Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Epidemic Diseases Vulnerabilities in Ghana: A Reflection on the Influenza Epidemic of 1918-1920

NCDs conditions such as hypertension and diabetes have featured in the top ten causes of mortalities and hospital admissions in Ghana for the past three decades. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, emerging evidence indicate that persons living with NCDs conditions, especially hypertension and diabetes suffered from severe COVID-19 complications and death. In the context of COVID-19 health outcomes and their association with NCDs underlining conditions, we ask: How has NCDs exacerbated health conditions of individuals during the outbreak of epidemic diseases? This research attempts to draw a linkage between NCDs and epidemic diseases vulnerabilities in Ghana, reflecting on the influenza epidemic also known as “Spanish Flu” of 1918 to 1920 of the Gold Coast (now Ghana). We argue among other things that traces of NCDs were observed in the Gold Coast but there is little evidence of an exacerbation of mortalities during the influenza epidemic, a reminiscent of COVID-19

DISCOURSE ON NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES INTERVENTIONS IN GHANA (1990-2018)

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes are reported to have caused significant deaths for more than a decade. Consequently, NCDs have posed as a threat to the socio-economic well-being of individuals and families, contributed to a rise in healthcare costs and largely undermined the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of NCDs have compounded the problem of already ill equipped healthcare systems in these countries as they are faced with constraints to deal with the burden of both infectious and non-communicable diseases. Informed largely by the rapid increase in NCDs and their subsequent threat to public health, we aimed to ascertain the various healthcare interventions that Ghana has fashioned out in her bid to prevent and control the incidence of NCDs, how these interventions were rolled out and examined past and present barriers to their implementation since 1990. We culled the data gathered for this paper from both primary and secondary sources to construct a coherent synthesis and to facilitate discussions on Ghana’s NCDs interventions from 1990 to 2018. A systematic analysis of the data gathered, revealed that Ghana’s healthcare system has by far tackled the NCDs burden in two folds; the clinical care aspect and the health promotion aspect. While certain healthcare interventions were purposively directed toward addressing NCDs, others were directed at promoting healthy lifestyles but had a bearing on the prevention and control of NCDs. Present challenges concerning shortfalls in interventions are a reflection of unresolved challenges in the past. We argue that despite the significant strides made for more than two decades, the interventions have addressed the burden of NCDs with limited success given the trends in NCDs mortality and morbidity

Cerebrospinal meningitis in the Colonial History of the Asante of Ghana

The incidence of diseases in the Gold Coast (now Ghana) shaped encounters between colonial officials and indigenous people, yet this subject has merited minimum attention in the Ghanaian historiography. This paper examines the colonial healthcare interventions to combat the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in Asante and how the presence of the disease transformed the relationship between the people of Asante and Europeans. The outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) in Asante was sporadic especially in the early 1900s. The incidence of the disease in Asante was socially constructed and attributed to spiritual cause at its initial stages. The impact of the disease on economic and social activities prompted the colonial administration to take swift actions against its spread. The study provides detailed account on: the history of CSM in Asante during the colonial period; the nature of its spread; the colonial administration’s strategies to combat the disease; and the effect of the disease on the socio-economic activities among the Asante people of Ghana. This paper argues that the fight against diseases in Asante; CSM in particular, required a synergy between local and institutional actions

Contribución de las mujeres a la atención biomédica en Ghana: un enfoque centrado en Obuasi

