Health Essentials
The role of GAPHTO in disease prevention in Ghana, public health, national development
Every day across Ghana, thousands of public health professionals wake up before dawn and head into communities, schools, markets, health facilities and households. They inspect sanitation conditions, monitor disease outbreaks, educate communities on healthy practices, investigate health threats and help prevent epidemics before they occur.
Yet despite their critical contribution to national health and development, many Ghanaians know very little about the men and women behind these efforts.
These are the Public Health Technical Officers (PHTOs) — a dedicated workforce that operates largely behind the scenes but serves as one of the country’s most important lines of defence against disease and public health emergencies.
Now, the newly elected President of the Ghana Association of Public Health Technical Officers (GAPHTO), Mr Owusu Ansah Asante, wants to change that.
Having assumed office this year, Mr Asante has placed visibility, professional recognition and strategic advocacy at the centre of his leadership agenda. His goal is to ensure that the work of Public Health Technical Officers is better understood, appreciated and supported by the public, policymakers and development partners.
While doctors and nurses are often the most visible faces of healthcare, Public Health Technical Officers perform preventive functions that help stop diseases before people require medical treatment.
They are involved in environmental sanitation, disease surveillance, outbreak investigations, health promotion, food hygiene inspections, water quality monitoring, vector control and community health education.
Their work becomes especially critical during disease outbreaks such as cholera, meningitis, yellow fever and other infectious diseases that threaten communities.
“When outbreaks occur, our members are among the first responders in the field,” Mr. Asante explained. “They work directly with communities to identify risks, educate the public and implement preventive measures that save lives.”
According to him, preventive healthcare remains one of the most cost-effective investments any nation can make because it reduces the burden on hospitals while improving the overall health and productivity of citizens.
“Many people only think about healthcare when they visit a hospital. Yet there are professionals working every day to prevent diseases before people become patients. That contribution deserves greater public appreciation and support,” he said.
Founded in 1984, GAPHTO has evolved into one of Ghana’s most significant public health professional associations.
Today, the association boasts more than 4,000 members working across districts, municipalities, metropolitan assemblies, regional health directorates and various public health institutions nationwide.
For more than four decades, the association has contributed to Ghana’s efforts in disease prevention, environmental health management, sanitation improvement and public health education.
Members have played active roles in major national health interventions, helping to address public health challenges ranging from sanitation-related diseases to epidemic preparedness and response.
Despite these contributions, Mr Asante believes the profession has not received the level of recognition that matches its impact.
“There is a lot of excellent work being done across the country by Public Health Technical Officers. Unfortunately, much of this work goes unnoticed because it happens quietly in communities. One of our goals is to tell these stories and help people understand the importance of what our members do,” he said.
For the new GAPHTO President, increasing visibility is not merely a public relations exercise.
Instead, he sees communication and public engagement as strategic tools for strengthening public health outcomes and attracting support for preventive healthcare initiatives.
Under his leadership, the association plans to strengthen its communication efforts, improve engagement with the media, expand public education activities and highlight the achievements of members across the country.
Mr Asante believes greater visibility will not only enhance public appreciation for the profession but also create opportunities for partnerships, policy influence and professional development.
“We want GAPHTO to become a household name in matters of public health and disease prevention. When people hear about sanitation, disease surveillance, health promotion and community health protection, they should immediately recognise the role of Public Health Technical Officers,” he said.
Beyond visibility, the new leadership is committed to building the capacity of members to respond to emerging public health challenges.
Rapid urbanisation, climate change, population growth and evolving disease patterns continue to create new public health risks that require innovative solutions and highly skilled professionals.
Mr Asante noted that his administration will focus on continuous professional development, leadership training, research and knowledge sharing to ensure members remain equipped to address contemporary health challenges.
“We live in a rapidly changing world. Public health professionals must continue to upgrade their skills and knowledge to respond effectively to new and emerging threats,” he said.
The GAPHTO President is convinced that the association’s work extends far beyond the health sector.
According to him, effective disease prevention and environmental health management contribute directly to economic growth, educational outcomes and national productivity.
Healthy communities are more productive, children are able to attend school consistently and families spend less on medical treatment when diseases are prevented before they occur.
This, he argues, makes Public Health Technical Officers important contributors to Ghana’s broader development agenda.
“Public health is not only about health. It is about development. It is about creating environments where people can live productive lives and contribute meaningfully to society,” he explained.
As part of his vision, Mr Asante is seeking stronger collaboration between GAPHTO and government institutions, development agencies, civil society organisations, academia and the private sector.
He believes partnerships will be essential for addressing complex public health challenges that require coordinated action across multiple sectors.
The association also hopes to create stronger platforms for advocacy on issues relating to sanitation, environmental health and disease prevention.
