Cases of hernia reported at various hospitals in Ghana are increasing especially among persons living in farming communities.
This is according to the Society of Family Physicians of Ghana, SOFPOG.
The Association as part of its 20th Annual General Meeting held in the Ashanti region, has been treating persons with the condition at Nkawie, Toase and other surrounding communities.
[contextly_sidebar id=”IB8MsdkqaPm8Mp8T401ppU1Zngivvzo4″]The Society of Family Physicians of Ghana is worried about the prevalence of the hernia cases reported at various health centres across the country especially at farming communities.
According to Dr. Eric Kwame Detoh, a medical superintendent at the Nkawie/Toase government hospital, the cases of hernia in the area are high because it is predominantly a farming community.
“On the average, we do about ten cases of hernia. It is common because we are in a farming community and also the kind of jobs that the people in this region do expose them to having hernia,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Osei Frimpong, a family physician stationed in the Western region, who joined the team to perform surgeries on some affected persons at the hospital, indicated that weightlifters and “persons who engage in activities that increase their pressure”, have high chances of developing hernia if not properly done.
He, however, urged parents to observe their children keenly to help detect the condition at the early stage which could be as a result of children born with weak body parts.
Dr. Fred Bedzra, one of the organizers of the Annual General meeting, stated that they chose Nkawie, Ntoase and other surrounding communities to treat persons with hernia because of the high number of cases they record in those areas.
He also made a call on the government to increase funding into the training of family physicians.
He believes that will help bridge the gap between doctors and patients in the country.
“Funding should be increased into the funding of family physicians. Elsewhere, if you don’t have a degree or training in family medicine, you are not allowed to operate a private facility.”
As part of the group’s activities, they organized an inter-university debate competition under the motion, “After 62 years of Independence, Ghana is close to achieving universal health coverage,” where participants from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST emerged as Winners.
The University of Education, Winneba, Kumasi came second, while Garden City University College and Christ Apostolic University had the third and fourth positions respectively.