A Senior Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of the West Indies in the United States has shared ten transformational goals that will improve the health of human beings.

Dr. Kenneth Connell believes that maintaining a good healthy lifestyle requires adherence to some key principles.

The institution's Deputy Dean of Recruitment and Outreach made this known at a public lecture at the University of Ghana on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

The event was on the topic ‘From Bridgetown to Accra- Hypertension as Threat to the Diaspora.’

Here are the ten transformational goals according to the health expert.

• Don’t waste a good tragedy

The pandemic was undoubtedly a tragedy. In business terminology, as he stated, it’s often referred to as a business platform. When such crises occur, businesses reassess their models, contemplating ways to not just improve but fundamentally enhance their operations and that is what we need to learn from to foster positive change.

• Timing-mind the gap

He explains that one barrier that exists with the pandemic is the non-communicable diseases which is too wide. He discloses that it will be very difficult to convince someone that the additional salt intake is the cause of the strokes and heart attack several years later but a way has to be found to be able to convince them.

• Test more

He suggests increasing testing, drawing a parallel to the approach during the covid pandemic. He stresses on the concern that 50% of people are unaware of their hypertension and emphasizes on the importance of screening for everyone.

“I think that every household in Ghana should have a blood pressure monitor since it is a critical tool,” he said.

• Team based care-multidiscipline

He explains that, healthcare professionals from different discipline come together to provide comprehensive and coordinated patient care. This, he states, addresses various aspects of a patient’s health, promoting a more effective approach to effective treatment.

• National Task Force

He suggests that a national task force needs to be set up to address issues or challenges on a national scale. These taskforces cut across all disciplines to implement solutions.

• Telehealth

Teleconsults and telemonitoring- he revealed that telehealth was deemed impossible before COVID-19. However, with the pandemic, it became the sole option. His goal is to facilitate easier access to treatment, allowing people to have their medications adjusted promptly without the need to wait for in-person doctor visits.

• Treatment-simplified, accessible

He mentioned that simplifying treatment algorithms is essential, enabling even patients to comprehend their treatment. Additionally, he emphasized that maintaining one's blood pressure is crucial for leading a healthier life. 

“If you go on your smartphone and look up Life Essential Eight, you’ll see a whole list of eight kinds of prescriptions on how to live a healthy life.”

• Trajectory monitoring.

He asserts that we need to know the numbers of hypertension and heart attacks in the country and the only way we can intervene is if we keep measuring.

• Training the next generation

Dr Connell believes that academic institutions have an important role to play in training the next generation since medicine is not taught easily. He emphasizes that they have to be taught well to be able to cure others effectively.

• Total political buy-in.

He calls for robust political leadership to address diaspora issues with hypertension standing out as a neglected yet significant concern.

“Hypertension is one such issue that has been neglected but yet is the elephant in the room.”

The event also saw the official launch of the transnational medical programme, between the University of West Indies and the University Of Ghana.

This joint medical programme is a collaborative initiative between these two universities to foster diverse cultural medical education within two environments to enhance the proficiency of doctors undergoing training.