Saturday, October 23, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 11)
By Rebecca Kwei
October is breast cancer awareness month. It is an annual international health campaign organised by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and cure.
The campaign also offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
Every woman is afraid of breast cancer and it is one of the leading cancers and deaths worldwide. Simply being a woman is a risk for developing breast cancer and that is why it is sad that this month has not witnessed much awareness of the disease by the organisations working on breast cancer.
Just this year, a Ghana News Agency (GNA) report in May this year indicated that four female teachers died of breast cancer and four others of cervical cancer in the Eastern Region.
This is just a tip of the iceberg, since the figures of people dying of breast cancer are more but there is no cancer registry in the country and getting a national outlook of the disease is difficult.
In an interview I had last year with the Director of the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, Dr Joel Yarney, he said breast cancer was the leading case that was brought to the centre.
In 2008, there were 266 new cases reported at the centre, representing 28 per cent of the total number of cancers reported there.
There are several breast cancer risk factors, which include age, because as one grows older, the risk of developing breast cancer increases; family and personal history of breast cancer; alcohol consumption; family planning choices and genetics.
Health experts also indicate the following as some of the symptoms of breast cancer:
• a breast that feels warm to the touch
• nipple that becomes inverted that was not inverted before
• skin on or around breast is dimpled or has an appearance similar to an orange peel
• skin on breast that is red or blotchy
• sudden increase in breast size that is not related to menstrual cycle
• nipple discharge (clear or bloody)
• nipple pain or scaly nipples
• persistent breast pain or tenderness that is unrelated to menstrual cycle
• swelling of the lymph nodes of the armpit
• a breast lump, swelling, or mass
These are symptoms of breast cancer that can be seen or touched, but there are instances in early breast cancer where there are no symptoms that can be detected by physical examination.
Imaging tests like mammograms and MRI can detect breast abnormalities that cannot be seen by the eye or by the touch.
“Most women fear that their breast will be cut and they will die but it is not automatic. Being diagnosed of breast cancer is not a death sentence,” says Dr Yarney.
Unfortunately, there are no true methods of preventing breast cancer, say the experts, but by avoiding breast cancer risk factors, you can decrease your risk of developing it.
“As soon as a woman feels a lump in her breast, it is important to see a doctor and not attribute it to the work of witches,” advises Dr Yarney.
When breast cancer is detected early, it can be cured. Breast cancer in its early stage presents no symptoms.
“That is why every woman must make a conscious effort to self examine her breast regularly and if there is anything unusual, see a doctor,” says Dr Yarney.
Every woman must be proactive in taking care of her breasts by doing self breast exams at home, having yearly clinical breast exams by a nurse or doctor in her 20s and 30s, as well as an annual mammogram, beginning at age 40 (women at a higher risk may begin having mammograms earlier at the recommendation of their doctor).
It is important not to think that you are too young to be affected by breast cancer: breast cancer can strike at any age.
The National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital runs a breast cancer screening programme every Tuesday and any woman can walk in for screening, since there is no need for a referral.
The centre also has all modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the treatment of cancers.
Fortunately, breast cancer is on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and some of the medication for its treatment.
So, have you examined your breast today? Why don’t you spare a few minutes today to examine your breasts? Remember — it is one of a woman’s most treasured assets. Give it a try!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Ama is Miss Malaika ’10
Saturday, October 23, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 46)
By Rebecca Kwei
A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD student of the University of Ghana, Legon, Ama Nettey, last weekend, was the proud winner of three Cs — Crown, Cerato car and cash- that the Miss Malaika beauty pageant offers.
Being an underdog, it was a bit of a surprise that she beat the nine other finalists to win the enviable Malaika crown.
Perhaps it was her answer to the crank question: “Who is an African? And what makes one an African? Is it the country of birth or the colour of the skin? Please give a detailed explanation of your answer.” that did the trick as the other final four had also struggled to do justice to the question.
However, many in the audience felt the first runner up, Stephanie Mensah, was the one to have won the ultimate prize.
Inspired from their trip to Egypt, the 10 finalists, dressed in sari, opened the show with a choreographed Egyptian dance.
As has been happening over the years during the finals of Miss Malaika and with other pageants, the delegates each gave a speech on various issues and then answered questions from the judges.
They addressed issues ranging from the effects of broken homes; abortion; opportunities; the African identity; the need to be charitable; leprosy; what young ladies go through just for money; belief and achievement; success; to revisiting our conscience.
The delegates’ answers to the questions posed to them by the judges on the issues they addressed were not impressive.
The talent show followed and it was Stephanie’s sketches of the dress she was wearing and another dress that impressed the judges to award her the Miss Talent award.
Delegates Ama, Stephanie, Berla, Belinda and Perpetual managed to make it to the final five and it was at this stage that they all had to answer the crank question to determine the winner.
For her prize, Ama took home a KIA Cerato saloon car, GH¢4,800 annual salary, GH¢15,000 promotional contract with MTN, a charity icon for MTN, GH¢1,200 MTN talk time, personal wardrobe from ABC Wax Print, a year's supply of cosmetics and perfumery from Nouvelle Gandour and working as Youth Ambassador for the Malaria Control Programme.
