Greater Accra Regional Hospital Champions Patient Safety as Health Experts Call for Better Nutrition and Boy-Child Education

The Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) has commemorated World Patient Safety Day with a renewed call for healthcare professionals to strengthen patient-centered care, particularly in managing non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Under the theme "Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases," the event highlighted the critical need for safer healthcare environments as the burden of chronic conditions grows. Medical Director Dr. Leslie Issah-Adams Zakariah detailed ongoing hospital initiatives, including the enhancement of laboratory management systems and the expansion of the Client Relationship Unit, to ensure that patient safety remains at the forefront of clinical operations. Supporting this call for improved healthcare standards, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings urged healthcare workers to maintain a patient-friendly environment and integrate safety protocols into their daily routines to minimize risks for NCD patients.

This institutional push for safety is being complemented by public health advocacy in nutrition and preventative care. As part of the Healthy Living Project sponsored by the National Health Insurance Authority, Registered Dietitian Efua Desua Nsiah Normanyo has advised Ghanaians to consume the solid fiber of tiger nuts rather than discarding it after chewing. Speaking on Citi FM’s Traffic Avenue, Normanyo emphasized that the fiber content is essential for blood sugar control and heart health. She noted that many people lose out on these vital benefits by only consuming the juice and spitting out the chaff, which contains the bulk of the nuts' nutritional value for managing metabolic health.

Beyond clinical and nutritional interventions, the scope of public health in Ghana is also expanding to include social and moral development. Kobby Kyei, founder of the BoysLivesMatter Foundation, has raised concerns about the disparity in health and moral education between genders. He is advocating for intentional sex education for boys, arguing that focusing primarily on educating girls creates a developmental gap that hinders the grooming of responsible future men. By addressing the welfare and proper upbringing of boys through structured education, Kyei believes the foundation of society can be strengthened, reducing future social and behavioral health risks.

These collective efforts—ranging from institutional reforms at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital to grassroots nutritional advice and gender-focused education—underscore a comprehensive approach to health in Ghana. As the nation grapples with both clinical and lifestyle-related health challenges, the integration of patient safety, preventative nutrition, and inclusive education remains vital. The next steps for stakeholders involve moving beyond awareness campaigns to implementable policies that protect patients, promote healthy lifestyles, and ensure that no segment of the population is left behind in health and wellness education.