Hypertension and diabetes on the rise in Ejisu-Juaben

Hypertension and diabetes are on the rise in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, a development that has become a major source of concern to health care providers in the area.

The health facilities last year recorded 9,221 cases of hypertension compared with 5,304 in 2009 and 2008’s figure of 3,588.

Cases of diabetes also went up to 3,061 from 1,247, the previous year and the figure was 581 in 2008.

Mrs Alberta Lomotey, the Municipal Director of Health Services, gave the statistics at an end-of-year performance review meeting of the health directorate at Ejisu.

She said bad eating habits and refusal by many of the people to engage in physical exercises are to blame for the increase in the number of people with diabetes and the high blood pressure.

Touching on other health challenges, she said malaria continues to top cases seen at the Out-Patients Department (OPD).

During the period under review there were 27,845 malaria cases with 36 deaths.

The facilities also diagnosed 466 patients with Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) and they were all aged between five and 24 years.

Mrs Lomotey commended the health personnel for their hard work and dedication to duty and urged them to continue to stick to professional ethics.

They should also respect the rights of patients and to treat them with dignity, saying, this would help them to win their trust and confidence.

Source: GNA