Ghanaians Are Too Superstitious

Ghanaians, including quite a number of highly educated ones, are very superstitious, believing that certain diseases, such as convulsion are not supposed to be taken to hospital but to spiritual churches, a former Director of Ghana Medical Services has said.

"Ghanaians are superstitions to the extent that the death of someone is always caused by an old lady," Dr Moses Adibo said on Sunday at the New Year School and asked "how come it is almost always an old lady?"

Dr Adibo was contributing to a panel discussion on the topic "Our Environment and Our Health in the Past Half Century."

He said cultural and religious beliefs and practices that have a negative impact on the health of the people must not be encouraged.

The way people handle dead bodies can spread diseases, he pointed out, adding "If the body of a person who dies from Cholera is handled by women the way they normally handle Corpses, all those women will contract the disease and most of them will die," Dr. Adibo also spoke against people whose religious beliefs make them to take a stand against immunisation, and blood transfusion.

"Religious fanatics deny their kith and kin blood transfusion when it is obvious that, transfusion is the only thing that will save the life of the patient," he noted.

Dr. Adibo said he was however happy that at present, the law allows doctors to give whatever treatment they consider best for the child even if the parents are against it.

He said before independence, premium was placed on the control of the environment, where health inspectors went round to find out whether mosquito larvae were breeding in water containers in the homes. They also ensured that the immediate surroundings of homes were kept clean.

"The mere sight of these inspectors sent people running to put their homes in order."

"Offenders were prosecuted promptly," Dr. Adibo said.

He called for the improvement in waste disposal and water supply to the majority of Ghanaians.

Dr. Adibo noted with satisfaction the significant progress made in the health status of Ghanaians.

He said infant mortality for example, which stood at 131 per 1000 live births in 1998 had come down to 57 per 1000 live birds.