration with health experts had embarked on fact findings to ascertain what the cause of the unfortunate occurrence established that, the deaths were lifestyle related and had no spiritual undertone.

The Tema Mantse, Nii Dr. Adjei Kraku II based on the report asked the community to undertake regular cleanup exercise, stating his readiness to support with logistics.

Manhean Polyclinic

Meanwhile, Dr. Donkor has expressed worry at the state of the Manhean Polyclinic.

He revealed the facility has not seen any major rehabilitation since its inception in 1969.

According to him, the roofs of the 8-beds ward, store and pharmacy leaks at a drizzle.

“We have to suspend work temporarily, put the beds together and position buckets and containers to trap water from the leaking roofs until the rain subsides before we attend to clients,” Dr. Donkor lamented.

He noted that, they have personnel to man the facility, but lack logistics and infrastructure to befit a status of Polyclinic which serves over 120 thousand people.

Lack of equipment he further noted is seriously affecting delivery of quality health-care.

The Manhean Polyclinic Medical Superintendent therefore appealed to spirited individuals and corporate Ghana to assist to equip the facility to serve the growing population.

By: Daniel Akpaloo Nyorngmor, Tema