An estimated 40 to 50 percent of Ghanaian adults are at risk of developing high blood pressure also known as hypertension, Alhaji Ibrahim Yahaya, Principal Physician Assistant at Elmina Health Centre, has said.

He said hypertension, when not managed properly, could lead to stroke, kidney failure heart attack and other related diseases and called for healthy lifestyle habits to prevent or reduce the risk.

Alhaji Yahaya was speaking on the topic “Diet related diseases among people above 40 years” at the inauguration of an aerobics club established by residents of the Social Security and National Investment Trust (SSNIT) Flats at Elmina.

The “Elmina SSNIT Flat Aerobics Club”, established three months ago by a group of residents with seven members, now has more than 35 members including four core executives and five patrons.

It has Mr. David Asamoah as Chairman, Mr. Sampson Ahianyo as Vice Chairman, Mrs. Cynthia Ahianyo, as Secretary and Mr. Kofi Sakyiama Pobi, the brain behind the club, as the Coordinator.

Alhaji Yahaya enumerated risk factors of hypertension to include heredity, obesity, stress, consumption of sodium and fatty foods and stressed the need to exercise regularly, drink a lot of water, and eat more fruits and vegetable and healthy diet to reduce the risk.

He said exercise, though ignored by many people, contributed to the prevention of many diseases and commended residents of the flats for creating the chance for people to regularly exercise and observe some healthy habits.

Inaugurating the club Mr. Isaac Kweku Sam, the Municipal Chief Executive of Komenda- Edina- Eguafo- Abrem, said environmental cleanliness was key to good health and fitness and called on Ghanaians to actively participate in the National Sanitation Day Campaign observed on every first Saturday of each month.

He urged members to be focused on their objectives, remain united as a group and also embark on charitable programmes that would give relief to the deprived and under privileged in society.

Mr. Pobi said the club was established after they had observed there was no such association in the flats to promote the good health of residents.

He said aside aerobics, the club had a vision to affect the life of people by lending a helping hand to them and that in furtherance of this vision, a number of programmes would soon be rolled out.

Mr. Pobi said sanitation in the municipality was bad, communal spirit was lacking and stressed the need for all residents to rekindle such spirit to ensure the development of the municipality.

He appealed to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to ensure that newly developing communities had recreational facilities where children could play and adults exercise.

Dr. Stephen Nana Ato Arthur, the Member of Parliament for KEEA, appealed to members not to only concentrate on exercise but contribute to the development of the municipality.