Stephanie was the first runner-up and she received a cash of GH¢2,000 as well as wax prints from ABC and cosmetics and perfumery from Nouvelle Gandour.
For placing third, Berla was rewarded with cash of GHC1,500 as well as wax print from ABC and cosmetics and perfumery from Nouvelle Gandour.
The night was interspersed with performances by Praye, Trigmatic, Banky W, D Black and VIP. Although, their performances were not extraordinary, the audience seemed to have been in sync with VIP.
Chris Attoh and Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku steered affairs while the judges were actors John Dumelo and Jackie Appiah; broadcaster, Paul Adom-Otchere and the Miss Malaika series god-mothers Anne Sekyi and Kay Bentsi-Enchill.
By Rebecca Kwei
A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD student of the University of Ghana, Legon, Ama Nettey, last weekend, was the proud winner of three Cs — Crown, Cerato car and cash- that the Miss Malaika beauty pageant offers.
Being an underdog, it was a bit of a surprise that she beat the nine other finalists to win the enviable Malaika crown.
Perhaps it was her answer to the crank question: “Who is an African? And what makes one an African? Is it the country of birth or the colour of the skin? Please give a detailed explanation of your answer.” that did the trick as the other final four had also struggled to do justice to the question.
However, many in the audience felt the first runner up, Stephanie Mensah, was the one to have won the ultimate prize.
Inspired from their trip to Egypt, the 10 finalists, dressed in sari, opened the show with a choreographed Egyptian dance.
As has been happening over the years during the finals of Miss Malaika and with other pageants, the delegates each gave a speech on various issues and then answered questions from the judges.
They addressed issues ranging from the effects of broken homes; abortion; opportunities; the African identity; the need to be charitable; leprosy; what young ladies go through just for money; belief and achievement; success; to revisiting our conscience.
The delegates’ answers to the questions posed to them by the judges on the issues they addressed were not impressive.
The talent show followed and it was Stephanie’s sketches of the dress she was wearing and another dress that impressed the judges to award her the Miss Talent award.
Delegates Ama, Stephanie, Berla, Belinda and Perpetual managed to make it to the final five and it was at this stage that they all had to answer the crank question to determine the winner.
For her prize, Ama took home a KIA Cerato saloon car, GH¢4,800 annual salary, GH¢15,000 promotional contract with MTN, a charity icon for MTN, GH¢1,200 MTN talk time, personal wardrobe from ABC Wax Print, a year's supply of cosmetics and perfumery from Nouvelle Gandour and working as Youth Ambassador for the Malaria Control Programme.
Stephanie was the first runner-up and she received a cash of GH¢2,000 as well as wax prints from ABC and cosmetics and perfumery from Nouvelle Gandour.
For placing third, Berla was rewarded with cash of GHC1,500 as well as wax print from ABC and cosmetics and perfumery from Nouvelle Gandour.
The night was interspersed with performances by Praye, Trigmatic, Banky W, D Black and VIP. Although, their performances were not extraordinary, the audience seemed to have been in sync with VIP.
Chris Attoh and Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku steered affairs while the judges were actors John Dumelo and Jackie Appiah; broadcaster, Paul Adom-Otchere and the Miss Malaika series god-mothers Anne Sekyi and Kay Bentsi-Enchill.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
6 Hours to Christmas
Saturday, October 16, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 47)
By Rebecca Kwei
IT’S six hours to Christmas and what happens within those hours is what Shirley Frimpong-Manso unravels in her new movie.
6 Hours to Christmas takes you through a roller coaster of humour and bizarre circumstances where Reggie (Chris Attoh), a suave creative director makes plans with his girlfriend on a typical December 24. It sure was going to be a memorable 24th night as his girlfriend promises him dinner and fireworks before the stroke of midnight.
However, things take an exciting turn for Reggie when his office colleague (Damilola Adegbite of Mnet’s Tinsel) and the girl he has lusted after for a long time gives him a Christmas present he finds impossible to refuse.
What happens as Reggie ‘unwraps’ his Christmas present is worth seeing ‘fiilifili’.
The cast, story line, acting and dialogue are superb. Shirley’s movies have received great reviews and 6 Hours to Christmas will no doubt receive another standing ovation.
As arts writer, Pa John Dadson, puts it “6 Hours to Christmas may yet reach the iconic heights. Shirley’s other movies such as a ‘Sting in a tale’ which dealt with many social and ethical issues, would make you laugh and take you on a ride that will surprise you. She has once again shown her resilience and moved away from the norm, trying another mould-breaking experiment which she again succeeds.”
The movie also stars Nii Odoi Mensah, Sena Tsikata (Things we do for Love), Marian Lempogo and Benny Ashun.
According to Shirley, this time round, she wanted to do ‘something different, a dark comedy’.
And yes, 6 Hours to Christmas is different and for movie lovers, Christmas came early — it’s Christmas in October. 6 Hours to Christmas premieres on October 29, 2010 at the National Theatre at 6.30 p.m.
