Health Care, Disease Control, Crime and Safety in Ghana

The healthcare system of the Republic of Ghana is organized by the Ghana Ministry of Health. Its primary function is to take care of the health situation in the country such as regulating the medical system, controlling dangerous drugs, initiating scientific and medical research, and providing standards for qualification of medical professionals. The institution is now developing health policies which they are to implement for the betterment of the country’s healthcare situation. Their slogan “Creating Wealth Through Health” serves as a driving force for the government and the Ghanaian people to continue the development of their health sector.

Medical facilities are found mostly in the urban areas especially in Accra. Modern facilities and equipment are provided for by the government and private institutions as well as Christian missions throughout the country. Government- and private owned medical institutions can be found in the country made available for the citizens.

Common diseases in Ghana include typhoid, tuberculosis, cholera, yellow fever, malaria, chicken pox, hepatitis, tetanus and measles. Others are pertussis, trachoma, and anthrax. When it comes to premature death cases, malaria and measles are the number one causes. The Guinea worm affected a lot of Ghanaians in the past few years though the government has successfully controlled the situation at present. The African Sleeping Sickness (African trypanosomiasis) is widespread in Africa and has increased its number of victims in the country. A parasitic infection called Schistosomiasis can be caught in freshwater areas in West African countries. Due to the growing number of diseases affecting the Ghanaians, the government is eager in promoting its health programs on malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and immunizations.