HEALTH AND EDUCATION

  In Ghana, the health system has made significant progress over the years, yet many challenges remain. Hospitals are often overwhelmed, healthcare costs are rising, and preventable diseases continue to claim lives. While curative care has traditionally dominated the system, there is growing recognition that preventive healthcare —interventions that stop diseases before they occur—could transform the nation’s health landscape. 🚑 The Current Healthcare Challenge in Ghana Ghana’s healthcare facilities are often stretched to capacity. The burden of communicable diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases remains high, while non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and stroke are rapidly increasing (Ghana Health Service [GHS], 2022). This dual burden creates pressure on hospitals and drains financial resources. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2020) estimated that nearly 70% of health expenditure in low- and middle-inco...

Mobile phones have become indispensable tools in modern healthcare. They are used by healthcare professionals to access medical information, communicate with colleagues, and manage patient care. However, while these devices improve efficiency, they also present a hidden threat: they can serve as reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms that contribute to the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). 🦠 Mobile Phones as Reservoirs of Microorganisms Research consistently shows that mobile phones are frequently contaminated with bacteria, including multidrug-resistant strains. Common isolates include Staphylococcus aureus , Escherichia coli , Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa , all of which are implicated in serious nosocomial infections (Brady et al., 2009; Pal et al., 2013). Because mobile phones are rarely disinfected, often handled with unwashed hands, and used in both clinical and non-clinical areas, they act as fomites —objects capable of transmitting i...