Korle Bu reports 7,000 NCD cases in six months, including diabetes and kidney diseases
The Korle Bu Teaching Hospital has raised concerns over the escalating burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), revealing that in the first half of 2025, it recorded over 5,000 complicated diabetes referrals and more than 2,000 kidney cases.
The disclosure was made during a needs assessment visit by the Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as Mahama Cares, ahead of the Fund’s intervention programme to tackle the growing NCD challenge.
Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, described the situation as deeply alarming, noting that people under the age of 40 are increasingly reporting with cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable conditions. He stressed that this development signals a worrying trend in the health profile of the country, which requires urgent national attention.
Dr. Adam explained that the surge in cases at Korle Bu mirrors broader national health concerns, particularly with lifestyle-related diseases that have long-term social and economic consequences. He welcomed the planned support from the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, saying it would help strengthen early detection, treatment, and management of NCDs across the country.
Apart from the increasing disease burden, Dr. Harry Akoto, a Neurosurgeon and Deputy Medical Director at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, identified another critical challenge facing the hospital: the average monthly loss of 50 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses.
He cautioned that this attrition rate threatens the hospital’s capacity to provide quality critical care services and called for urgent measures to address the retention of skilled health professionals.
The Administrator of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, Madam Obuobia Darko Opoku, stated that the needs assessment exercise aims to identify priority areas where the Fund can provide immediate and sustained support. She reaffirmed the commitment of Mahama Cares to strengthen the health sector by addressing gaps in both infrastructure and service delivery, particularly in the area of non-communicable diseases.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund, widely known as Mahama Cares, is poised to roll out interventions targeting NCD prevention, screening, and treatment in major health facilities across Ghana.
This initiative is designed to augment the government’s comprehensive health agenda by upgrading hospital infrastructure, supporting healthcare personnel, and improving access to quality care for all citizens.
In light of the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and the escalating pressure on healthcare professionals, stakeholders at the event highlighted the need for coordinated national efforts to prevent Ghana’s healthcare system from being overwhelmed.
