On Wednesday, as Ghana marked Independence Day, authorities at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital also held an important event to draw attention to lymphatic diseases.
Spearheaded by Mrs. Alberta Amissah Rockson, Deputy Chief Physiotherapist at the hospital, the event which was in commemoration of World Lymphedema Day gathered patients and caregivers to dialogue on diseases of the lymphatic system and to make the cure for lymphedema and lymphatic diseases a global priority.
“Patients who were present shared some personal and encouraging experiences, which motivated all present and stemmed the need to make a cure for lymphedema a global priority. The participants also consented to participate in a quality-of-life questionnaire which will be made available on demand,” the hospital said in a statement.
Lymphatic diseases are known to affect about 56 million people worldwide – usually characterized by chronic swelling in body parts such as legs, arms, and neck.
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In Ghana’s northern savannah and coastal regions, the disease, often referred to as elephantiasis, continues to spread, affecting many in the thousands.
Last year for instance, the Ghana Health Service said it confirmed 2,373 cases of elephantiasis in the Upper East Region alone. Officials have said this presents a worrying trend.