As Ghana continues to pursue universal health coverage and strengthen its health systems, Mr Asante believes Public Health Technical Officers must occupy a more prominent place in national conversations about healthcare and development.
His message is simple: disease prevention deserves as much attention as disease treatment, and the professionals who dedicate their careers to protecting communities deserve greater recognition.
For decades, they have worked quietly in the background, helping to keep Ghanaian communities healthy and safe.
Under the leadership of Mr Owusu Ansah Asante, GAPHTO hopes that story will no longer remain hidden.
The association’s new chapter seeks not only to strengthen the profession but also to ensure that the thousands of men and women who stand on the frontlines of disease prevention finally receive the visibility their contributions have long deserved.
By Geoffrey Buta
Teenage Hypertension: The silent threat to Ghana’s young generation
For many Ghanaian teenagers, high blood pressure may seem like a health problem for their parents and grandparents. But as unhealthy eating habits, excess weight and increasingly sedentary lifestyles become concerns for younger populations, protecting heart health during adolescence deserves greater attention.
The danger is that hypertension can develop without obvious symptoms. A teenager may feel perfectly healthy while elevated blood pressure goes undetected, potentially delaying medical assessment and appropriate care.
Although not every teenager with unhealthy habits will develop hypertension, early awareness, healthy lifestyle choices and appropriate blood pressure checks can help reduce future cardiovascular risks.
A growing concern
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a major public health concern worldwide. The World Health Organisation identifies it as an important contributor to premature death, largely because it increases the risk of serious cardiovascular complications.
While the condition is often associated with adulthood, the factors that contribute to its development can begin much earlier in life.
Frequent consumption of foods high in salt, poor dietary habits, excess body weight and insufficient physical activity can undermine cardiovascular health. Family history and certain underlying medical conditions may also increase an individual’s risk.
For teenagers, therefore, the conversation about hypertension should extend beyond hospital visits and include the everyday habits that shape their health.
When lifestyle choices become a concern
Adolescence is a period when young people begin making more independent decisions about what they eat, how they spend their leisure time and how physically active they are.
Convenience foods, processed meals, salty snacks and sugary drinks may become regular features of their diets. At the same time, long hours spent on mobile phones, computers and other digital devices can leave less time for physical activity.
Academic demands and inadequate sleep may further affect their general well-being.
These habits do not automatically lead to hypertension. However, when unhealthy diets and physical inactivity contribute to excess weight, they can increase the risk of high blood pressure, particularly among people with other predisposing factors.
Recognising these risks early offers families, schools and health professionals an opportunity to encourage healthier choices before unhealthy patterns become established.
What Ghana’s cardiovascular health figures reveal
A cardiologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School, Professor Alfred Doku, in an interview highlighted the seriousness of cardiovascular disease in Ghana, citing figures indicating that it accounted for approximately 43 to 50 per cent of deaths in the country.
He also stated that about 30 per cent of Ghanaian adults had hypertension, with approximately 70 per cent of those affected unaware of their condition.
Although these figures concern adults and the wider population rather than teenagers specifically, they point to the importance of improving awareness, screening and early detection of high blood pressure.
Professor Doku urged people to know their blood pressure readings and monitor other important health indicators, including blood sugar, cholesterol levels and body weight.
His advice underscores the importance of understanding personal health risks rather than waiting for illness to become apparent before seeking medical attention.
For adolescents, any blood pressure reading that raises concern should be assessed by a qualified health professional. Because blood pressure varies with age, growth and other factors, its interpretation in children and teenagers requires appropriate clinical assessment.
The danger of a condition without obvious symptoms
The Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, also stressed the importance of awareness and early detection in addressing cardiovascular disease.
He explained that hypertension could remain undetected for years because affected individuals might not experience noticeable symptoms.
Dr Entsua-Mensah noted that several factors, including diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption, could contribute to cardiovascular damage over time.
He called for greater public awareness of the importance of checking blood pressure and other health indicators before complications develop.
The challenge with hypertension is that the absence of symptoms can create a false sense of security. People may assume they are healthy simply because they feel well, overlooking the need for preventive health checks.
Dr Entsua-Mensah emphasised that addressing cardiovascular disease required cooperation among healthcare professionals, government institutions, schools, businesses, community organisations and the media.
Such collaboration is particularly important for young people, whose health habits are influenced by their homes, schools, peer groups and the wider environment.
Small habits, lasting benefits
Professor Doku said many cases of heart disease and stroke could be prevented or their risks reduced through appropriate lifestyle changes and effective management of contributing factors.
He encouraged young people to reduce their salt intake, eat balanced meals, exercise regularly and avoid smoking.
Describing hypertension as a silent threat, he warned that people should not wait for symptoms before taking their blood pressure seriously.
Hypertension, he stressed, could have serious consequences, including heart failure and stroke, when left undetected or inadequately managed.
