Diabetes Mellitus [DM], a worldwide major public health problem is emerging rapidly in developing countries. The global crisis of this modern epidemic disease threatens the economy of developing countries by affecting the health of human population regardless of the geographical location or socioeconomic status.
Diabetes in Ghana
Diabetes is a non-communicable chronic disease occurs due the insufficient production or ineffective usage of pancreatic insulin.Diabetes inGhana is a major escalatingpublic healthproblem fuelled by unhealthy lifestyles, increased urbanisation and rising obesity. World Health Organisation (WHO) has ranked Ghana sixth among other Africa countries with respect to Diabetes prevalence.
Governments and public health planners are unaware of the current magnitude and risk of future potential of diabetes and its serious complications. The rise in burden of this chronic disease has initiated measures to assess the risk of diabetes in existing population but few measures are available for assessing possibility of developing diabetes in the future. Projecting future prevalence helps estimate the burden of diabetes and develop preventive or control measures. The alarming figure of the chronic disease in developing countries is due to population growth, increasing urbanization and prevalence ofobesity, physical inactivity, aging, environmental and genetics factors.
Diabetes as a Public Health Problem
Ghanaian urban centres of Sub-Saharan Africa are affected by non-communicable disease including rise in burden of diabetes. Diabetes prevalence has recorded an increase in southern Ghana and treatment of this public health problem in Ghana is expensive. The Ghanaian food landscape is affected by globalization of processed foods and younger generations are more inclined in consuming unhealthy convenient comfort foods. To develop effective intervention programs, research on the relationship between the escalation of DM and food consumption is recommended.
Control and prevention of the disease is possible through dietary, behavioural and lifestyle changes such as understanding relationship between dietary carbohydrates and blood sugar; consistent portion sizes; educating on lower-glycemic and high-glycemic foods available in the region. Education on consistent portion sizes of certain foods; the impact of dietary carbohydrates on blood sugar levels; economic and health benefits of vegetable consumption should be emphasized and promoted at an early age. It is imperative to develop a research-based DM prevention campaign especially targeting dietary preferences among younger generations. There is a need of developing urgent interventions to reduce morbidity, mortality and risk among Ghanaians affected by this chronic disease.
Public health courses and training programs provide delivery of quality public health services; skilled professionals and promote specialized research on interventions for Public Health problems. MPH (Master of Science in Public Health Management) course can help impart the skills and knowledge to public health professionals for optimum public health service delivery in national and international government or non-government public health organizations. MPHprogram at James Lind Institute (JLI) along with the International Telematic University UNINETTUNO, Rome, Italy (UTIU) provides 1 to 1.5 years dual online degree program with an Advanced PG Diploma followed by masters degree. MPH program is designed to deliver quality healthcare services, promote preventive or control measures and obtain skills to deal with public health problems like diabetes. During MPH degree students are trained to deal with environmental factors, epidemiology concerns and disease-related issues.
Online Course in Public Health
James Lind Institute (JLI) provides an online Masters in Public Health which helps to understand various public health problems and also help develop a career in Public Health Management.
For more information please visit: www.jliedu.com