By Rebecca Kwei
IT’S six hours to Christmas and what happens within those hours is what Shirley Frimpong-Manso unravels in her new movie.
6 Hours to Christmas takes you through a roller coaster of humour and bizarre circumstances where Reggie (Chris Attoh), a suave creative director makes plans with his girlfriend on a typical December 24. It sure was going to be a memorable 24th night as his girlfriend promises him dinner and fireworks before the stroke of midnight.
However, things take an exciting turn for Reggie when his office colleague (Damilola Adegbite of Mnet’s Tinsel) and the girl he has lusted after for a long time gives him a Christmas present he finds impossible to refuse.
What happens as Reggie ‘unwraps’ his Christmas present is worth seeing ‘fiilifili’.
The cast, story line, acting and dialogue are superb. Shirley’s movies have received great reviews and 6 Hours to Christmas will no doubt receive another standing ovation.
As arts writer, Pa John Dadson, puts it “6 Hours to Christmas may yet reach the iconic heights. Shirley’s other movies such as a ‘Sting in a tale’ which dealt with many social and ethical issues, would make you laugh and take you on a ride that will surprise you. She has once again shown her resilience and moved away from the norm, trying another mould-breaking experiment which she again succeeds.”
The movie also stars Nii Odoi Mensah, Sena Tsikata (Things we do for Love), Marian Lempogo and Benny Ashun.
According to Shirley, this time round, she wanted to do ‘something different, a dark comedy’.
And yes, 6 Hours to Christmas is different and for movie lovers, Christmas came early — it’s Christmas in October. 6 Hours to Christmas premieres on October 29, 2010 at the National Theatre at 6.30 p.m.
Food safety is everyone's business
Saturday, October 16, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 11)
By Rebecca Kwei
The world celebrates World Food Day today on the theme, “United Against Hunger”.
Food is very essential for the survival of the human race and the recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) indicating that there are more than one billion people around the world who suffer from hunger every day is worrying.
According to experts, despite the significance of agriculture as the major factor in the economies of many developing countries, that sector is often starved of investment. In particular, foreign aid to agriculture has displayed drastic declines over the past 20 years.
And who bears the brunt? Women and children. It is important to stress that when women are empowered to receive the same levels of education, experience and farm inputs that their male counterparts receive, their yields will increase and there will be plenty for all.
Without belittling the theme for this year’s celebration, however, my focus will be on food safety, since consuming unsafe foods results in high disease burden, poor nutritional status, low productivity, limited markets and weak economies.
Additionally, scarcity of food can force people to consume whatever food is available, even if it is unsafe or contaminated.
Just take a cursory look at the environment at most food joints, especially those just beside gutters. Doesn’t it give you the chills? Interestingly, those are the foods we enjoy most, but the consequences can be devastating.
As part of activities to mark World Food Day in Ghana, a forum on food safety was held in Accra.
Giving figures on Ghanaians suffering each year from serious food-borne diseases, the FAO Regional Representative in Africa, Ms Maria Helena Morias Semedo, said the total number of outpatient cases reported with food-borne diseases in Ghana was 420,000 per year, with an annual death rate estimated at 65,000 and total costs to the economy at $69 million.
She said other figures gave a total number of 84,000 deaths per year, with 25 per cent being children under five.
These figures are alarming and they could be more, taking into account those that are not reported. Improving food safety is an essential element for achieving food security which exists when people have adequate access to sufficient and safe food.
Women are mainly in charge of preparing food at home. Therefore, it is important that food safety education is provided continuously in order to have a positive impact.
Food safety requires correct handling, from production through consumption. Poor food-handling practices in the home kitchen are thought to cause a significant number of food- borne illnesses.
For most women, there are a lot of process they go through while handling food, oblivious of the fact that they may be modes of contaminating foods.
Let’s take a look at some of the do’s and don’ts of safe food handling by experts.
It is important that you wash your hands before and after handling food. Also, wash them after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables by rinsing them well with running water. If possible, use two cutting boards — one for fresh produce and the other for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Otherwise, be sure to wash the cutting board with hot, soapy water between each use. You can also wash your knives and cutting boards in the dishwasher to disinfect them. Bag raw meat, poultry and fish separately from other food items.
Make sure the food items you buy are in good condition. Refrigerated food should be cold to the touch. Frozen foods should be solid. Canned goods should not be dented, cracked or bulging. Produce should appear fresh. Meat should have a good colour and be firm to the touch.
Food packaging labels provide information on when to use the food and how to store it. Reading food labels and following safety instructions will reduce your chances of becoming ill with food poisoning.
When in doubt, throw it out. If you are not sure whether a food is safe, don't eat it. Re-heating food that is contaminated will not make it safe. Don't taste suspicious food. It may smell and look fine but still may not be safe to eat.
Although it is women who handle food mostly, either at home or at the markets, food safety is everyone’s business — from government, farmers to husbands and children. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Board, Dr Stephen K. Opuni, put it at the forum, “Political commitment is fundamental to addressing majority of the food safety challenges. From producers to policy makers to consumers, food safety is everybody’s responsibility.”
