Saturday, May 2, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 34)
By Rebecca Kwei
The Ministry of Health will launch a Malaria Elimination Programme later this year to bring all stakeholders on board to help fight the disease.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Sipa-Adjah Yankey, who announced this at the launch of World Malaria Day last weekend in Accra, said he was serious about the fight against malaria.
It was on the theme, “Counting malaria out”.
Although he did not give details of how the programme would run, he said once the programme had been launched after the rains this year, all available interventions would be used to wage war on the disease.
Dr Yankey said there would also be a reintroduction of aerial spraying in the country, while indoor residual spraying would take place in all senior high schools.
He said malaria endemic countries had been categorised into three zones, namely, control, elimination and eradication, and that Ghana was in the control zone.
He said the cost of the malaria burden to the economy was so huge, making it necessary to pool resources to eliminate it.
He expressed concern over the use of monotherapies, which are single drugs such chloroquine, for the treatment of malaria and said it was important to comply with the new policy of treating malaria with the Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), Artesunate-Amodiaquine, or the second-line drug, Arthemeter-Lumefantrine.
To that effect, he said, the ministry had decided to ban the importation of unapproved malarial drugs into the country.
In order to make ACTs affordable, he said, there were discussions with donor partners to build consensus to make the drugs cheaper, adding that at the same time measures would be put in place so that it did not affect local drug manufacturers.
A malaria elimination song which will be reproduced in the various languages was also launched.
Dr Yankey called on all to come together to defeat mosquitoes and malaria, adding, “Malaria, now we know you very well and we shall not give you another chance.”
The Programme Manager of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Dr Constance Bart-Plange, said now was the time to challenge ourselves by using every available tool to stop malaria in its tracks.
She said Zambia, whose death rate from malaria had fallen by 66 per cent since 2000 by using insecticide-treated nets, among others, had shown the way that it was possible to eliminate malaria.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Daniel Kertesz, said the Global Malaria Action Plan (GMAP) aimed at preventing 4.2 million deaths from malaria by 2015 by providing an array of interventions, including insecticide-treated nets, indoor insecticide spraying and effective malaria drugs.
He said malaria control was possible and cost effective, adding that the tools to do that were currently available and so there was the need to scale up intervention and improve on healthcare systems.
A former Dean of the School of Public Health, Prof Isabella Quakyi, who chaired the launch, said more research needed to be conducted in order to overcome the malaria parasite.
In a related development, Zoomlion, a waste management company, undertook a spraying exercise at the Accra International Conference Centre to rid the place of mosquitoes and their larvae.
The Head of the Vector Control Unit of Zoomlion, Mr Abibu Mohammed Ziblim, said the chemical used in the spraying, Vectobac 12AS, was biological and thus was environmentally friendly.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Malaria vaccine trial begins in Africa
Saturday, May 2, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 34)
By Rebecca Kwei
About 16,000 children aged between six weeks and 17 months in 11 Africa countries will participate in a three-year trial to determine the efficacy of a malaria vaccine in May, this year.
About 1,500 of the participants will be recruited from Kintampo to try the RTS,S vaccine which was created in 1987, while its clinical evaluation began in 1992.
Dr Kwaku Poku Asante of the Kintampo Health Research Centre made this known at a media seminar organised by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) as part of activities to commemorate World Malaria Day.
It was on the sub-theme, “Counting on the media to eradicate malaria”. This year’s world theme is, “Counting Malaria Out”.
It is estimated that there are between 300 million and 500 million clinical cases of malaria per year, with 80 per cent of those cases in Africa. In Ghana, about 4,500 deaths traceable to malaria are recorded annually and 1,500 children under five die from malaria every year, while 60 pregnant women die every year from malaria.
Dr Asante said a phase-two trial of the vaccine to determine the safety and potential side effects was conducted among 2,022 children between one and four years in Mozambique recently and it demonstrated a 30 per cent efficacy against clinical disease, 45 per cent efficacy against infection and 58 per cent efficacy against severe disease.
According to Dr Asante, in the recent past other trials on the vaccine had been undertaken in children in Tanzania, Gabon and Ghana and it had been found to be safe.
In another presentation, Dr Daniel Ansong of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said the vaccine was the most clinically advanced candidate in the world and it had the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives across Africa.