For teenagers, protecting heart health does not necessarily require complicated routines. It begins with practical, everyday decisions: eating a balanced diet, choosing foods with less salt, participating in regular physical activity and getting adequate sleep.
Avoiding tobacco products and maintaining a healthy weight are also important steps towards reducing cardiovascular risks.
Young people who are diagnosed with hypertension should follow the advice of their healthcare providers and take prescribed medication as directed. Lifestyle changes can support treatment, but they should not replace medication when it is medically necessary.
Parents have an important role to play by encouraging healthy eating and physical activity at home. Schools can contribute by providing opportunities for exercise, promoting health education and making nutritious food choices more accessible to students.
Healthcare professionals, meanwhile, can help identify young people who may be at risk, assess abnormal readings and guide families on appropriate follow-up care.
Protecting the next generation
Addressing hypertension among young people requires more than individual effort. It calls for a coordinated response involving families, schools, healthcare providers, policymakers and the media.
Public education should challenge the perception that high blood pressure is exclusively an older person’s condition. Teenagers need accurate information about cardiovascular health, the factors that increase their risk and the importance of seeking professional advice when necessary.
Appropriate screening and follow-up care can also help identify elevated blood pressure and ensure that young people who need medical attention receive it.
However, the extent of hypertension among Ghanaian teenagers should not be inferred from statistics relating to adults. Reliable, age-specific national data are needed to establish the scale of the problem and guide targeted interventions.
That evidence gap makes it important to approach the subject with both urgency and accuracy: raising awareness of the risks without exaggerating what is known about their prevalence among adolescents.
For Ghana’s young generation, the message is clear. Feeling healthy does not always mean that blood pressure is normal, and good cardiovascular health should not be left until adulthood.
By encouraging healthier habits, improving access to appropriate health checks and making reliable information available to young people, Ghana can take meaningful steps towards protecting the heart health of its next generation.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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Don’t we all dream of a life that is filled with laughter? That may be a reason for chasing big bucks, which like the golden-fleece eludes the majority of us. Financial Wellness is extremely important but there are other factors that make us happy and healthy and eventually wealthy.
You definitely do not need to live in Finland to experience happiness even though many people agree that is the “headquarters” of happiness. The happiness in Finland for instance is based on the provision of basic infrastructure and services, minimal corruption and strong social support among others. These go a long way to minimise anxiety making room for one to enjoy the good things of life.
Then when you live in Sikaman and any of its other cohorts, it is challenging to have those in authority create the environment where you can be happy. That’s why you need to “happy yourself” and the happiness hacks below will help you do just that. Even if you live in Finland, you will gain much more by following these steps.
- Wake-Up Ritual
- Say to yourself that today will be a beautiful day or a great day
- Ask God what He has in store for you. Use me Lord (if not a Christian what you believe in will be useful as well.
- Remind yourself of your purpose in life and get out of bed
- Do not grab your phone as the first thing for the day.
- Pray
- Talking to God has a way of calming our nerves. It brings about unexplained peace and when we add praise and worship then the floodgates open. That is how to win battles against unhappiness.
- Smile
- Definitely floods your body with feel good hormones and insulates you from stress
- Smiling is infectious so the more you smile the better and you set off a smiling OR happiness domino effect.
- Meditate
- Extremely good for your brain and an easy way to start is to do deep-breathing and just focus on your “breath” excluding all others. That is what some will prefer to call mindfulness. Being in the moment has immense benefits. Things you never knew existed suddenly spring up.
- Exercise
- That wonder drug that trumps virtually all others. Like smiling it does pour out feel good hormones. Strength training even goes an extra mile causing our muscles to act as “pharmacies” that pour out life-changing signals every time they contract.
- Be kind to yourself & to others.
- We are often too harsh on ourselves. Give yourself a break. Self-care is the real deal!!
- Being harsh to others has no benefits.
- Spend some time doing nothing
- We need to re-set from time to time. Spend about 10 minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. There is happiness and innovation in “idling”. Do not abuse idling though
- Spend time with loved ones
- This is another powerful happiness “hack”. You have to make time and be intentional about this; talk on phone, send messages, arrange to meet for a drink or meal. Social Wellness ranks very high on the happiness index and it’s fairly easy to plug into it.
- While spending time together remember that your choice of food and drinks also impacts on how happy or sad or anxious you may feel.
- Indulge in a hobby
- Our bodies and brain love variety. Do you have a hobby? Get one
- Write in your gratitude diary
- That is all it takes – keep doing it regularly.
This list is not exhaustive but definitely a good start. Share your happiness hacks with me via email and together we can keep the world smiling and happy.
At the end of each day ask yourself if you did better than the previous day. That is all it takes. Doing better than the previous day for 365 days, for 5 years, 10 years… How amazing that will be!!!
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/Medics Clinic
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
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