What is needed is a lot of education on food safety, since, on a daily basis, the public faces many dangers and hazards which are food related.
More important is the point made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, that “it is unfortunate that in our part of the world routine laboratory examinations are not done by individuals to enable them to know their health status and the extent to which food-borne diseases are affecting them, thereby resulting in low productivity. The economy thus suffers, as money would have to be invested in the treatment of such food-borne diseases and several hours lost while the victim recuperates.”
By Rebecca Kwei
The world celebrates World Food Day today on the theme, “United Against Hunger”.
Food is very essential for the survival of the human race and the recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) indicating that there are more than one billion people around the world who suffer from hunger every day is worrying.
According to experts, despite the significance of agriculture as the major factor in the economies of many developing countries, that sector is often starved of investment. In particular, foreign aid to agriculture has displayed drastic declines over the past 20 years.
And who bears the brunt? Women and children. It is important to stress that when women are empowered to receive the same levels of education, experience and farm inputs that their male counterparts receive, their yields will increase and there will be plenty for all.
Without belittling the theme for this year’s celebration, however, my focus will be on food safety, since consuming unsafe foods results in high disease burden, poor nutritional status, low productivity, limited markets and weak economies.
Additionally, scarcity of food can force people to consume whatever food is available, even if it is unsafe or contaminated.
Just take a cursory look at the environment at most food joints, especially those just beside gutters. Doesn’t it give you the chills? Interestingly, those are the foods we enjoy most, but the consequences can be devastating.
As part of activities to mark World Food Day in Ghana, a forum on food safety was held in Accra.
Giving figures on Ghanaians suffering each year from serious food-borne diseases, the FAO Regional Representative in Africa, Ms Maria Helena Morias Semedo, said the total number of outpatient cases reported with food-borne diseases in Ghana was 420,000 per year, with an annual death rate estimated at 65,000 and total costs to the economy at $69 million.
She said other figures gave a total number of 84,000 deaths per year, with 25 per cent being children under five.
These figures are alarming and they could be more, taking into account those that are not reported. Improving food safety is an essential element for achieving food security which exists when people have adequate access to sufficient and safe food.
Women are mainly in charge of preparing food at home. Therefore, it is important that food safety education is provided continuously in order to have a positive impact.
Food safety requires correct handling, from production through consumption. Poor food-handling practices in the home kitchen are thought to cause a significant number of food- borne illnesses.
For most women, there are a lot of process they go through while handling food, oblivious of the fact that they may be modes of contaminating foods.
Let’s take a look at some of the do’s and don’ts of safe food handling by experts.
It is important that you wash your hands before and after handling food. Also, wash them after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Wash fresh fruits and vegetables by rinsing them well with running water. If possible, use two cutting boards — one for fresh produce and the other for raw meat, poultry and seafood. Otherwise, be sure to wash the cutting board with hot, soapy water between each use. You can also wash your knives and cutting boards in the dishwasher to disinfect them. Bag raw meat, poultry and fish separately from other food items.
Make sure the food items you buy are in good condition. Refrigerated food should be cold to the touch. Frozen foods should be solid. Canned goods should not be dented, cracked or bulging. Produce should appear fresh. Meat should have a good colour and be firm to the touch.
Food packaging labels provide information on when to use the food and how to store it. Reading food labels and following safety instructions will reduce your chances of becoming ill with food poisoning.
When in doubt, throw it out. If you are not sure whether a food is safe, don't eat it. Re-heating food that is contaminated will not make it safe. Don't taste suspicious food. It may smell and look fine but still may not be safe to eat.
Although it is women who handle food mostly, either at home or at the markets, food safety is everyone’s business — from government, farmers to husbands and children. As the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Board, Dr Stephen K. Opuni, put it at the forum, “Political commitment is fundamental to addressing majority of the food safety challenges. From producers to policy makers to consumers, food safety is everybody’s responsibility.”
What is needed is a lot of education on food safety, since, on a daily basis, the public faces many dangers and hazards which are food related.
More important is the point made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, that “it is unfortunate that in our part of the world routine laboratory examinations are not done by individuals to enable them to know their health status and the extent to which food-borne diseases are affecting them, thereby resulting in low productivity. The economy thus suffers, as money would have to be invested in the treatment of such food-borne diseases and several hours lost while the victim recuperates.”
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Tamara spearheads AIDS campaign
Saturday, October 9, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 47)
By Rebecca Kwei
When Tamara Aku Dzormeku won the Miss Malaika crown in 2008, one of her task was to be a malaria youth ambassador working in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme.
Two years on, having successfully embarked on malaria education in various parts of the country, she has taken a giant leap to spearhead another campaign on HIV and AIDS.
Dubbed “Right to live”, it aimed at increasing awareness of the seriousness of the HIV and AIDS disease and also encourage behavioural change.
Studies have shown that although the knowledge of HIV and AIDS was high, behavioural change was low.