From economic, through politics to domestic support, women have been the major engineers of valuable roles towards the development of every culture. Historically, their impacts in medicine and healthcare in general have been evident across time and space. Prior to European influx and the modernization of healthcare in Ghana, women delivered such roles that simulate that of modern midwives, nurses, herbalists and priestesses. Although, denied access to formal education in the colonial days, because of cultural reasons, women have risen to occupy central stages in biomedical services. Regardless of their numerical strength and contributions towards the provision of healthcare, they have been neglected and marginalized both within the society and by scholars. Significantly, the place of Obuasi, in particular, within the literature on women’s contribution to healthcare delivery has received little attention. Dwelling on a qualitative research approach grounded in both primary and secondary data, the current study attempted a prime discourse on the contribution of women in the biomedical spheres using the Obuasi community as a case study. The current study has revealed that women as nurses and midwives work toward reducing child mortality and improvement of maternal health. Also, we have analyzed the challenges women face within the biomedical sphere as nurses and midwives.Desde la economía, pasando por la política hasta el ámbito doméstico, las mujeres han sido las principales artífices de funciones valiosas para el desarrollo de todas las culturas. Históricamente, su impacto en la medicina y el cuidado de la salud en general ha sido evidente a través del tiempo y el espacio. Antes de la afluencia europea y la modernización de la atención médica en Ghana, las mujeres desempeñaban roles que simulaban los de las modernas parteras, enfermeras, herbolarias y sacerdotisas. Aunque le fue negado el acceso a la educación en la época colonial, por razones culturales, las mujeres han ascendido a ocupar escenarios centrales en los servicios biomédicos. Independientemente de su fuerza numérica y sus contribuciones a la provisión de atención médica, han sido ignoradas y marginadas tanto dentro de la sociedad como por parte de los académicos. Significativamente, el lugar de Obuasi, en particular, dentro de la literatura sobre la contribución de las mujeres a la prestación de servicios de salud ha recibido escasa atención. Con un enfoque de investigación cualitativo basado en datos primarios y secundarios, el estudio actual abordó un discurso principal sobre la contribución de las mujeres en las esferas biomédicas utilizando la comunidad de Obuasi como estudio de caso. El estudio actual ha revelado que las mujeres como enfermeras y parteras trabajan para reducir la mortalidad infantil y mejorar la salud materna. Asimismo, hemos analizado los retos a los que se enfrentan las mujeres en el ámbito biomédico como enfermeras y matronas

THE INFLUENZA PANDEMIC IN COLONIAL ASANTE: LESSON DRAWING FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19 IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY

This paper pays attention to colonial strategies that were deployed to fight against the influenza pandemic among the Asante of Ghana. It does a comparative analysis of the outbreak and mode of spread of COVID-19 and influenza pandemics in Ghana and Asante, in particular. Based on the theory of lesson-drawing, the authors aimed to ascertain whether the strategies adopted to fight the current COVID-19 pandemic reminisce the earlier strategies deployed during the influenza pandemic of 1918. Based on primary and secondary data, the authors have constructed a history that proffers some insights into the fight against COVID-19. Authors conclude that the various health interventions toward the prevention and control of influenza in Asante during the colonial period were skewed in favor of Europeans and natives who worked within the colonial civil service. This did not support relevant strategies and efforts to reduce the spread of the disease at a faster pace. Despite several efforts made to curtail the spread of the disease, the colonial administration together with traditional authorities encountered challenges of inadequate health personnel, culture conflict ad financial challenges. The role of security agencies and the collaboration between the colonial administration and traditional authorities offer a very significant lesson for confronting the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

Evolutionary Study of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases Policy as Healthcare Intervention in Ghana (2000-2019)

The incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, cancers and cardiovascular diseases in Ghana has created a new mix of healthcare challenge for the country

Cultural Changes and Their Influences on Medical Practices among the Kwahu People of Ghana (c. 1700-2019)

The cultural values of any group of people correlates with the practice of medicine either in traditional or advanced societies. Using a qualitative research approach, the study accounts for the changes in culture and how it has influenced the medical practice of the Kwahu people of Ghana in particular. Cultural values in the Kwahu vicinity and the world at large has gone through changes over time. In this vein, the practice of medicine which is embedded cultural constructs have experienced some changes since the cultural values of the people have gone through enormous metamorphosis. Although the values of culture -on their own- changes overtime, this paper associate most of the changes with the community’s encounter with the Europeans dominance on the African continent. Factors such as Christianity, formal education, individualism, urbanization and others as discussed in this empirical research, have served as the major drivers of social change; the combination of these social forces have impacted the nature of medical practice among the people of Kwahu. The current study has built on studies like that of Twumasi (1975), Adu Gyamfi (2010; 2015; 2016) and other scholars. The current contribution concludes among other things that the youth are the major exhibitors of social change. Practitioners have therefore seen the need to use up to date technology and skills to meet the changing needs of the changing times and that of the increasing youthful population

“By June, Everyone Would Have Died”: Historicising Humour during the Covid-19 Pandemic in Ghana

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human interactions deeply affected the sense of humour of individuals. Using a social media research approach, this article analyses social media data in order to understand how social media users related with COVID-19. We sought to address the various events that generated humour among Ghanaians during the pandemic. The study reveals that the various instances of humour revolved around nose and/or face masks, terminologies and various social media posts. People neutralised their tensions and raised their humour with posts that flooded social media. This stemmed from the idea that people were mainly surprised at what they saw, watched or heard as they sought to release stress. We conclude that, owing partially to the creation of humour, the fear and tension associated with COVID-19 decreased with time among Ghanaians