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 human health.
Dr. Kenneth Connell believes that maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires following certain key principles.
The institution’s Deputy Dean of Recruitment and Outreach made this known during a public lecture at the University of Ghana on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
The event was themed “From Bridgetown to Accra – Hypertension as a Threat to the Diaspora”.
Here are the ten transformation goals according to the health expert.
- Don’t waste a good tragedy
The pandemic has undoubtedly been a tragedy. In business terminology, as he stated, it is often referred to as a business platform. When such crises arise, companies reevaluate their models, thinking about ways to not only improve but fundamentally improve their operations. This is what we need to learn from to drive positive change.
He explains that one of the obstacles that exists with the pandemic is non-communicable diseases, which are too broad. He reveals that it will be very difficult to convince someone that extra salt consumption is the cause of strokes and heart attacks many years later, but that we need to find a way to be able to convince them.
He suggests increasing testing, drawing a parallel with the approach taken during the covid pandemic. He highlights the concern that 50% of people are unaware of their hypertension and emphasizes the importance of screening for everyone.
“I think every household in Ghana should have a blood pressure monitor because it is an essential tool,” he said.
- Multidisciplinary team care
He explains that healthcare professionals from different disciplines come together to provide comprehensive, coordinated care to patients. According to him, this addresses various aspects of a patient’s health, thereby promoting a more effective approach to effective treatment.
He suggests that a national task force be established to resolve issues or challenges nationally. These working groups touch on all disciplines to implement solutions.
Teleconsultations and telemonitoring – he revealed that telehealth was considered impossible before COVID-19. However, with the pandemic, this has become the only option. Its goal is to facilitate access to treatment, allowing people to quickly have their medications adjusted without having to wait for an in-person medical visit.
- Simplified, accessible treatment
He mentioned that simplifying treatment algorithms is essential, even allowing patients to understand their treatment. Additionally, he emphasized that maintaining blood pressure is crucial to leading a healthier life.
“If you use your smartphone and search for Life Essential Eight, you’ll see a whole list of eight types of prescriptions on how to live a healthy life.”
He says we need to know the number of hypertension and heart attacks in the country and the only way to intervene is to keep measuring.
- Train the next generation
Dr. Connell believes that academic institutions have an important role to play in training the next generation, because medicine is not an easy education. He emphasizes that they must be well educated to be able to heal others effectively.
It calls for strong political leadership to tackle diaspora issues, with hypertension being a neglected but important concern.
“Hypertension is one of those issues that has been overlooked, yet remains the elephant in the room. »
The event also saw the official launch of the Transnational Medical Program between the University of the West Indies and the University of Ghana.
This joint medical program is a collaborative initiative between these two universities aimed at fostering culturally diverse medical education within two environments to enhance the skills of physicians in training.
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