It is also to reduce stigmatisation and encourage society to accept people living with HIV and AIDS as an integral part of the society.
The campaign which is being put together by Knock Out Concept and Trak Mastas with sponsorship from the Ghana Business Coalition, Ghana AIDS Commission and the Graphic Communications Group Limited will be launched on November 3, 2010.
According to Tamara in recent times when the issue of HIV and AIDS came up many people seemed to be indifferent or seemed to have had enough of the messages on HIV and AIDS.
However, she noted that that should not be the case since the consequences of contracting the disease was devastating and therefore, the need for continuous education.
The 2009 HIV Sentinel Survey and National HIV and AIDS Prevalence Estimates for Ghana indicated that the adult national HIV prevalence is estimated at 1.9 per cent as compared to 1.7 per cent in 2008.
Also, the HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics was 2.9 per cent, representing a 31 per cent increase of last year’s 2.2 per cent.
The showed that there was an estimated 267,069 persons comprising 112,457 males and 154,612 females living with HIV AIDS in Ghana and 25,666 of that were children; 12,579 being females.
Additionally, there were 22,177 new infections and 20,313 AIDS deaths with 2,566 being children.
In furtherance to the “Right to live” campaign, various activities have been lined up to herald this year’s World AIDS Day on December 1.
The activities include a seminar in the Central Region for second cycle institutions.
Tamara said a seminar is being organised for students of second cycle institutions because of their vulnerability to peer pressure as they continue to wallow in their sexually active ages.
“The message needs to go down well with them so they know the consequences of their actions and inaction with regard to sex.”
Then there will be a float in the Western Region and this according to Tamara is because of the discovery of oil in that region which has opened the region up to many other opportunities and has brought about an influx of people from all walks of life across the world to that part of the country.
Another important activity is the VIP/Celebrity Endorsement where Very Important Personalities from all sectors of life including sports, music, radio and TV, politics, international organisations, reality shows, beauty pageants etc. would be asked to make an endorsement for the campaign by sending a short and brief message on HIV and AIDS to be rolled on radio and television as well as the print media.
Aside this the CEO/Senior Managers Testing Day will see CEOs and senior managers publicly test for HIV to encourage the public to do the same.
Tamara said all these activitieswould be done in a fun way and another fun way of climaxing the activities will be a music and comedy concert in Takoradi on December 11.
Asked why she was not continuing with her malaria project, Tamara who is in her fifth year at the University of Ghana Medical School said she had not abandoned malaria completely but saw the need to tackle HIV and AIDS as well, which was a serious health issue.
She appealed to other organisations and individuals to come on board and support in order for the campaign to have a positive impact on society.
Appealing also to other beauty queens not to abandon their projects after their reign, she said “once a beauty queen, always a beauty queen and you should be an answer to someone’s prayer”.
By Rebecca Kwei
When Tamara Aku Dzormeku won the Miss Malaika crown in 2008, one of her task was to be a malaria youth ambassador working in collaboration with the National Malaria Control Programme.
Two years on, having successfully embarked on malaria education in various parts of the country, she has taken a giant leap to spearhead another campaign on HIV and AIDS.
Dubbed “Right to live”, it aimed at increasing awareness of the seriousness of the HIV and AIDS disease and also encourage behavioural change.
Studies have shown that although the knowledge of HIV and AIDS was high, behavioural change was low.
It is also to reduce stigmatisation and encourage society to accept people living with HIV and AIDS as an integral part of the society.
The campaign which is being put together by Knock Out Concept and Trak Mastas with sponsorship from the Ghana Business Coalition, Ghana AIDS Commission and the Graphic Communications Group Limited will be launched on November 3, 2010.
According to Tamara in recent times when the issue of HIV and AIDS came up many people seemed to be indifferent or seemed to have had enough of the messages on HIV and AIDS.
However, she noted that that should not be the case since the consequences of contracting the disease was devastating and therefore, the need for continuous education.
The 2009 HIV Sentinel Survey and National HIV and AIDS Prevalence Estimates for Ghana indicated that the adult national HIV prevalence is estimated at 1.9 per cent as compared to 1.7 per cent in 2008.
Also, the HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics was 2.9 per cent, representing a 31 per cent increase of last year’s 2.2 per cent.
The showed that there was an estimated 267,069 persons comprising 112,457 males and 154,612 females living with HIV AIDS in Ghana and 25,666 of that were children; 12,579 being females.
Additionally, there were 22,177 new infections and 20,313 AIDS deaths with 2,566 being children.
In furtherance to the “Right to live” campaign, various activities have been lined up to herald this year’s World AIDS Day on December 1.
The activities include a seminar in the Central Region for second cycle institutions.
Tamara said a seminar is being organised for students of second cycle institutions because of their vulnerability to peer pressure as they continue to wallow in their sexually active ages.
“The message needs to go down well with them so they know the consequences of their actions and inaction with regard to sex.”
Then there will be a float in the Western Region and this according to Tamara is because of the discovery of oil in that region which has opened the region up to many other opportunities and has brought about an influx of people from all walks of life across the world to that part of the country.
