In a celebration of innovation and outstanding contributions to the medical field, the Volta Regional Branch of the Ghana Medical Association at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) has bestowed special honours upon Dr Hilarious Abiwu and Dr Momodu Cham, distinguished colleagues at a grand ceremony on Sunday night.

The event, held in Ho, gathered luminaries from the medical and scientific communities to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of these healthcare pioneers.

Upon receiving the award, Dr Abiwu expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am deeply honoured to receive this recognition from Volta AGM. It is a testament to the collaborative efforts of the entire medical community in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare.”

Dr Momodu Cham, who is in charge of the Richard Novati Catholic Hospital, Sogakope has been working in the Volta Region for the past 15 years and has been dedicated to the call of humanity.

Joining Dr Abiwu in the limelight was another exceptional figure, whose identity was revealed as Prof Dr, Emmanuel Morhe, an esteemed medical practitioner known for her tireless advocacy for children’s health rights.

Prof Dr Emmanuel Morhe was presented with an award, acknowledging her unwavering commitment to improving access to healthcare for underprivileged communities.

The Chairman of the Volta GMA branch, Med Kweku Appiagyei, commended both awardees for their exceptional contributions, stating, “Tonight, we celebrate not just the achievements of these remarkable individuals, but also the spirit of innovation and compassion that defines our collective mission in healthcare.

Dr Abiwu and Prof Dr Emmanuel Morhe embody the values of excellence and humanity that inspire us all.”

The evening was filled with heartfelt speeches, dazzling performances, and moments of reflection on the strides made in the medical field.

As the ceremony concluded, attendees left with a renewed sense of purpose, inspired by the exemplary work of Dr Hilarious Abiwu and Prof Dr Emmanuel Morhe, and the promise of a brighter, healthier future for all.

LIST OF AWARD WINNERS FOR THE GMA VOLTA M15 INITIATIVE TO
RECOGNISE THE EFFORTS OF DRS / DENTISTS WHO HAVE WORKED A
MINIMUM OF 15 YEARS IN THE VOLTA AND OTI REGION

NAME: NUMBER OF YEARS SERVED:

1. Dr (Med) Gabriel K Nkansah 42
2. Dr (Med) David Yao Gudugbe 41
3. Dr (Med) Nyarko Mensah 38
4. Dr (Med) Archibald Yao Letsa 37
5. Dr (Dent) Crosby Oppong Yeboah 34
6. Dr (Med) Asare Bediako 33
7. Dr (Med) John Tampouri 30
8. Prof. Dr (Med) Margaret Abena Kweku 30
9. Dr (Med) Joseph Kwame Korpisah 29
10. Dr (Med) Lord Graceful Mensah 28
11. Dr (Med) Timothy Letsa 26
12. Dr (Med) Emmanuel Senyo Kasu 26
13. Dr (Med) Samuel Abudey 26
14. Dr (Med) Lawrence Kumi 25
15. Dr (Med) Eric Yao Amakpa 24
16. Dr (Med) Moses Tay Boni 24
17. Dr (Med) Daniel Yao Dodzie Agbley 23
18. Dr (Med) Geoffrey Reginald Kwasi Nyamuame 22
19. Dr (Med) Felix Doe 22
20. Dr (Med) Andrews Ayim 22
21. Dr (Med) Rowland Amattey 22
22. Dr (Med) Kofi Effah 22
23. Dr (Med) Hintermann Mbroh 20
24. Dr (Med) Pius Mensah 20
25. Dr (Med) Winfred Ofosu 19
26. Dr (Med) Gabriel Wusu-Gowu 19
27. Dr (Med) William Gyau Dwamena 18
28. Dr (Med) Koku Awoonor 18
29. Dr (Med) Emmanuel A. Nachelleh 17
30. Dr (Med) Nelson Affram 16
31. Dr (Med) Momodu Cham 15
32. Dr (Med) Bernard Hayford Atuguba 15
33. Dr (Med) Anthony Ashinyo 15
    SPECIAL AWARDS
34. Prof. Dr. (Med) Emmanuel Morhe
35. Dr. (Med) Hilarius K.A. Abiwu

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The Sissala East Municipal Director of Health Services in the Upper West region, Clifford Veng, has expressed worry over the lack of a mortuary for the Sissala East Municipal Hospital.

He stated that the lack of a mortuary at the facility forces authorities to keep corpses in undesignated places at the facility sometimes in same wards with patients and staff.

Clifford Veng disclosed this during the 2023 health performance conference of the Sissala East municipality at Tumu.

“When death occurs at the municipal hospital, the dead are supposed to be separated from the living immediately but in the case of our municipality, the situation is different.

“Corpses stay over 24 hours in undesignated areas pending the time relative will come for them,” he revealed.

