CREATE Ghana, a group affiliated with the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) focused on Cardiometabolic Diseases (CMDs) in Africa, has advised young people to adopt healthy lifestyles to prevent CMDs. In an interview with the Daily Graphic last Thursday, Dr. Elizabeth Boateng, the Lead Educator at CREATE Ghana and a pharmacist, emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in regular physical activity, avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol consumption, managing stress and mental health, and undergoing regular check-ups and screenings to reduce the risk of CMDs.

Dr. Boateng highlighted the increasing prevalence of CMDs worldwide, including in Ghana, noting that these diseases, once common among the elderly, are now affecting younger populations. She identified hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases as the most common CMDs impacting both the young and the elderly at high rates in recent years.

According to recent statistics from the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 463 million people globally had diabetes in 2022, with this number expected to rise to 578 million by 2030. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2022, an estimated 17.9 million people died from cardiovascular diseases. In Ghana, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) records over 200,000 cases of diabetes annually at health facilities' Outpatient Departments, with a prevalence rate between 2.6% and 9%.

Education

Dr. Boateng explained that CREATE Ghana's global health research initiative, in collaboration with partners in Kenya, Mozambique, and the United Kingdom, aims to develop and implement a structured self-management education program for people living with cardiometabolic diseases. This initiative works in partnership with strategic institutions such as the Ghana College of Pharmacy, the GHS, and the Ministry of Health.

CREATE Ghana is conducting a feasibility study to generate scientific evidence that can guide healthcare providers and stakeholders in managing CMDs. The preliminary results are promising, but a larger study is needed to provide more comprehensive evidence to inform policymakers on effective CMD management strategies.

Dr. Boateng emphasized the importance of educating the public and healthcare professionals about the impact of diet and lifestyle on CMDs, stressing that this knowledge is crucial for effecting change. The research findings aim to encourage stakeholders to adopt preventative measures rather than relying solely on curative approaches, thereby reducing the burden of CMDs through lifestyle modifications.

She called on the government and other policymakers to use the data provided by CREATE Ghana and its partners to make informed decisions that will enhance healthcare delivery and prevent CMDs.

Source by Graphic Online