He noted that the vaccine would add on to other interventions currently being used and that it would make a positive impact on the economy and the capacity of our healthcare systems.
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr Alex Dodoo, said there was an urgent need for rigorous data to inform malaria policy in Africa.
In view of that, he said, a new project dubbed the INDEPTH Effectiveness and Safety Studies (INESS) that would monitor Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) in real life settings in Africa to provide information and data to drive malaria policy was in the offing.
The countries involved in the project are Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique and Burkina Faso. It will, however, start in Ghana and Tanzania.
In Ghana, the studies will be undertaken at three sites, namely, Dodowa, Kintampo and Navrongo, where the participants will be monitored when given ACTs.
The Executive Secretary of AMMREN, Mrs Charity Binka, said the media were the gatekeepers of every society and they had a critical role to play in getting the malaria story out.
Therefore, she said, the media must not be left out in counting malaria out of the world, adding, “It is only through the active participation of the media in malaria eradication efforts that the menace can be conquered.”
A programme officer of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Mr James Frimpong, said his organisation would, among others, continue to ensure consistent use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and scale up indoor residual spraying to 45 districts with support from the global fund.
Additionally, there was the need to improve diagnosis and that would be done with the introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits and strengthening laboratory microscopy services, he said.
By Rebecca Kwei
About 16,000 children aged between six weeks and 17 months in 11 Africa countries will participate in a three-year trial to determine the efficacy of a malaria vaccine in May, this year.
About 1,500 of the participants will be recruited from Kintampo to try the RTS,S vaccine which was created in 1987, while its clinical evaluation began in 1992.
Dr Kwaku Poku Asante of the Kintampo Health Research Centre made this known at a media seminar organised by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) as part of activities to commemorate World Malaria Day.
It was on the sub-theme, “Counting on the media to eradicate malaria”. This year’s world theme is, “Counting Malaria Out”.
It is estimated that there are between 300 million and 500 million clinical cases of malaria per year, with 80 per cent of those cases in Africa. In Ghana, about 4,500 deaths traceable to malaria are recorded annually and 1,500 children under five die from malaria every year, while 60 pregnant women die every year from malaria.
Dr Asante said a phase-two trial of the vaccine to determine the safety and potential side effects was conducted among 2,022 children between one and four years in Mozambique recently and it demonstrated a 30 per cent efficacy against clinical disease, 45 per cent efficacy against infection and 58 per cent efficacy against severe disease.
According to Dr Asante, in the recent past other trials on the vaccine had been undertaken in children in Tanzania, Gabon and Ghana and it had been found to be safe.
In another presentation, Dr Daniel Ansong of the School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) said the vaccine was the most clinically advanced candidate in the world and it had the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives across Africa.
He noted that the vaccine would add on to other interventions currently being used and that it would make a positive impact on the economy and the capacity of our healthcare systems.
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, Dr Alex Dodoo, said there was an urgent need for rigorous data to inform malaria policy in Africa.
In view of that, he said, a new project dubbed the INDEPTH Effectiveness and Safety Studies (INESS) that would monitor Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACTs) in real life settings in Africa to provide information and data to drive malaria policy was in the offing.
The countries involved in the project are Ghana, Tanzania, Mozambique and Burkina Faso. It will, however, start in Ghana and Tanzania.
In Ghana, the studies will be undertaken at three sites, namely, Dodowa, Kintampo and Navrongo, where the participants will be monitored when given ACTs.
The Executive Secretary of AMMREN, Mrs Charity Binka, said the media were the gatekeepers of every society and they had a critical role to play in getting the malaria story out.
Therefore, she said, the media must not be left out in counting malaria out of the world, adding, “It is only through the active participation of the media in malaria eradication efforts that the menace can be conquered.”
A programme officer of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Mr James Frimpong, said his organisation would, among others, continue to ensure consistent use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and scale up indoor residual spraying to 45 districts with support from the global fund.
Additionally, there was the need to improve diagnosis and that would be done with the introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits and strengthening laboratory microscopy services, he said.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Malarial mosquitoes don’t breed in filth
Saturday, April 25, 2009 (The Mirror Pg 25)
By Rebecca Kwei
A Medical entomologist of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Ms Aba Baffoe-Wilmot, has discounted the notion that the malarial mosquito breeds in filthy areas.
