It has been reported that stroke is the leading cause of death at the Eastern Regional Hospital in 2023. For the past three years, cardiovascular disease (CV) or stroke has been ranked as the top cause of death, followed by hypertension, prematurity, and pneumonia, among others. Therefore, it is crucial to raise public awareness and educate people to take the necessary precautions to change this alarming trend.
The Medical Superintendent at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw, made the revelation during the 2023 Annual Performance Review held in Koforidua. “We did mention that CV or strokes are the number one cause of mortality in the Eastern Regional Hospital and did also allude to the fact that when you look at the data, there is a shift in the pattern of mortality from communicable diseases, as we had, to non-communicable diseases. What that means is that what kills people is not something that can be transferred to others. Lifestyle diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and others have now taken the lead.”
On the issue of the mass exodus of health workers, Dr Arko Akoto Ampaw indicated that the hospital has taken steps to train critical staff to fill some gaps created. “It is essential staff, the crème de la crème, that often leave and we have sped up the process, and we have replaced some of them and work in general is going on.”
By: Neil Nii KanarkuandSheba Araba Bennin