Another important activity is the VIP/Celebrity Endorsement where Very Important Personalities from all sectors of life including sports, music, radio and TV, politics, international organisations, reality shows, beauty pageants etc. would be asked to make an endorsement for the campaign by sending a short and brief message on HIV and AIDS to be rolled on radio and television as well as the print media.
Aside this the CEO/Senior Managers Testing Day will see CEOs and senior managers publicly test for HIV to encourage the public to do the same.
Tamara said all these activitieswould be done in a fun way and another fun way of climaxing the activities will be a music and comedy concert in Takoradi on December 11.
Asked why she was not continuing with her malaria project, Tamara who is in her fifth year at the University of Ghana Medical School said she had not abandoned malaria completely but saw the need to tackle HIV and AIDS as well, which was a serious health issue.
She appealed to other organisations and individuals to come on board and support in order for the campaign to have a positive impact on society.
Appealing also to other beauty queens not to abandon their projects after their reign, she said “once a beauty queen, always a beauty queen and you should be an answer to someone’s prayer”.
Adolescents need information on sexual health
Saturday, October 9, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 13)
By Rebecca Kwei
A study on a health intervention on adolescents’ knowledge and sexual behaviour in rural Ghana has indicated that providing sexual and reproductive health information for adolescents is key to a healthy lifestyle.
The study also revealed that little education was not enough to help protect an adolescent, hence adolescents should be encouraged to stay in school up to at least the junior high school level.
Making a presentation at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Indepth Network in Accra, a health research officer of the Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ms Matilda Aberese Ako, said majority of adolescents and young people lacked relevant knowledge on their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and that unprotected sexual intercourse placed them at the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy.
The study, which was undertaken in the Kassena-Nankana District of Ghana, was a community randomised controlled trial with intervention and non-intervention communities and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
One arm of the community had health interventions such as peer education activities, school-based teaching of SRH, youth friendly health services and community mobilisation and sensitisation, while the non-intervention communities had only youth friendly health services introduced.
According to Ms Ako, after the study, it was realised that adolescents in communities where the health interventions were introduced had more knowledge on SRH which helped them to make healthy decisions, such as delaying sex and safe sex practices, than those in the non-intervention communities.
For instance, the baseline information on knowledge of signs and symptoms of STDs was 10.6 per cent among females and 6.4 per cent among males in the intervention community, while in the non-intervention communities it was 7.1 per cent for females and 5.1 per cent for males.
However, after the post intervention, knowledge of the signs and symptoms of STDs among females increased to 17.1 per cent and 11.4 per cent in males in the intervention communities, compared to 11.5 per cent in females and 6.2 per cent in males in the non-intervention communities.
She said the study also revealed that Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) was beyond a health issue and that it encompassed social, cultural and religious dimensions, for which reason there was the need to combine various strategies to reach out to a large audience.
“Providing SRH information for adolescents is a priority area and needs a multi-dimensional approach. All stakeholders must be actively involved in order to give it the needed attention and investment,” Ms Ako added.
By Rebecca Kwei
A study on a health intervention on adolescents’ knowledge and sexual behaviour in rural Ghana has indicated that providing sexual and reproductive health information for adolescents is key to a healthy lifestyle.
The study also revealed that little education was not enough to help protect an adolescent, hence adolescents should be encouraged to stay in school up to at least the junior high school level.
Making a presentation at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Indepth Network in Accra, a health research officer of the Navrongo Health Research Centre, Ms Matilda Aberese Ako, said majority of adolescents and young people lacked relevant knowledge on their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and that unprotected sexual intercourse placed them at the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and unintended pregnancy.
The study, which was undertaken in the Kassena-Nankana District of Ghana, was a community randomised controlled trial with intervention and non-intervention communities and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
One arm of the community had health interventions such as peer education activities, school-based teaching of SRH, youth friendly health services and community mobilisation and sensitisation, while the non-intervention communities had only youth friendly health services introduced.
According to Ms Ako, after the study, it was realised that adolescents in communities where the health interventions were introduced had more knowledge on SRH which helped them to make healthy decisions, such as delaying sex and safe sex practices, than those in the non-intervention communities.
For instance, the baseline information on knowledge of signs and symptoms of STDs was 10.6 per cent among females and 6.4 per cent among males in the intervention community, while in the non-intervention communities it was 7.1 per cent for females and 5.1 per cent for males.
However, after the post intervention, knowledge of the signs and symptoms of STDs among females increased to 17.1 per cent and 11.4 per cent in males in the intervention communities, compared to 11.5 per cent in females and 6.2 per cent in males in the non-intervention communities.
She said the study also revealed that Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) was beyond a health issue and that it encompassed social, cultural and religious dimensions, for which reason there was the need to combine various strategies to reach out to a large audience.
“Providing SRH information for adolescents is a priority area and needs a multi-dimensional approach. All stakeholders must be actively involved in order to give it the needed attention and investment,” Ms Ako added.
