GPHA and CAPHA Trains Media Professionals on NCDs and Their Risk Factors 

GPHA and CAPHA Trains Media Professionals on NCDs and Their Risk Factors

The Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA) in collaboration with the Coalition of Actors for Public Health Action (CAPHA), has trained media professionals on Non-communicable diseases and how to reduce the risk factors contributing to their rise.

Media professionals were taken through the risk factors contributing to these NCDs such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and many other conditions in the country.

Mr James McKeown Amoah, the project lead for NCDs at the Ghana Public Health Association (GPHA) explain that the motive behind the training was to get media professionals on board in the campaign against the numerous factors making the fight against NCDs a challenge.

According to him, the media plays a vital role in the advertisement of products been patronise by consumers, but it would be helpful if media professionals could educate the public more on risk factors contributing to the rise of NCDs.

He continues that sugary, salty, fatty, tobacco, alcohol, and many other unhealthy foods contribute a lot to NCDs.

Dr Charles Apprey, a Nutritional Biochemist and Lecturer at KNUST on the other hand, elaborated on the need for the media to advocate for the implementation of laws by the government to limit the advertisements of these products causing the country harm rather than good.

He stressed that if proper measures are not taken by the government on adverts promoting food products contributing to NCDs, children would be the most affected since they are easily lured by what they see due to their ignorance.

“It is time the media partners with GPHA and CAPHA in the fight against NCDs in the country, especially on the enforcement of laws and taxes on such products in the market” Dr Charles Apprey stated.

 

Story by Gifty Badu Boakye