Author: Tiphaine Marilyn

Health authorities in Ghana are sounding the alarm on a stealthy health threat affecting thousands. High eye pressure, or Intraocular Pressure (IOP), is a leading risk factor for glaucoma a condition that can cause irreversible blindness. With an estimated 60,000 Ghanaians currently under threat from glaucoma, public health messaging is intensifying to stress that this “silent thief of sight” often provides no warning signs before permanent vision damage occurs. Intraocular Pressure is the fluid pressure inside the eye, which is essential for maintaining the eye’s shape. A delicate balance between fluid production and drainage keeps it within a normal range…

A sharp increase in maternal deaths in Ghana’s Ashanti Region is raising significant alarms among health officials and threatening national progress towards key health and development targets. Data from the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate reveals the region recorded 232 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in a recent six-month period. Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, the Regional Director of Health Services, confirmed this figure is the highest reported in the last three years and undermines efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Dr. Adomako-Boateng attributed the crisis to a cascade of systemic and social failures. A primary cause is late reporting…

Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs has renewed calls for a bilateral protection framework to safeguard the welfare and professional rights of Ghanaian health workers living and working in the United Kingdom. The appeal comes amid growing concerns about the working conditions, migration challenges, and ethical recruitment of Ghanaian nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals abroad. Ghana remains one of the key source countries for health professionals supporting the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). While their contribution has been widely acknowledged, the Foreign Affairs Minister noted that many Ghanaian health workers face challenges ranging from contract disparities and workplace discrimination to…

Health experts and public health commentators in Ghana are urging citizens to shift their focus from treating illnesses to adopting preventive health practices, warning that the country’s growing burden of avoidable diseases could overwhelm the health system if proactive measures are not prioritised. As the new year unfolds, medical professionals and policy analysts stress that lifestyle-related conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and certain cancers are on the rise, largely driven by poor diet, physical inactivity, stress, alcohol consumption, and late health-seeking behaviour. They argue that many of these conditions can be prevented or effectively managed through early…

The China-Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum is a key bilateral platform established to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation in traditional medicine research and practice between the two nations.In a landmark address bridging centuries of traditional wisdom and modern clinical practice, a leading Ghanaian medical expert has issued a powerful call for an integrated, evidence-based approach to women’s healthcare, uniting Ghanaian herbal medicine with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Dr. Mrs. Sandra Ashong, President of the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists, delivered a speech at the 3rd China-Ghana Traditional Medicine Forum. She framed the mission in urgent, generational terms, stating: “When we speak of…

Scientists are raising alarms over a growing but often overlooked public health threat: the potential global rise of deadly brain-eating amoebae as climate change continues to warm freshwater environments. Recent research suggests that Naegleria fowleri and similar free-living amoebae thrive in warm water conditions, increasing the risk of rare but often fatal infections worldwide. Naegleria fowleri, commonly referred to as a brain-eating amoeba, typically inhabits warm freshwater bodies such as lakes, rivers, hot springs, and inadequately treated swimming areas. Infection occurs when contaminated water enters the body through the nose, allowing the amoeba to travel to the brain and cause primary amoebic…

Health authorities in the U.S. state of Massachusetts are raising serious concerns following a sharp rise in influenza-related deaths and hospitalisations during the current flu season. According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, at least 30 deaths have been linked to influenza, including the tragic loss of three children. Officials describe flu activity across the state as “very high and rising,” signaling one of the most severe seasons in recent years. Hospitals across Massachusetts are experiencing increased admissions as flu cases surge throughout the region. Emergency departments and inpatient facilities have reported a steady influx of patients…