Invest in health of mothers and children
Saturday, October 9, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 11)
By Rebecca Kwei
Recently at a forum dubbed “Stand Up and Take Action Against Maternal Deaths in Ghana”, Mrs Elizabeth Vaah, the Executive Director of Nyilale Vaah Junior Foundation, in a presentation on maternal health in Ghana provided the ‘faces behind the figures’ of people who had been victims of maternal mortality in Ghana.
The stories of how these mothers and or babies were lost and the pictures provided by the presenter brought home the seriousness of maternal health .
When we hear the figures that maternal mortality rate in Ghana is 451 deaths at 100,000 live births, it is like an abstract; very far from us but in reality it is very near. It could happen to anyone.
The forum was organised on the heels of the 2008 Ghana Millennium Development Goals Report which said that “Maternal mortality rate at 451 deaths at 100,000 live births is high and Ghana is unlikely to attain the target of reducing by three quarters, the maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2015, even though maternal health care has improved over the past 20 years.”
Statistics indicate that women in sub-Saharan Africa have a one in 22 chance of dying in childbirth, compared to only one in 4,800 for women in the United States.
The big question is why do women and children in Africa die? The causes are many and varied. Ranging from hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour, bleeding, infections, unsafe abortion, lack of access to skilled care, late arrival at health facilities and sub-standard care at health facilities.
Although there are many reasons for the high rate of maternal deaths, lack of access to good health facilities and sub-standard care at the facilities is an enormous bane in many developing countries. The lack of skilled health care workers, clinics and equipment means that many women and children do not have access to basic health services.
According to statistics if women had access to basic maternal health services, 80 per cent of maternal deaths could be prevented.
However, the picture of Ghana’s maternal mortality rate is not all that gloomy as a report dubbed ‘Tracking Health MDGs: Beneficiary Perspectives- Ghana Civil Society MDGs Campaign indicated that more women were participating in ante-natal care, while the fact that women recognised the importance of formal facilities in the event of obstetric emergencies was also encouraging.
Also, there have been improvements in the maternal mortality rate in some regions and districts of the country.
Of more importance is the need for intensive education on key danger signs in pregnancy and also to counter constraining beliefs shrouding the experience of pregnancy.
“Considering that most women who had lost infants and other young children did not know the medical causes, proactive counselling services are recommended as a way of removing obstructive beliefs and promoting better hygiene and health in poor communities. Without such services, women are left to believe that the causes are purely spiritual.
Investing in the health of mothers and children would have a lasting positive impact on Ghana’s maternal mortality rate.
As Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, the Regional Programme Manager of Abantu for Development put “it is unacceptable for a woman to be pregnant for nine months and then lose the baby or her life. Zero tolerance for maternal deaths should be our target”.
By Rebecca Kwei
Recently at a forum dubbed “Stand Up and Take Action Against Maternal Deaths in Ghana”, Mrs Elizabeth Vaah, the Executive Director of Nyilale Vaah Junior Foundation, in a presentation on maternal health in Ghana provided the ‘faces behind the figures’ of people who had been victims of maternal mortality in Ghana.
The stories of how these mothers and or babies were lost and the pictures provided by the presenter brought home the seriousness of maternal health .
When we hear the figures that maternal mortality rate in Ghana is 451 deaths at 100,000 live births, it is like an abstract; very far from us but in reality it is very near. It could happen to anyone.
The forum was organised on the heels of the 2008 Ghana Millennium Development Goals Report which said that “Maternal mortality rate at 451 deaths at 100,000 live births is high and Ghana is unlikely to attain the target of reducing by three quarters, the maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2015, even though maternal health care has improved over the past 20 years.”
Statistics indicate that women in sub-Saharan Africa have a one in 22 chance of dying in childbirth, compared to only one in 4,800 for women in the United States.
The big question is why do women and children in Africa die? The causes are many and varied. Ranging from hypertensive disorders, obstructed labour, bleeding, infections, unsafe abortion, lack of access to skilled care, late arrival at health facilities and sub-standard care at health facilities.
Although there are many reasons for the high rate of maternal deaths, lack of access to good health facilities and sub-standard care at the facilities is an enormous bane in many developing countries. The lack of skilled health care workers, clinics and equipment means that many women and children do not have access to basic health services.
According to statistics if women had access to basic maternal health services, 80 per cent of maternal deaths could be prevented.
However, the picture of Ghana’s maternal mortality rate is not all that gloomy as a report dubbed ‘Tracking Health MDGs: Beneficiary Perspectives- Ghana Civil Society MDGs Campaign indicated that more women were participating in ante-natal care, while the fact that women recognised the importance of formal facilities in the event of obstetric emergencies was also encouraging.
Also, there have been improvements in the maternal mortality rate in some regions and districts of the country.
Of more importance is the need for intensive education on key danger signs in pregnancy and also to counter constraining beliefs shrouding the experience of pregnancy.
“Considering that most women who had lost infants and other young children did not know the medical causes, proactive counselling services are recommended as a way of removing obstructive beliefs and promoting better hygiene and health in poor communities. Without such services, women are left to believe that the causes are purely spiritual.
