The epidemiological transition of (high-burden) diseases from communicable to Non- communicable is much more alarming in Sub- Saharan Africa, and Ghana, obviously, is of no exception. Significantly, hypertension and diabetes have taken a lead ahead of other cardiovascular conditions.
Despite the emerging change in age-specific prevalence, the elderly are the most vulnerable to the complications of hypertension and diabetes. As populations age rapidly, the demand for geriatric care specifically in response to the rising prevalence of hypertension and diabetes is non-negotiable. In the absence of a holistic and comprehensive geriatric care policy, the elderly suffer amidst the stress on the health systems in Ghana.
Ghana’s population of adult over 60 years is estimated to reach 12% in 2050 as against 7% in 2010 according to the World Health Organization. Several prevalence studies across the country have reported the elderly group as highly afflicted by hypertension & diabetes and its associated complications of stroke and blindness.
Despite the adoption of the of the National ageing policy in 2010 and the increase in disease coverage under the National Health Insurance scheme, little effort has been made to streamline specialized hypertensive and diabetes care for this vulnerable group.
Nonetheless, successive governments are commended for the efforts made in the implementation of existing population policy which seeks to improve the economic status of the elderly. However, directing efforts towards building more specific geriatric services that address access and utilization of primary health services will inure to the benefit of the rapidly ageing population.
The elderly are faced with numerous physiological challenges such as nerve-related disorders, vision & hearing disorders, dementia, and musculoskeletal challenges among other conditions.
These disorders are further complicated by poorly managed hypertension or diabetes. In the absence a proper response system and care targeting hypertension and diabetes, no elderly services or policy can yield positive treatment outcome and therefore prioritizing the management of these conditions will strengthen geriatric or chronic care in Ghana.
These disorders are further complicated by poorly managed hypertension or diabetes. In the absence a proper response system and care targeting hypertension and diabetes, no elderly services or policy can yield positive treatment outcome and therefore prioritizing the management of these conditions will strengthen geriatric or chronic care in Ghana.
The Health and Nutrition Survey, HANES III, reported that nearly 20% of populations develop diabetes by 75 years. This is more threatening in the sub-region where the disease burden is substantial and populations age rapidly.
Furthermore, the existence of these two conditions accelerates multi-system complications and significantly undermines their management.
Moving forward, it is imperative that a comprehensive and holistic care package should include easy and timeous access to information about hypertension and diabetes, availability of drugs and resources for the management of hypertension and diabetes at all hospitals in Ghana and training of the relevant staff to acquire the requisite advanced skills to manage the associated complications of these two conditions.
As best practice in some developed health systems, at least an advanced geriatric clinic in every district hospital that focus on hypertension and diabetes will help advance geriatric care in Ghana. These clinics will design focused group educational plan to provide culturally appropriate health information and care for the elderly in the respective facilities across the country. In addressing the ailing systemic challenges, the geriatric centers will aim at providing functional and specialized eye services, ear assessment, physiotherapy consult, dental consult, and other services to address the needs of the elderly.
Essentially, this will strengthen geriatric care in Ghana and inadvertently address the increasing prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in Ghana.