He added, “When there is a death, some families need to preserve the deceased for some time to allow them to prepare adequately for the funeral rites hence the need for mortuary services with its benefits in the municipality.”

The 2023 Sissala East Municipal Health Sector performance review was held on the theme; ‘Of fostering collaboration: engaging stakeholders in reducing maternal and perinatal mortalities through a resilient healthcare system.’

Clifford Veng commended health workers and their stakeholders for the progress made over the years in delivering quality service to the people enumerating some successes chalked.

The Sissala East Municipal Director of Health Services opened up on the activities that they undertook during the year in review under review.

He said they conducted breast screening for adolescent girls in schools for early detection and management of cancer.

According to him, they also collected data to enumerate foreign migrants whose presence is increasing by the day affects resource allocation and their influx tends to affect the indicators that they have tirelessly worked to achieve over the years.

Apart from the challenge of not having a mortuary in the municipality, Clifford Veng also pencilled two other issues.

The municipal hospital X-ray machine is obsolete and as a result, now malfunctioning thereby producing poor quality imaging.

He mentioned the inadequate laboratory services for the people in the Sissala East.

The municipality has only three laboratories to take care of the hospital, eight health centres, a polyclinic and 52 community health planning(CHPS.

He pleaded for more laboratory survives to be established in the municipality.

Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive, Fuseini Yakubu Batong spoke of the unwavering commitment of government and the Sissala East municipality to improving the quality of health service delivery in the municipality..

Reflecting on my journey through Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), I’ve come to recognize the profound impact that lighthearted memes and casual jokes about mental health can have on those who struggle with such conditions.

While memes often aim to bring levity, they can inadvertently trivialize the severity of mental health issues.

Imagine experiencing a stroke and losing control of your body—similarly, grappling with mental health challenges can feel like navigating a mind beyond your command.

Despite increased awareness about mental illness, there remains a pervasive lack of comprehensive understanding.

My personal journey began in February 2021, when I lost my father, Seidu Osman suddenly. The shock was overwhelming, leaving me unable to comprehend his absence.

Despite a complicated relationship, the reality of being fatherless hit me hard—I mourned the loss of future milestones we’d never share.

As I struggled to cope, I withdrew from social interactions, masking my pain to appear strong for my grieving mother, Mariam Ibrahim.

It wasn’t until I found myself isolated during school vacations that I realized something was amiss. I recognized I wasn’t depressed, but I certainly wasn’t okay.

After researching my symptoms, I discovered I was experiencing PTSD—a condition triggered by traumatic events.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) describes Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.

The condition may last months or years, with triggers that can bring back memories of the trauma accompanied by intense emotional and physical reactions.

Symptoms may include nightmares or flashbacks, avoidance of situations that bring back the trauma, heightened reactivity to stimuli, anxiety, or depressed mood.

With the support of my sister, Samira Ibrahim who played the role of counselor, I began to navigate the complexities of my mental health.

However, fallout with a childhood friend in August 2022 reignited my struggles, prompting my sister to seek professional help.

Unfortunately, my mother’s lack of understanding made seeing a psychologist challenging.

Undeterred, we took matters into our own hands, seeking alternative methods to manage my symptoms.

Through self-education and guidance from supportive friends, I embarked on a journey of self-medication and coping mechanisms.

Despite the hurdles, my experience underscores the importance of taking PTSD seriously and providing adequate support and treatment to those in need.

There’s a pressing need for society to move beyond superficial awareness and engage in meaningful discussions about mental health disorders like PTSD.

By prioritizing education, de-stigmatization, and access to affordable treatment options, we can create a more supportive environment for individuals living with PTSD.

Reflecting on my experience, I urge readers to contemplate the impact of memes and lighthearted approaches to mental health.

While momentarily soothing, they often fail to acknowledge the severity of our struggles.

Together, let’s foster a culture of understanding and compassion—one where those grappling with mental health challenges can find the support they need to heal and thrive.

Farida Seidu is the writer of this article; she is a national service person with Adomonline.com.

The Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG) is calling for the institutionalization and nationalization of the SafeCare quality improvement programme in Ghana’s health delivery system.

Dr Peter Yeboah, Executive Director of the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), who made the call for the adoption of the SafeCare quality improvement methods, said the SafeCare methodology has been tested in all the CHAG facilities in Ghana and is an effective standard for measuring quality care.

Dr Peter Yeboah, who made this call at a forum to discuss the full adoption and ownership of the SafeCare standards by the CHAG network, emphasized the need for the scale-up of the QI program.

“Before piloting SafeCare, quality health delivery was aspirational in CHAG, but now, there is a paradigm shift because SafeCare is an intentional, focused, and scientific way of measuring, rating, and benchmarking the state of quality of service and using effective interventions to improve the gaps identified,” he said.

According to Dr Yeboah, quality care is an integral goal of every health policy and should be the foundation of health services.