“Filth is not malaria. The mosquito which the public presumes to breed on rubbish dumps and gutters are not malarial mosquitoes. There are other mosquitoes that will breed in such areas but not the malarial mosquito,” she said.
Ms Baffoe-Wilmot, who was making a presentation on the “Epidemiology of Malaria and the Malaria Vector control in Ghana” at a day’s seminar for the media in Accra, said the malarial mosquito was not attracted to filthy areas but in relatively clean water, potholes, ponds, poodles, excavations, rice fields, stagnant waters along rivers and streams.
The seminar, which was organised by the NMCP, formed part of activities to mark this year’s World Malaria Day, which falls today, April 25, on the theme “Counting Malaria Out”.
Malaria is responsible for one out of every four childhood deaths in Africa and it also accounts for 10 per cent of Africa’s disease burden.
In Ghana malaria is a major cause of death and about 4,500 deaths due to malaria are recorded annually.
Ms Baffoe-Wilmot said it was commendable for people to make efforts to clean gutters and clear refuse dumps because they may prevent other diseases but not malaria.
She said one of the malarial mosquitoes, the anopheles gambiae, likes breeding in temporary fresh stagnant waters and that was why malarial cases went up after the rains.
Consequently, she said it was important for potholes to be covered and stagnant waters prevented, not to leave water in flower pots while clean water in containers must be covered to prevent the breeding of the malarial mosquito.
She also recommended the use of insecticide treated nets, which will help reduce malarial cases in the country.
In another presentation, Dr Keziah Malm of the NMCP, said laboratory confirmation of malaria was crucial since not all fevers were malaria and there were a lot of misdiagnoses and over-prescription of malaria.
She said research showed that only about 10 per cent of presumptive treatment of malaria were true cases of malaria in urban areas.
Consequently, a manual has been developed to help laboratory technicians and other health professionals to properly diagnose and ensure that the true picture of malarial cases are presented.
Dr Joseph Somuah Akuamoah, a private medical practitioner, said a tool known as the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) that would help properly diagnose malaria would be introduced nation-wide.
He encouraged pregnant women to seek early treatment when they got malaria.
On how the media could effectively communicate on malaria, the Country Director of the John Hopkins Centre for Communication Programmes — Voices Project, Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, said it was necessary to promote stronger partnerships between the media and malarial professionals.
Additionally, he said editorial guidelines which had a health component that included malaria should be a priority for media houses and that an ongoing programme of education and training was required to improve the journalists’ knowledge, as well as their professional skills.
By Rebecca Kwei
A Medical entomologist of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP), Ms Aba Baffoe-Wilmot, has discounted the notion that the malarial mosquito breeds in filthy areas.
“Filth is not malaria. The mosquito which the public presumes to breed on rubbish dumps and gutters are not malarial mosquitoes. There are other mosquitoes that will breed in such areas but not the malarial mosquito,” she said.
Ms Baffoe-Wilmot, who was making a presentation on the “Epidemiology of Malaria and the Malaria Vector control in Ghana” at a day’s seminar for the media in Accra, said the malarial mosquito was not attracted to filthy areas but in relatively clean water, potholes, ponds, poodles, excavations, rice fields, stagnant waters along rivers and streams.
The seminar, which was organised by the NMCP, formed part of activities to mark this year’s World Malaria Day, which falls today, April 25, on the theme “Counting Malaria Out”.
Malaria is responsible for one out of every four childhood deaths in Africa and it also accounts for 10 per cent of Africa’s disease burden.
In Ghana malaria is a major cause of death and about 4,500 deaths due to malaria are recorded annually.
Ms Baffoe-Wilmot said it was commendable for people to make efforts to clean gutters and clear refuse dumps because they may prevent other diseases but not malaria.
She said one of the malarial mosquitoes, the anopheles gambiae, likes breeding in temporary fresh stagnant waters and that was why malarial cases went up after the rains.
Consequently, she said it was important for potholes to be covered and stagnant waters prevented, not to leave water in flower pots while clean water in containers must be covered to prevent the breeding of the malarial mosquito.
She also recommended the use of insecticide treated nets, which will help reduce malarial cases in the country.
