Obuobia Darko-Opoku Raises Alarm Over Rising Chronic Diseases Among Children
Increasing childhood chronic illnesses are raising concern in Ghana.
- Increasing childhood chronic illnesses are raising concern in Ghana.
- Obuobia highlighted rising cancer cases among children.
- The Trust Fund will support specialised healthcare delivery.
Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Adjoa Obuobia Darko-Opoku, has raised concerns over the increasing number of children in Ghana being diagnosed with chronic and non-communicable diseases.
Madam Darko-Opoku said her experiences at health facilities had revealed a troubling rise in conditions such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases among children.
She noted that in the past, illnesses like diabetes and high blood pressure were often associated with older adults.
“When we were growing up, when you heard somebody had diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiovascular disease, obviously you thought that person was older,” she said.
“Until I got into this business, I didn’t know that even children have these conditions.”
Madam Darko-Opoku recalled visits to oncology centres, particularly at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, where she encountered many children undergoing cancer treatment.
“When you go into the oncology centre at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and you see all these kids there, you’re wondering what is happening to us,” she stated.
According to her, the growing trend highlights the urgent need for improved specialised healthcare services and stronger interventions to tackle chronic diseases.
She explained that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund was created in part to help ease the burden of chronic illnesses by supporting treatments not fully covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The fund, she said, will also invest in medical research, healthcare infrastructure and specialist training to improve care for patients living with chronic conditions.
Madam Darko-Opoku further cited data from the World Health Organization, which indicates that about 43% of deaths in Ghana are linked to non-communicable diseases.
Health experts have increasingly warned about rising cases of hypertension, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases among younger people in Ghana.