“Without quality, the unintended consequences of providing health services could be fatal,” he noted.

He emphasized that quality, through SafeCare, is a value proposition for the entire health sector where quality healthcare should be a centerpiece of all the efforts of healthcare providers towards the attainment of the Universal Health Coverage goals.

As Ghana pursues the United Nations’ target of achieving Universal Health Coverage under the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, stakeholders emphasize the significance of healthcare quality.

Dr. Peter Yeboah contends that, ultimately, tying NHIS claims to the quality of healthcare delivery by service providers will catalyze improvements in quality standards in hospitals across the country.

“We have to move SafeCare from organization to nationalization so that the entire country will benefit from this scientific way of measuring, rating, ranking, and benchmarking the quality of healthcare provisions in institutions. The value proposition that SafeCare provides is self-marketing, embracing all the efforts and commitment of key actors, policymakers, professionals, providers, patients, the public, and, most importantly, we are looking at how the payer, the National Health Insurance (NHIS), would also embrace SafeCare as an essential tool for assessing the quality of healthcare provided by the public to its insured members. SafeCare should ultimately become that value-based instrument for assessing the value aspect of reimbursed services; that is what CHAG is all about.”

Poor-quality care is responsible for an estimated 5 million deaths per year in LMICs—more than deaths due to insufficient access to care, which accounts for 3.6 million, according to the Lancet Global Health Commission.

However, the central role of quality is not yet sufficiently recognized and appreciated in the global discourse on universal health coverage (UHC). An important starting point is a better measurement of health system quality.

SafeCare is a unique standards-based approach for measuring and improving the quality of healthcare services in resource-restricted settings.

PharmAccess Ghana, in collaboration with CHAG since 2019, has been using the SafeCare standards and quality Improvement methodology to strengthen healthcare systems in the CHAG network.

Under this collaboration, PharmAccess uses its SafeCare standards to assess, rate and benchmark the quality of all the network’s healthcare facilities. Additionally, the program helps build capacity, enhances skills, and supports improvement in the quality of healthcare delivery at CHAG facilities nationwide.

Bonifacia Benefo Agyei, the Director for SafeCare Ghana, underscores the program’s commitment to elevating the standards of healthcare delivery.

The SafeCare Director noted that SafeCare saves lives by improving health outcomes and reducing risks, and it also improves efficiency in the operations of healthcare facilities.

She added that some healthcare facilities’ managers have adopted the SafeCare standards as a guide to run the operational systems of their hospitals and clinics.

“It is time to make quality a culture in all health systems in Ghana”, Bonifacia added.

Referring to the Lancet Commission’s article on mortality due to low-quality health systems, Bonifacia Benefo Agyei commented that “it means that you are even better off if you do not have access to healthcare than to have access but to poor quality of care.  That is not acceptable; we think we should be able to change that narrative through the implementation of the SafeCare quality improvement programme,” Bonifacia emphasized.  

She said that in this next phase of the programme, PharmAccess Ghana is working with CHAG to own the SafeCare quality programme and embed it in the CHAG system, for CHAG to run it by themselves without any donor support so that quality becomes a culture.

Bonifacia further hinted that SafeCare is in talks with the Ghana Health Service to begin embedding the SafeCare methods in the entire health delivery system in Ghana.

“The Ghana Health Service is also coming on board to make the SafeCare-supported quality improvement program a national initiative. We are looking forward to a future where quality becomes a culture and the norm in our healthcare system; we don’t have to beg for quality,” she added.

Dr. Maxwell Antwi, the Country Director for PharmAccess, said healthcare facilities should become safe nets for everyone who needs healthcare irrespective of who they are in society.

He explained that SafeCare does not only let health facilities know and acknowledge the gaps in their healthcare delivery systems, but it also provides guidance and standards to fix and improve the operations of the hospitals, clinics, and other facilities according to internationally certified standards.

“What we are doing with CHAG is driving equity and access to health, not only for the rich and famous but for the ordinary Ghanaian. “One of the lessons we have gathered is that quality improvements save more lives than access to care because more people live if they have quality care than if they don’t have the care at all,” Dr. Maxwell Antwi explained.

He said the Ghana Health Service, through the leadership of the Director General, Dr Patrick Kuma–Aboagye, has launched the Ghana Network of Practice.

Dr. Maxwell Antwi noted that SafeCare is to be the quality improvement programme for the network of practice.

 With the Ghana Health Service gradually adopting SafeCare, there is a collective anticipation of a future where the pursuit of quality healthcare is not a plea but an inherent aspect of the nation’s healthcare ethos.

The journey towards quality healthcare for all is an ongoing endeavour, and these collaborative efforts are instrumental in forging a path towards a healthier and more resilient nation.

