Family & Holistic Medicine Physician & CEO of Dinah-Gayle Medical Clinic, Dr. Sompa Otabil-Nelson, has raised concern over the growing tendency among young people to delay seeking medical care out of fear, warning that this hesitation is allowing manageable conditions to become life-threatening.
Speaking on Springboard Hangout with host Comfort Ocran, she revealed that many individuals ignore symptoms or postpone hospital visits for months, only seeking help when their condition has significantly worsened.
According to her, the issue is not always a lack of access, but fear of diagnosis. She explained that even when people notice unusual changes in their bodies, they often choose silence over action, hoping the problem will resolve on its own.
Dr. Sompa disclosed that in some cases, individuals take as long as 8 to 10 months to see a doctor after detecting symptoms. Even after an initial consultation, many delay further tests or treatment for several more months because they are afraid of what they might find.
“Fear will cripple you and can even kill you,” she stated, stressing that delay remains one of the biggest threats to effective healthcare.
She noted that many of these conditions, including certain cancers, can be treated successfully when detected early. However, the window for effective treatment narrows significantly when patients wait too long. Early-stage conditions, she explained, often have high recovery rates, but that advantage is lost when diagnosis is delayed.
Dr. Sompa emphasised that this pattern is particularly worrying among young people, who often assume they are healthy and therefore do not prioritize routine checkups. This false sense of security, she said, prevents early detection of silent conditions that develop without obvious symptoms.
She further explained that the body can adapt to underlying problems for long periods, giving individuals the impression that everything is normal until a sudden health crisis occurs.
Beyond fear, she also pointed to a lack of structured health planning, noting that many people do not have a consistent relationship with a medical professional who understands their history and can guide them over time.
To address the situation, she urged young people to take deliberate steps toward preventive care, starting with regular medical checkups at least once a year. She stressed that health should not be treated as a one-time concern but as a continuous responsibility.
“If you do not know what is happening in your body, how will you know when something is wrong? The earlier you deal with it, the better your chances,” she said, calling for a shift in mindset where people choose action over avoidance when it comes to their health.
About Springboard Hangout
Springboard Hangout is a funducative, youth-centred show hosted by Comfort Ocran. It features inspiring stories, practical skills, and real-life experiences aimed at educating, entertaining, and equipping the next generation. The programme airs every Saturday at 4:00 PM on Joy Prime TV and on the Springboard Channel on Facebook and YouTube.
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