Ghana is in dire need of qualified rheumatologists to address the increasing rate of autoimmune diseases and conditions, including arthritis.

Presently, there are only three such doctors across the country.

A rheumatologist is a doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal diseases and systemic autoimmune conditions affecting the joints, muscles, tendons and bones.

The Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Alfred F. Yawson, who made the call, suggested a "national call to action" to expend more effort in training such specialised doctors and highlighting the effects of the conditions on the  livelihoods of people.

He said due to the limited number, some patients, over the years, had been wrongly diagnosed, with some even being treated for malaria.

Prof. Yawson was contributing to a forum to commemorate World Arthritis Day, held last Sunday in Accra, on the theme:

"It's in your hands, take action."

It was organised by a non- governmental organisation (NGO) of health workers helping to create awareness of the Rheumatology Initiative (Rti).

The day is marked annually on October 12 as a global awareness event, established in 1996 by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) to highlight the impact of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) worldwide.

Prof. Yawson hinted that due to the lack of specialists, it could take up to four years before muscoloskeletal diseases could be correctly diagnosed.

He said arthritis, rheumatoid and other related conditions were part of Non- Communicable Diseases (NCD), also known as silent killers, but often given less importance.

The provost said the economic loss as a result of such illnesses, including joint pains, was huge, especially among women between the ages of 30 and 50, because they were mostly affected.

"The total economic impact can be substantial, with one estimate putting the cost at around 5.75 per cent of GDP.

"We were made to believe that rheumatic conditions were not common in Africa, so the zeal to train doctors in that area was not there," he explained.

Solution

To solve the shortage of such doctors, the Provost said a number of postgraduate doctors, also known as resident doctors, were being trained to fill the gap.

"Hopefully, in the next three years, we could have seven more to join the three. Even that is still inadequate.

“We need to make it a national project to train more to save people from such chronic back, joints and other pains," he said.