By Celestine Avi,GBC
Copyright gbcghanaonline
By Celestine Avi
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has raised alarm over the escalating burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), revealing that in just the first half of 2025, it recorded more than 5,000 complicated diabetes referrals and over 2,000 kidney cases.
The disclosure was made during a needs assessment visit by the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as Mahama Cares, ahead of the Fund’s intervention programme to tackle the growing NCD challenge.
Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, described the situation as deeply worrying, noting that people under the age of 40 are now increasingly reporting with cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable conditions. He stressed that this development signals a worrying trend in the health profile of the country, which requires urgent national attention.
Dr. Adam explained that the surge in cases at Korle Bu mirrors broader national health concerns, particularly with lifestyle-related diseases that have long-term social and economic consequences. He welcomed the planned support from the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, saying it would help strengthen early detection, treatment, and management of NCDs across the country.
In addition to the rising disease burden, Dr. Harry Akoto, a Neurosurgeon and Deputy Medical Director at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, revealed another critical challenge facing the hospital: the loss of an average of 50 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses every month. He cautioned that this attrition rate threatens the hospital’s capacity to provide quality critical care services and called for urgent measures to address the retention of skilled health professionals.
The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Madam Obuobia Darko Opoku, said the needs assessment exercise is aimed at identifying priority areas where the Fund can provide immediate and sustained support. She reaffirmed the commitment of Mahama Cares to strengthen the health sector by addressing gaps in both infrastructure and service delivery, particularly in the area of non-communicable diseases.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, widely referred to as Mahama Cares, is expected to roll out interventions targeting NCD prevention, screening, and treatment in major health facilities across the country. The initiative is also designed to complement the government’s broader health agenda by equipping hospitals, supporting healthcare personnel, and improving access to quality care for all citizens.
With the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and the mounting pressure on health professionals, stakeholders at the event stressed the need for coordinated national action to prevent Ghana’s health system from being overwhelmed.
