20% world’s seven billion human population suffer hypertension- Medical Director


It is estimated that 20 per cent of the world's seven billion human population is suffering from hypertension. 

One third of patients in this population are not aware that they are suffering from this slow killer disease. 

It is therefore very important that people take periodic medical checkup and good lifestyles serious to reduce their risk levels of contracting the dreadful ailment. 

The Station Medical Director of the 4 Medical Reception Station of the Armed Forces, Flight Lieutenant Alhaji Shaibu made this known in Kumasi while educating senior staff of the Bank of Ghana in the Ashanti region after a health walk. 

Among the participants of the nearly two-hour health walk were some departmental heads and the Second Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Johnson Asiama. 

The participants began the health walk with some aerobics at the premises of the Kumasi office of the Central Bank. 

The participants, amidst brass band music and enthusiasm, walked briskly through some of the major streets of Kumasi with their placards bearing the common message "Keep the Cedi Clean; Don't Soil the money with Oil". 
It also formed part of an initiative of the Central Bank to educate the public to handle the local currency with care and respect. 

The walk ended at the Kumasi Rattray Park where the participants were led in an aerobics session led by W.O. II Baba Mohammed of the Central Command of the Ghana Armed Forces. 

Later, the participants were educated on hypertension and stroke by Flt Lt Alhaji Shaibu. 

He said a number of reasons are responsible for hypertension and stroke. 
These factors include a person's skin colour disposition, hereditary and importantly lifestyle. 

Flt Lt Alhaji Shaibu said people who live expensive lifestyles are at higher risk of contracting the disease which comes with serious socio-economic consequences to the individual patient, family and nation.

The second deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, explained that the health walk is to help improve on the health of the staff while serving as an opportunity to educate the public to handle the Cedi notes with great care and respect.    

GBC