In another presentation, Dr Keziah Malm of the NMCP, said laboratory confirmation of malaria was crucial since not all fevers were malaria and there were a lot of misdiagnoses and over-prescription of malaria.
She said research showed that only about 10 per cent of presumptive treatment of malaria were true cases of malaria in urban areas.
Consequently, a manual has been developed to help laboratory technicians and other health professionals to properly diagnose and ensure that the true picture of malarial cases are presented.
Dr Joseph Somuah Akuamoah, a private medical practitioner, said a tool known as the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) that would help properly diagnose malaria would be introduced nation-wide.
He encouraged pregnant women to seek early treatment when they got malaria.
On how the media could effectively communicate on malaria, the Country Director of the John Hopkins Centre for Communication Programmes — Voices Project, Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, said it was necessary to promote stronger partnerships between the media and malarial professionals.
Additionally, he said editorial guidelines which had a health component that included malaria should be a priority for media houses and that an ongoing programme of education and training was required to improve the journalists’ knowledge, as well as their professional skills.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Our testament
Thursday, April 9, 2009 (The Mirror)
By Rebecca Kwei
For most Christians, Easter is one of the most important festivities on their calendar.
It is the time when they commemorate the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
It is also a time for reflection and meditation and one way of doing this is by listening to inspirational songs.
There are many gospel songs out there but the new six track album by God’s Family International titled “Our Testament” is a must-listen for all not only for the Easter season but for all times.
With lyrics ranging from thanksgiving to God and total reliance on God, the group sings with passion, which is made more beautiful with their good voices.
“Be not afraid” inspires anyone facing trials in life not to despair or be afraid because “It’s only the master calming the storm . . . be of good cheer; be of good faith.”
With a danceable tune accompanying it, “Alleluia Chant” sung in a mixture of English and other languages, renders appellations to God as the omnipotent.
Other cool and soul-inspiring tracks are Here I am which is in English and French, which says “Take me as I am and use me” while ‘Guide me Great Jehovah’, an old-time song, has been re-arranged with additional lyrics giving it a new touch.
‘Breathe on me’ is refreshing and ‘Thank you Jesus’, as the title suggests, expresses thanks to Jesus. Part of the song says “Thank you Jesus for the grace that you have given us. We can never pay; from our heart I’d like to say I thank you’.
God’s Family International is a five-member young and dynamic Christian singers from Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia who are committed to moving the gospel in tunes.
The group began as a family heirloom more than 15 years ago in Nigeria and has changed into an international gospel group based in Ghana.
In 2005, the group launched its first album titled “Behold How Great Thou Art” in Ghana.
By Rebecca Kwei
For most Christians, Easter is one of the most important festivities on their calendar.
It is the time when they commemorate the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
It is also a time for reflection and meditation and one way of doing this is by listening to inspirational songs.
There are many gospel songs out there but the new six track album by God’s Family International titled “Our Testament” is a must-listen for all not only for the Easter season but for all times.
With lyrics ranging from thanksgiving to God and total reliance on God, the group sings with passion, which is made more beautiful with their good voices.
“Be not afraid” inspires anyone facing trials in life not to despair or be afraid because “It’s only the master calming the storm . . . be of good cheer; be of good faith.”
With a danceable tune accompanying it, “Alleluia Chant” sung in a mixture of English and other languages, renders appellations to God as the omnipotent.
Other cool and soul-inspiring tracks are Here I am which is in English and French, which says “Take me as I am and use me” while ‘Guide me Great Jehovah’, an old-time song, has been re-arranged with additional lyrics giving it a new touch.
‘Breathe on me’ is refreshing and ‘Thank you Jesus’, as the title suggests, expresses thanks to Jesus. Part of the song says “Thank you Jesus for the grace that you have given us. We can never pay; from our heart I’d like to say I thank you’.
God’s Family International is a five-member young and dynamic Christian singers from Ghana, Nigeria and Liberia who are committed to moving the gospel in tunes.
The group began as a family heirloom more than 15 years ago in Nigeria and has changed into an international gospel group based in Ghana.
In 2005, the group launched its first album titled “Behold How Great Thou Art” in Ghana.
