The top three diseases impacting Togo are lower respiratory infections, stroke and ischemic heart disease. However, Togo’s Universal Health Insurance program could be the solution to reducing the death rate of these diseases.

Health Care in Togo

In Togo, 45% of the population live below the poverty line, which means they face an economic barrier to accessing health care. Moreover, the health care system in Togo is heavily reliant on external funding and resources, so the current system cannot properly aid those suffering from various lethal diseases impacting Togo. This only furthers the need for a proper health care system. However, this need also increases the burden on the present system.

There is less than one doctor for every 10,000 Togolese compared to 36 doctors for every 10,000 Americans. Therefore, there needs to be improvements to access to health care in Togo. This lack of adequate health care coverage is why diseases impacting Togo are the leading causes of death.

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections

Lower respiratory tract infections make up 75 of every 100,000 deaths in Togo. As a result, they are the leading cause of death in Togo, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Lower respiratory tract infections occur when bacteria, viruses or fungi enter the lungs. Common lower respiratory tract infections include the flu, viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Anyone can develop a lower respiratory tract infection. However, young children, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of contracting these infections and dying from them.

Stroke

The second leading cause of death in Togo is stroke; making up 66 of every 100,000 deaths, according to WHO. Strokes occur when the blood supply to the brain begins decreasing. The reduction of blood supply prevents the brain from receiving nutrients and oxygen, resulting in brain cell death within minutes. Blood leaking also results in strokes and occurs when leaking blood in the brain increases pressure on brain cells and damages them.

Ischemic Heart Disease

Ischemic heart disease causes 45 of every 100,000 deaths in Togo, according to WHO. This heart disease occurs when there is a lack of blood flowing to heart muscles, often caused by fat and cholesterol collecting in coronary arteries. This disease therefore commonly causes chest pain, trouble breathing and heart attacks, which is why it is the third leading cause of death in Togo.

Improvements to Health Care

All of these diseases are preventable and or treatable. Yet, until there is adequate access to health care in Togo, these diseases could continue to be the top causes of death.

The Togolese government passed legislation in 2021 to begin developing universal health care and expects all resistance to have coverage by 2025. The program plans to provide health care for public and private sector employees, along with those on public assistance unable to pay. Employees will receive coverage through their and their employer’s contributions. While people unable to pay will revive funding through the government.

The health care program already has 800,000 people enrolled, which is 50% more than the previous 470,000 covered by the former program.

Investment in universal health care means investment in medical equipment, facilities and workers. Investing in these areas could increase the demand for workers. However, it could also increase the number of those seeking health care positions, which could lead to more health professionals able to help Togolese people.

Therefore, with universal health care, comes help for those suffering from the diseases impacting Togo.

– Nivea Walker

Nivea is based in Elon, NC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr