Health in Ghana

The health sector in Ghana is basically on two main pillars. On the one hand, traditional medicine has retained its place to this day, especially in the rural areas but also for followers of traditional religions. In addition, for several decades an ever stronger western health system that encourages the State in which also some international aid organizations to make their contributions.

Traditional medicine

In the pre-colonial period there was like everywhere in tropical African countries with no comparable European health care system. In general, traditional priests were responsible for caring for the sick. They treated diseases with a combination of rituals and herbs. So physical suffering were also supplied in addition to the regular spiritual healing with herbs and similar natural healing agents. Mainly in the rain forest areas, there is still many plants that have healing effects. Wound healing was partially supported by a porridge made ​​from tree bark and herbs, herbal teas and envelopes used for internal diseases. It was natural resources which have been used as antidotes, or were used for the stabilization of a pregnancy.

To date, these traditional methods of healing, especially in rural areas, their place. Even after Islam has arrived in the 14th century and after the Christianization by the missionaries of the traditional belief had not disappeared in the healing arts of priests and herbs clients from the lives of Ghanaians. Even Christians or Muslims are not looking at a rare disease also prefer a traditional healer.

In Nsawam in the Greater Accra Region, the Association of Traditional Healers ( association of traditional healers ) was founded in the sixties. Here is working on the role of traditional healers in health care in Ghana.

Western Medicine

Only with the missionaries of the nineteenth century, Western medicine was introduced into the Gold Coast colony. Until after the First World War, the missionaries were the only organized correspondents for Western medicine for the Ghanaians. In the colony was placed on the health care system by the colonial masters no special attention. In particular, in the health of women as well as in medicine for children saw the colonial powers of past times little sense. Men were considered the most sought-after workers. For her efforts were more likely, for example, wound healing, so that the work force could be obtained quickly.

To date, the medical care has an important role by missionaries, churches and other religious communities. Although the Ghanaian government, the health sector in the cities well developed, but especially in rural and northern health care is still dependent on western aid and facilities. In Tamale and Sunyani Catholic hospitals are set up in Efiduasi Asokori a medical facility was opened by Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In Agogo in the Eastern region of the Presbyterian faith community has set up a small hospital. Under Governor Frederick Gordon Guggisberg (1919-1927) have been made by the British colonialists first major efforts to provide western medicine for the Ghanaians. Guggisberg developed a ten- year plan in the planning of the expansion of cities, the supply of the population coincided with clean water and health clinics. Ghana's first official, also ausbildendes hospital opened in the former Gold Coast in 1925 under Governor Guggisberg.

Since the Second World War, the focus has been increasingly placed on the healthcare system. Even international organizations such as WHO and UNICEF directed an auxiliary programs and financial budgets to equip the healthcare system by Western standards. The standard of furnished at this time hospitals had the lack of financial power out clearly, and many Ghanaians still had no great confidence in the unfamiliar methods. The traditional medicine continued to play a major role.

Data to health care

Ghana is generally not a country that suffers from a lack of food due to drought or other problems. However, the unequal distribution of food presents a problem dar. So for about 20 percent of children under five years of age live in 2000 with malnutrition. This number has, however, improved significantly in recent years. In 1985 something 35 percent of children of the same age were considered malnourished.

The mortality rate of children up to four years declined significantly over the last 20 years. So even 79.2 boys and 79.4 girls died 1000 births in 1988. Already in 1993 the number was 63.4 in boys and 62.2 in girls decreased. In 2003, 1,000 children died of 44.2 boys and 52.3 girls.

The number of vaccinations increased the past few years significantly. In 2004, about 80 percent of children were vaccinated against diphtheria and polio. Maternal mortality declined since 1990 by about 740 of 100,000 births (about 0.74 %) to about 540 of 100,000 births ( about 0.54 %), with the number of births that were monitored by medical personnel only a slight increase of about 40 percent in 1986 to about 47 percent in 2004.

Across the country, regulated in 2005, about 25.2 percent of women their pregnancies by any method of birth control, while the share of the condom as a contraceptive method in 2003 was about 12.7 percent.

In 2001, there were about 200,000 children, of whom both parents or one parent has died of AIDS in orphanages.