Ghana Music Awards tonight
Saturday, April 4, 2009 (The Mirror)
By Rebecca Kwei
The biggest event on Ghana's entertainment calendar, the MTN Ghana Music Awards (GMA) Festival comes off tonight at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Tagged "It's a big deal", one thing most music lovers will be looking out is the one to be crowned Artiste of the Year.
Artistes in contention for this award are Sidney, Christiana Love, Okyeame Quame, Philipa Baafi, Praye or Asem. And who takes home the MTN GMA Artiste of the Decade award plus the cash of GH¢5000? Will it be Daddy Lumba, Lord Kenya, Obrafour, Kojo Antwi, Daasebre Dwamena, Obour, Esther Smith, Ofori Amponsah or Samini.
Another important category to look out for is the 'Most Popular Song of the Year' which has Go High by Philipa Baafi, Me Mma Me Werenfi by Christiana Love, Africa Money by Sidney, Angelina by Praye, Ngozi by the late Michael Dwamena and Woso by Okyeame Quame in contention. This is a very 'tight' category considering the fact that all six songs are very popular.
According to the organisers of the event, Charterhouse, the glitz and glamour associated with the awards ceremony will not be missing this year as an "elaborate 'Yello Carpet' will be laid out to welcome nominees and VIPs who will throng the conference centre.
To ensure that it is a night of grandeur, the organisers are leaving no stone unturned with performance by guest artistes like Coco Master D’Banj and his crew, Sway the Ghanaian born UK artiste, Naeto C and Ike Chukwu. The Ghanaian artistes to perform also include Cindy Thompson who has not performed on stage in ages and who is totally loved on the gospel scene, the lovely and talented Becca and Adina and the sensational Lord Kenya.
Not to be out done will be Josh Laryea, Kwabena Kwabena, Sarkodie, Praye and Pat Thomas who is intent on representing his generation of Highlife Artistes very well. There are other surprise artistes on the bill and it is expected that the MTN GMA main event will linger on people’s minds for a long time to come.
The titles sponsors of the festival, MTN, has promised each winner on the night with a cash prize of GH¢ 1000 with GH¢500 worth of MTN credit while the ultimate winner — Artiste of the Year will take home a cool GH¢4000 Ghana cedis and GH¢1000 cedis worth of MTN credit.
The cash awards will, however, be made available to the winners who attend and pick up awards at the main event tonight.
On Sunday, April 5, the celebration continues with a celebrations jam that will feature award winners and the guest acts in an unstoppable performance spree at the forecourt of the Trade Fair at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile the text lines are still open for the public to send in their votes to MTN short code 1758 and on any other network. The highest texter stands the chance of winner a trip to any exotic African location courtesy RVI.
By Rebecca Kwei
The biggest event on Ghana's entertainment calendar, the MTN Ghana Music Awards (GMA) Festival comes off tonight at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Tagged "It's a big deal", one thing most music lovers will be looking out is the one to be crowned Artiste of the Year.
Artistes in contention for this award are Sidney, Christiana Love, Okyeame Quame, Philipa Baafi, Praye or Asem. And who takes home the MTN GMA Artiste of the Decade award plus the cash of GH¢5000? Will it be Daddy Lumba, Lord Kenya, Obrafour, Kojo Antwi, Daasebre Dwamena, Obour, Esther Smith, Ofori Amponsah or Samini.
Another important category to look out for is the 'Most Popular Song of the Year' which has Go High by Philipa Baafi, Me Mma Me Werenfi by Christiana Love, Africa Money by Sidney, Angelina by Praye, Ngozi by the late Michael Dwamena and Woso by Okyeame Quame in contention. This is a very 'tight' category considering the fact that all six songs are very popular.
According to the organisers of the event, Charterhouse, the glitz and glamour associated with the awards ceremony will not be missing this year as an "elaborate 'Yello Carpet' will be laid out to welcome nominees and VIPs who will throng the conference centre.
To ensure that it is a night of grandeur, the organisers are leaving no stone unturned with performance by guest artistes like Coco Master D’Banj and his crew, Sway the Ghanaian born UK artiste, Naeto C and Ike Chukwu. The Ghanaian artistes to perform also include Cindy Thompson who has not performed on stage in ages and who is totally loved on the gospel scene, the lovely and talented Becca and Adina and the sensational Lord Kenya.
