{
  "id": 8364743,
  "title": "NCD burden rising as Ghana struggles with prevention, awareness and long-term care – Health Expert",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/ncd-burden-rising-as-ghana-struggles-with-prevention-awareness-and",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-19T02:51:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ncd-burden-rising-as-ghana-struggles-with-prevention-awareness-and-long-term-care-health-expert/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Ghana is grappling with a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as highlighted by Dr Efua Commeh, Municipal Director of Health at La Nkwantanang-Madina in the Greater Accra region. The primary challenges include low public awareness, unhealthy lifestyles, and difficulties in managing long-term conditions. Dr Commeh emphasized that unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are modifiable risk factors contributing to the NCD burden, with hypertension being a significant concern due to undiagnosed cases and late presentation. Diabetes and cancer also play a substantial role in the country's NCD statistics, with high mortality rates often linked to late diagnosis and limited screening. The long-term nature of NCD treatment poses additional challenges, as patients require lifelong management, which can be financially burdensome and may lead to non-adherence to treatment. Dr Commeh stressed the importance of healthcare workers communicating effectively with patients to ensure proper understanding and adherence to treatment plans.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}