Hypertension and other non-communicable diseases are killing more adults in Ghana than any other disease, this is according to statistics from the Ghana Health Service (GHS).

Many of the deaths are, however, avoidable if the victims find out about their condition and take steps to manage it.

That’s why doctors at Nkwanta in the Volta region have come up with an unorthodox, but very effective way of identifying hypertension so they could be given a care in good time to keep them alive.

Ghana Connect on Friday sought answers to what the individuals can do to help themselves and what can be done by policymakers and institution to enable the citizenry to live long healthy life.

Is it a looming epidemic of a disaster waiting to happen?

Connecting in the studio was a young journalist, Jeffrey DeGraft Johnson who recently had a near-death experience with mild stroke.

Also connecting was Dr David Sunnu the Chief Medical Officer of BIMA, a leading provider of mobile-delivered insurance and health services in emerging markets.

Dr Ayew Afriyie

Connecting from Parliament was the Vice-Chair of the Health Committee, Dr Ayew Afriyie and the Programmes Manager for Non-Communicable Diseases at the Public health division of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Dennis Laryea.

Pathologist and former Director General of the Ghana Health, Prof. Badu Agyemang Akosa also joined the discussion via phone.

Listen to the discussion: