Accra, Sept 25, GNA - Dr Marcus Manns, Chief Executive of Chiropractic and Wellness Centre, a non-medical healing centre, on Tuesday described Ghana's life expectancy of 57 years as unacceptable, saying it requires an urgent attention.

Comparing the nation's life expectancy to that of Malaysia's 74 years and Japan's 82 years, Dr Manns said Ghanaians should see this as a national emergency and embrace a new paradigm of healthcare that focuses on changing lifestyles, nutrition and improved hygienic environments". Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Dr Manns noted that sicknesses, diseases and the early loss of life were not only plaguing the elderly, but also young people.

"It is time to end our seemingly inescapable, incongruent and inexcusable death march," he said, adding that regardless of tribe, religious or political affiliation, Ghanaians must join hands and fight this "enemy".

Dr Manns said the country needs healthy, intelligent, strong and active human resource with longer life expectancy to produce the wealth required for the attainment of middle-income status by the year 2015. He proposed that the nation should aim at a 60-year life expectancy target by the end of 2010 and called on leaders of society to help achieve this target through public education on healthy lifestyles practices.