Accra: The National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Wednesday launched the 2026 World Heart Awareness Month with a call on Ghanaians to prioritise cardiovascular health through regular screening, healthy lifestyles, and early detection. The month-long campaign, themed 'Heart Disease Can Hide in Plain Sight, Don't Miss a Beat,' seeks to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases and encourage individuals and institutions to take preventive action.
According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Alfred Doku, Chairman of the World Heart Awareness Month Planning Committee, highlighted that cardiovascular diseases have become a major cause of death in Ghana, with uncontrolled hypertension as a key driver. He noted that while public health efforts have historically focused on diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV, cardiovascular conditions such as stroke and heart failure are increasingly burdening the population.
Prof Doku, also a Cardiologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School, pointed out that hypertension affects about 30 percent of Ghanaian adults, with many unaware of their condition. He emphasized the importance of knowing one's blood pressure as well as regularly checking blood sugar, cholesterol, weight, and body mass index.
Emphasizing the need for healthcare workers to use every patient interaction as an opportunity for screening, Prof Doku suggested antenatal visits, wound dressing, and malaria testing as potential settings for early detection. He urged the public to recognize warning signs such as sudden weakness on one side of the body, chest pain, palpitations, and difficulty in breathing, advising prompt medical attention.
Prof Doku advocated for lifestyle changes to prevent strokes and heart attacks, including reducing salt, unhealthy oils, and processed foods, and increasing physical activity. He urged the public to avoid tobacco and alcohol and adhere to prescribed medication, highlighting that hypertension treatment should be a long-term commitment.
Additionally, Prof Doku called for increased investment in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, stating that the cost of medicines should not force families to choose between healthcare and other essentials like education. He encouraged policymakers, businesses, healthcare institutions, and communities to make cardiovascular health a national priority.
Dr Ekow Entsua-Mensah, Director of the NCTC, remarked that addressing cardiovascular disease requires more than just the health sector. While the NCTC can provide specialist care and lead public education, he stressed that prevention, early detection, and collective action are crucial for long-term success against cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Entsua-Mensah identified several risk factors, including diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol consumption. The campaign will encourage people to monitor their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels while adopting healthier lifestyles.
He called on the Government and policymakers to provide the necessary policies and resources for prevention, screening, and treatment. Healthcare institutions and professionals were urged to enhance early detection and evidence-based care, while corporate organisations were encouraged to support public education, screening programmes, research, and treatment access.
Dr Entsua-Mensah also highlighted the roles of schools, workplaces, faith-based organisations, and civil society in creating healthier environments and spreading the cardiovascular health message. He appealed to the media to educate the public on cardiovascular risks and warning signs.
The campaign will feature media engagements, health walks, public education, and screening programmes to promote prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. Dr Entsua-Mensah emphasized that the campaign should evolve into sustained partnerships beyond the month-long activities to move the country from awareness to prevention and early detection.
World Heart Day is observed annually on September 29 as a global campaign to raise awareness of cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, which remain leading causes of death worldwide. Established in 2000 by the World Heart Federation, in conjunction with the World Health Organisation, the day unites individuals, communities, and governments to promote heart health.