Not to be out done will be Josh Laryea, Kwabena Kwabena, Sarkodie, Praye and Pat Thomas who is intent on representing his generation of Highlife Artistes very well. There are other surprise artistes on the bill and it is expected that the MTN GMA main event will linger on people’s minds for a long time to come.
The titles sponsors of the festival, MTN, has promised each winner on the night with a cash prize of GH¢ 1000 with GH¢500 worth of MTN credit while the ultimate winner — Artiste of the Year will take home a cool GH¢4000 Ghana cedis and GH¢1000 cedis worth of MTN credit.
The cash awards will, however, be made available to the winners who attend and pick up awards at the main event tonight.
On Sunday, April 5, the celebration continues with a celebrations jam that will feature award winners and the guest acts in an unstoppable performance spree at the forecourt of the Trade Fair at 6 p.m.
Meanwhile the text lines are still open for the public to send in their votes to MTN short code 1758 and on any other network. The highest texter stands the chance of winner a trip to any exotic African location courtesy RVI.
Funerals go hi tech
Saturday, April 4, 2009 (The Mirror)
By Rebecca Kwei
There is a perception that Ghanaians love the dead. This is because of the expensive funerals that are organised for departed relations.
The mode of announcing deaths has mainly been through the electronic or print media. However, this has gone hi tech and the latest innovation is to post such announcements on a website: www.funeralsinghana.com.
The website provides information on funeral planning and products, as well as services associated with funerals.
In an interview, the CEO of CNJ Consult, Mr Charles Nii Ayiku, said he came up with the idea because he realised that there was no particular source of information when it came to funeral issues.
He said the website was thus to serve as a resource centre to provide information and education on funeral issues.
Mr Ayiku said, for instance, that when one was bereaved, it was important that one got access to information on funeral planning, caskets, storage of the body, embalming, burial, developing obituaries or tributes, among others.
He noted that people were usually confused when a loved one died and they were sometimes ripped off and so the website and the services it offered would help in that regard.
“In fact, the website is a one-stop shop that provides information on everything funeral in Ghana,” he emphasised.
Mr Ayiku said the content of the website included funeral announcements, page for memorials and tributes, funeral products and services, videos and photographs of funeral ceremonies.
He said his organisation also provided other services such as video coverage and consultancy on planning funerals.
On how one could have his or her announcement posted on the website, he said all one needed to do was send the obituary to its offices or e-mail it to info@funeralsinghana.com and after conducting background checks on the authenticity of the announcement, it was then posted on the website.
According to Mr Ayiku, as of now the services were free and the response from the public had been excellent, both in Ghana and abroad.
“We have also received a lot of positive remarks from users of the website and some insurance companies have also expressed interest in advertising on the website,” he said.
He encouraged Ghanaians to support the innovation.
By Rebecca Kwei
There is a perception that Ghanaians love the dead. This is because of the expensive funerals that are organised for departed relations.
The mode of announcing deaths has mainly been through the electronic or print media. However, this has gone hi tech and the latest innovation is to post such announcements on a website: www.funeralsinghana.com.
The website provides information on funeral planning and products, as well as services associated with funerals.
In an interview, the CEO of CNJ Consult, Mr Charles Nii Ayiku, said he came up with the idea because he realised that there was no particular source of information when it came to funeral issues.
He said the website was thus to serve as a resource centre to provide information and education on funeral issues.
Mr Ayiku said, for instance, that when one was bereaved, it was important that one got access to information on funeral planning, caskets, storage of the body, embalming, burial, developing obituaries or tributes, among others.
He noted that people were usually confused when a loved one died and they were sometimes ripped off and so the website and the services it offered would help in that regard.
“In fact, the website is a one-stop shop that provides information on everything funeral in Ghana,” he emphasised.
Mr Ayiku said the content of the website included funeral announcements, page for memorials and tributes, funeral products and services, videos and photographs of funeral ceremonies.
He said his organisation also provided other services such as video coverage and consultancy on planning funerals.
On how one could have his or her announcement posted on the website, he said all one needed to do was send the obituary to its offices or e-mail it to info@funeralsinghana.com and after conducting background checks on the authenticity of the announcement, it was then posted on the website.
