The Poverty-Health Nexus: A Conundrum for a Fulfilling Life

Abstract

“Wowo nkwa na wowo adee”, is a popular Ghanaian saying in the Twi language which means that if you have life then you have a treasure. You can have life if you are healthy or if you are not involved in an accident. There is also another saying, “The wealth of a
nation is the health of its people”. Both sayings emphasize the importance of health in wealth creation in a household or a country. Bad health drives people into poverty because they have to spend their money on seeking health care or they become invalid and cannot work to create wealth. When someone in the household is afflicted by ill health another person may stop work and provide care and so the loss of productivity in the household is compounded.