Investing in the health of mothers and children would have a lasting positive impact on Ghana’s maternal mortality rate.
As Dr Rose Mensah-Kutin, the Regional Programme Manager of Abantu for Development put “it is unacceptable for a woman to be pregnant for nine months and then lose the baby or her life. Zero tolerance for maternal deaths should be our target”.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Push for research findings to be utilised — Sory
Saturday, October 2, 2010 (The Mirror Pg 27)
By Rebecca Kwei
THE Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Elias Sory, has called on researchers to channel their findings to the appropriate quarters for them to be utilised.
He said it was not enough for researchers to generate information but they needed to go a step further to push and convince policy makers to make good use of their research results.
Dr Sory made the call at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Indepth Network in Accra.
The four day meeting which is on the theme “Indepth: Lessons for future direction in demographic and health research in developing countries” is being attended by 268 researchers and scientists from various countries.
The Indepth Network is a global network of members who conduct health and demographic evaluations of populations in low and middle income countries to enable them set health priorities and policies based on evidence.
The network currently has 42 Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) in 19 countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania.
During the AGM members will hold scientific forum and presentations to share their research based on HDSS.
Dr Sory noted that research was a very powerful tool and that “without research we would not have been where we are now”.
He said the service recognised the importance of research hence a new division had been created to bring research activities to the fore.
Additionally, he said the service had also allocated five per cent of its budget to support research activities.
He said fighting diseases of poverty was a complex issue and appealed to other ministries and sectors to also set aside money for research since it will go a long way to help the health delivery system in the country.
Corroborating the importance of research to national development, the Vice President, Mr John Mahama, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey, also said health research had become a cornerstone of international development policy.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that government will collaborate with all health research centres and allied institutions to ensure that health delivery is brought to the door step of every Ghanaian.
The Vice President was pleased to note that three of Indepth’s member centres in Ghana namely the Navrongo, Kintampo and Dodowa Health Centres were institutions of the Ghana Health Service which were at the forefront of conducting first class health and demographic research aimed at informing health policy in the country.
He particularly made mention of research conducted at these centres that have now been adopted as national policy such as the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS), Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and Vitamin A supplementation.
For his part, the board chair of the Indepth Network, Dr Seth Owusu-Agyei, said the research on public health conducted by the network aimed at informing policy and decision makers of all interventions that would influence the health needs of Ghanaians.
He said research activities of member sites stool tall globally and “an indication that collectively scientists of the global south can and indeed are making significant contributions to the development of scientific and demographic research world-wide”.
The Executive Director of Indepth Network, Dr Osman Sankoh, stressed the need for local scientists to be strengthened and play lead roles in research activities.
By Rebecca Kwei
THE Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Elias Sory, has called on researchers to channel their findings to the appropriate quarters for them to be utilised.
He said it was not enough for researchers to generate information but they needed to go a step further to push and convince policy makers to make good use of their research results.
Dr Sory made the call at the 10th Annual General Meeting of the Indepth Network in Accra.
The four day meeting which is on the theme “Indepth: Lessons for future direction in demographic and health research in developing countries” is being attended by 268 researchers and scientists from various countries.
The Indepth Network is a global network of members who conduct health and demographic evaluations of populations in low and middle income countries to enable them set health priorities and policies based on evidence.
The network currently has 42 Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSS) in 19 countries in Africa, Asia and Oceania.
During the AGM members will hold scientific forum and presentations to share their research based on HDSS.
Dr Sory noted that research was a very powerful tool and that “without research we would not have been where we are now”.
He said the service recognised the importance of research hence a new division had been created to bring research activities to the fore.
Additionally, he said the service had also allocated five per cent of its budget to support research activities.
He said fighting diseases of poverty was a complex issue and appealed to other ministries and sectors to also set aside money for research since it will go a long way to help the health delivery system in the country.
Corroborating the importance of research to national development, the Vice President, Mr John Mahama, in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Ms Sherry Ayittey, also said health research had become a cornerstone of international development policy.
He, therefore, gave the assurance that government will collaborate with all health research centres and allied institutions to ensure that health delivery is brought to the door step of every Ghanaian.
The Vice President was pleased to note that three of Indepth’s member centres in Ghana namely the Navrongo, Kintampo and Dodowa Health Centres were institutions of the Ghana Health Service which were at the forefront of conducting first class health and demographic research aimed at informing health policy in the country.
He particularly made mention of research conducted at these centres that have now been adopted as national policy such as the Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS), Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and Vitamin A supplementation.
For his part, the board chair of the Indepth Network, Dr Seth Owusu-Agyei, said the research on public health conducted by the network aimed at informing policy and decision makers of all interventions that would influence the health needs of Ghanaians.
He said research activities of member sites stool tall globally and “an indication that collectively scientists of the global south can and indeed are making significant contributions to the development of scientific and demographic research world-wide”.
The Executive Director of Indepth Network, Dr Osman Sankoh, stressed the need for local scientists to be strengthened and play lead roles in research activities.
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