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The practice of herbal medicine is the most prevalent form of traditional medicine or complementary and alternative medicine utilized in many countries across the globe. This study assesses the factors influencing the use and preference for herbal medicines compared to orthodox medicines among clients visiting some selected herbal units in the Kumasi Metropolis operating under the Ghana Health Service. A cross-sectional study was conducted. Primary data was collected from 413 participants using semi-structured questionnaires. Convenience sampling technique were used to select the participants. Results indicated that 80.90 % of the respondents interviewed preferred herbal medicines to orthodox medicines. Factors influencing this preference were occupation, nature/severity of condition and cost of certified herbal drugs dispensed at the herbal unit. Also, respondents sought the services of the herbal unit for conditions which orthodox treatment outcomes are poor. The overall cost of certified herbal products prescribed at these units were considered as affordable by participants. Herbal medicine is preferred compared to orthodox medicine by patients utilizing the services of the herbal unit at government hospitals within Kumasi Metropolis.

Background: Herbal antimalarials have become a popular source of treatment for most Ghanaians. The significant increase in patronage is of public health concern due to the lack of quality, safety, and efficacy data. Aim: In this report, we evaluated the clinical safety and effectiveness of a Ghanaian commercial product named “Time Herbal Mixture” (THM). The product is formulated from the leaves of Solanum torvum and Vernonia amygdalina and the stem bark of Spathodea campanulata and Bombax buonopozense. Methods: Participants of 40 patients diagnosed with uncomplicated malaria were recruited, treated, and followed up for a period of 28 days. This population comprised 25 (62.50%) females and 15 (37.50%) males, with a mean age of 42.29 (12.35) years. Outcome of primary interest was the ability of the product to clear blood parasites by day 7 of the study, resolution of cardinal symptoms of malaria, and an absence of adverse effects from the use of the product. Results and Discussion: A total of 33 (82.50%) participants achieved clearance of all parasites by day 7 (complete cure). Partial clearance was attained by 6 (15.0%) and treatment failure in 1 (2.50%). Resolution of the cardinal symptoms was also observed in most participants by day 7. The product also had a good safety profile as none of the participants reported any adverse effects. Liver, kidney, and hematological profiles were also normal after the study. Conclusion: “THM,” therefore, has the potential to be used in cases of uncomplicated malaria.

Population-based cancer registration is not common practice in developing countries. Ghana's first PBCR, the Kumasi Cancer Registry was established in 2012. We review data from the registry from 2012 to 2014. Females accounted for the majority (64.2%) of the 1,078 cases of cancer were recorded. Breast (35.1%), Cervix (23.7%), Ovary (7.9%), Liver (3.8%) and Endometrium (3.2%) were the top five cancers among females. Among males, the commonest cancers were Liver (21.8%), Prostate (17.9%), Stomach (4.1%), Lung (3.4%) and Bone marrow (2.9%). Histology was the basis of diagnosis for 58.7%. There is the need to establish more such registries in Ghana.

Background Data on cancers is a challenge in most developing countries. Population-based cancer registries are also not common in developing countries despite the usefulness of such registries in informing cancer prevention and control programmes. The availability of population-based data on cancers in Africa varies across different countries. In Ghana, data and research on cancer have focussed on specific cancers and have been hospital-based with no reference population. The Kumasi Cancer Registry was established as the first population-based cancer registry in Ghana in 2012 to provide information on cancer cases seen in the city of Kumasi. Methods This paper reviews data from the Kumasi Cancer Registry for the year 2012. The reference geographic area for the registry is the city of Kumasi as designated by the 2010 Ghana Population and Housing Census. Data was from all clinical departments of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Pathology Laboratory Results, Death Certificates and the Kumasi South Regional Hospital. Data was abstracted and entered into Canreg 5 database. Analysis was conducted using Canreg 5, Microsoft Excel and Epi Info Version 7.1.2.0. Results The majority of cancers were recorded among females accounting for 69.6% of all cases. The mean age at diagnosis for all cases was 51.6 years. Among males, the mean age at diagnosis was 48.4 compared with 53.0 years for females. The commonest cancers among males were cancers of the Liver (21.1%), Prostate (13.2%), Lung (5.3%) and Stomach (5.3%). Among females, the commonest cancers were cancers of the Breast (33.9%), Cervix (29.4%), Ovary (11.3%) and Endometrium (4.5%). Histology of the primary tumour was the basis of diagnosis in 74% of cases with clinical and other investigations accounting for 17% and 9% respectively. The estimated cancer incidence Age Adjusted Standardised Rate for males was 10.9/100,000 and 22.4/100, 000 for females. Conclusion This first attempt at population-based cancer registration in Ghana indicates that such registries are feasible in resource limited settings as ours. Strengthening Public Health Surveillance and establishing more Population-based Cancer Registries will help improve data quality and national efforts at cancer prevention and control in Ghana.