According to Mr Ayiku, as of now the services were free and the response from the public had been excellent, both in Ghana and abroad.
“We have also received a lot of positive remarks from users of the website and some insurance companies have also expressed interest in advertising on the website,” he said.
He encouraged Ghanaians to support the innovation.
Pharmacists to get doctorate degrees
Saturday, April 4, 2009 (The Mirror)
By Rebecca Kwei
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has decided that from the year 2010, all undergraduates pursuing pharmacy degree in Ghana will graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree.
This is to equip them with additional skills in business and public health management to help improve healthcare delivery in the country.
The President of the society, Dr Alex Dodoo, who announced this at the opening of the 21st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Symposium of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), said the move was also in line with global trends that require Pharm D as the minimum qualification for the practice of pharmacy.
He said since 2003, pharmacists in the USA had to graduate with a Pharm D and that similar initiatives were in the offering in the UK and Asia.
Dr Dodoo said the PSGH has gone a step further to ensure that graduates pass out with a combined doctor of Pharmacy and MBA or Doctor of Pharmacy and Masters in Public Health.
“Our dreams and aspirations for all the three pharmacy training institutions in Ghana is for them to offer the six-year PharmD/MBA or PharmD/MPH to equip all graduates with the skills and knowledge to meet the health needs of the people,” he said.
At the ceremony, seven Ghanaian pharmacists were elected as Fellows of the WAPCP.
They were Mrs Amah Nkansah, a specialist clinical pharmacist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Chief Pharmacist of the Ministry of Health, Mr James Kyei, Drs Charles Ansah, Eric Woode and Theophilus Fleischer, Senior Lecturers at KNUST, Mr Raymond Tetteh, a specialist clinical pharmacist and Dr Alex Dodoo, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.
In addition, more than 80 other pharmacists from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia were also inducted as Fellows of the WAPCP.
Fellowship of the WAPCP is the highest professional award for pharmacists in the sub-region.
In an address, the Vice-President John D. Mahama, encouraged pharmacists to provide good services to ensure the success of the government health programmes including the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The Minister for Health, Dr George Adjah-Sipa Yankey, asked pharmacists to work to reduce the circulation and dispensing of counterfeit medicines and pledged the ministry’s support to pharmacists in the sub-region.
By Rebecca Kwei
The Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH) has decided that from the year 2010, all undergraduates pursuing pharmacy degree in Ghana will graduate with a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D) degree.
This is to equip them with additional skills in business and public health management to help improve healthcare delivery in the country.
The President of the society, Dr Alex Dodoo, who announced this at the opening of the 21st Annual General Meeting and Scientific Symposium of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), said the move was also in line with global trends that require Pharm D as the minimum qualification for the practice of pharmacy.
He said since 2003, pharmacists in the USA had to graduate with a Pharm D and that similar initiatives were in the offering in the UK and Asia.
Dr Dodoo said the PSGH has gone a step further to ensure that graduates pass out with a combined doctor of Pharmacy and MBA or Doctor of Pharmacy and Masters in Public Health.
“Our dreams and aspirations for all the three pharmacy training institutions in Ghana is for them to offer the six-year PharmD/MBA or PharmD/MPH to equip all graduates with the skills and knowledge to meet the health needs of the people,” he said.
At the ceremony, seven Ghanaian pharmacists were elected as Fellows of the WAPCP.
They were Mrs Amah Nkansah, a specialist clinical pharmacist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Chief Pharmacist of the Ministry of Health, Mr James Kyei, Drs Charles Ansah, Eric Woode and Theophilus Fleischer, Senior Lecturers at KNUST, Mr Raymond Tetteh, a specialist clinical pharmacist and Dr Alex Dodoo, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana.
In addition, more than 80 other pharmacists from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Liberia were also inducted as Fellows of the WAPCP.
Fellowship of the WAPCP is the highest professional award for pharmacists in the sub-region.
In an address, the Vice-President John D. Mahama, encouraged pharmacists to provide good services to ensure the success of the government health programmes including the sustainability of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
The Minister for Health, Dr George Adjah-Sipa Yankey, asked pharmacists to work to reduce the circulation and dispensing of counterfeit medicines and pledged the ministry’s support to pharmacists in the sub-region.
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