Dr Charity Binka rallies journalists to highlight the silent epidemic of lifestyle-induced deaths

Dr. Mrs. Charity Binka is the CEO of Women, Media and Change (WOMEC) and the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN). She has urged journalists to highlight a serious health crisis in Ghana. This epidemic is not caused by war or natural disasters. Instead, it stems from lifestyle choices and economic stress.

At a workshop for journalists from the Volta and Oti Regions, Dr. Binka discussed preventable deaths among Ghana’s youth. She called these deaths alarming and avoidable.

“This is no longer shocking,” she said. “People are dying slowly, yet attention fades quickly.” She pointed out that poor lifestyle choices contribute to this issue. Many people smoke, drink excessively, and face job-related frustrations leading to depression.

Dr. Binka noted that young people are dying prematurely due to poor nutrition and lack of rest. Many Ghanaians work multiple low-paying jobs, earning only GH¢10 or GH¢20 each. This leaves them with just two hours of sleep daily, disrupting their health.

She encouraged journalists to dig deeper than surface-level coverage of health issues. “We must tell the story,” she emphasized. “The number of young men wasting away should alarm us all.”

To promote healthier habits, Dr. Binka suggested returning to simple practices like home gardening. She highlighted the workshop's practical approach and urged participants to take charge of their nutrition.

“If you start a backyard garden with cabbage or carrots, you can be both an employee and an employer,” she advised.

During the workshop, journalists visited the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health. They observed a smart farming initiative aimed at reducing food insecurity and promoting healthy diets. Despite challenges like limited resources, this project serves as a model for community empowerment.

Dr. Binka stressed the importance of such initiatives in fighting malnutrition and health risks. “We have no excuse for malnutrition when we can grow our own food,” she stated.

The Nkabom Collaboration aims to improve journalists' ability to report on health issues effectively. Through training and field exposure, media professionals will become advocates for addressing lifestyle-driven health crises in Ghana.