Adopt healthy lifestyles to reduce NCD burden this festive season and beyond – GhNCDA appeals to Ghanaians 

As the festive season gathers momentum and is already in full swing in most homes celebrating memorable moments, very few spare a thought to the disastrous consequences that overindulging themselves with rich food laden with sugar, carbohydrates, oils, salt etc. could have on their health.

We know that food and drinks constitute a major part of the celebration, fun, and excitement festive seasons come with and are never left out of moments spent with loved ones, family, and friends. However, being mindful of its detrimental effect on health and wellbeing would inform the choices on what and what not to consume to stay healthy throughout the period.

The industry targets the young people and children during these times because of their insatiable cravings and enthusiasm to explore new habits, thereby exposing them to unhealthy glamorised products which have dire implications on their health and social lives. The youth get carried away by fun activities and resort to use of health harming products like smoking of cigarettes, shisha and e-cigarettes as well as alcohol. These products impact negatively on health. Therefore, they should be health conscious and not fall prey to the industry’s tactics.

According to WHO, unhealthy diets and a lack of physical activity may show up in people as raised blood pressure, increased blood glucose, elevated blood lipids and obesity leading to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney, cancers, heart diseases and many others. It is important to note that there is an increase in premature death and disability as a result of increased in the use of health harming products such as tobacco, alcohol, sugar sweetened beverages, salt, processed food, trans fats etc.

The taste and desire for junk foods and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) heightens due to the proliferation of advertisements that expose children and young people to health hazards and increases their risk of childhood obesity, which lead to various forms of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that has the potential to affect their development. Homemade juices have been proposed as alternative to high in sugar drinks sold on the market. Parents are admonished to consider trying these at home to reduce the disease burden on their kids.

We appeal to the general public to be cautious of products purchased on the market, spend some time to read the content, check if it’s been approved by the Food and Drugs Authority and most importantly check for the expiry dates.

Collaboration among stakeholders, including the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority, is pivotal to curb the influx of unregistered, expired, and unhealthy products through porous borders. This concerted effort will foster a healthier environment and safeguard public health.

We want to change the aftermath of festive season narratives where a huge number of people are rushed to hospitals to seek care as a result excessive consumption of health harming products, little or no attention to healthy choices. We must invest wisely this festive period to stay alive and in good health.

Lack of physical activity may also contribute to weight gain, especially if accompanied by over-eating. Therefore, let get active with families and friends to guarantee a New Year devoid of complications from NCDs.

The Ghana NCD Alliance, Vision for Alternative Development, Ghana and other civil organizations will continue to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to carry out public awareness on NCDs. We also reaffirm our commitment to play a watch dog role by monitoring and reporting any violations to the appropriate authority for action to be taken.

It is imperative to collectively speak up, act, and collaborate to support the laws and policies to create and foster healthy environments for all.

Wishing everyone a Happy HEALTHY, Sober free Yuletide and a Prosperous New Year!

Labram Musah

National Coordinator: Ghana NCD Alliance

Executive Director, Vision for Alternative Development, Ghana