The Greater Accra Regional Hospital has tested and diagnosed 50 children with rare diseases in the country.

Dr. Yvonne Brew, a Pediatrician at Ridge Hospital, said that some of the children diagnosed were the first to be found with those conditions in Africa.

This has provided immense relief to healthcare workers and families, who now understand what these children are going through.

Dr Brew stated this during a lighting-up event hosted by the Rare Disease Ghana Initiative to commemorate 2024 World Rare Disease Day.

Rare diseases are defined as any condition that clinicians are unable to diagnose early, affect only a handful of the general population, and have a wide range of symptoms.

Rare Disease Day is observed annually on the last day of February to raise awareness of rare diseases and their impact on individuals and their families.

It sheds light on the impact of rare diseases, especially rare infectious diseases, with an emphasis on early detection and treatment access, as well as the struggles of those living with rare conditions and advocating for their rights.

In many cases, these diseases are chronic, progressive, debilitating, and life-threatening, posing significant medical, social, and economic burdens on patients and their families.

Dr Brew explained that nearly 70 per cent of rare diseases start in childhood, making early diagnosis and treatment critical for patients.

She said diagnosing children with rare diseases could prove challenging, but the Rare Disease Ghana Initiative has tested and diagnosed babies and a few older ones with disorders that health experts were unaware of.

“With this, we can now have a management plan for these children and the first to know what to expect in the mother’s next pregnancy,” she added.

Dr Brew said that the Rare Disease Ghana Initiative had played a significant role in the clinical work at Ridge Hospital and that they hoped to carry out more tests on children for early diagnosis in the coming years.

Mr Samuel Adjei-Wiafi, Executive Director of the Rare Disease Ghana Initiative, said that the Ridge Hospital’s symbolic lighting-up event was meant to raise awareness and support for the about 300 million people worldwide who suffer from rare diseases.

He said Ghana joined the rest of the world in 2018 to commemorate the day, making it the seventh time Ghana had observed it.

Mr Adjei-Wiafi urged everyone, including policymakers, the public, clinicians, researchers, and the community, to work together to ensure that the needs and interests of people living with rare diseases are addressed.

He also called for a national policy on rare diseases that would allow for intentional training of healthcare professionals to treat such conditions, enhanced infrastructure to improve diagnosis, and the incorporation of genetic services into the health system.

The Executive Director also advocated for screening at birth to guarantee that newborns with these disorders are identified promptly to prevent potential complications, adding that rare disease treatment should be included on the essential medicine list in the National Health Insurance.

He said that the Rare Disease Ghana Initiative database has now recorded over 200 individual families with different forms of rare diseases.

“There are about 7,000 lists of Rare Diseases globally and Ghana has recorded almost 200 of such diseases.

“This is evident that rare diseases exist in Ghana and the needed action has to be taken to know how to protect their health in society,” he added.

Dr Ralph Armah, Head of Clinical Services, Ridge Hospital, speaking on the significance of the Day said the Hospital was happy to partner with Rare Disease Ghana Initiative to create awareness.

He explained that most rare diseases were hereditary and urged the public not to associate spiritual implications with such conditions to prevent stigma.

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A family has accused the Bimbilla Hospital of negligence following the loss of their loved one’s baby during childbirth.

They allege that despite the woman experiencing severe bleeding when she was taken to the hospital, there was no medical personnel to assist her for almost 12 hours.

As a result, the woman gave birth to her baby, who tragically did not survive. She continued to endure pain without receiving any medical attention.

In an interview with Citi News, a brother-in-law expressed that this is not the first instance of such a devastating loss in their family due to the hospital staff’s negligence.

“What happened is that Thursday night between the hours of 10 to 11 am, we realised that my younger brother’s wife, she’s in the person of Nafisa Mohammed was seriously bleeding and we saw the need to bring her to Bimbilla Hospital.

“When we quickly rushed her to the hospital, they admitted her and confirmed that the pregnancy was 8 months and for that matter, there was a need to call on the medical superintendent to come and attend to her. They called the midwife but failed to come and even see her, let alone attend to her.

“After they prescribed drugs for our client, the whole day, they did nothing to the pregnant woman who was seriously bleeding. We have lost the baby which was in the womb, she complained bitterly and nobody attended to her.

He emphasized the urgent need for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“This is the 2nd time we have lost a baby in our house due to the negligence of management of the hospital here. we are calling on people to give us a helping hand other than that this kind of negligence will continue.”

Additionally, individuals who were assisting the woman during labour shared their concerns.

In response to the allegations, the Matron of Bimbilla Hospital informed Citi News that the management would investigate the complaints.

“When there’s a prenatal death, Ghana Health Service has a way of handling it to unravel the real cause of death, we normally do this through a prenatal audit.”

A similar event in 2023 prompted residents to protest by locking up the administration block, demanding the removal of the medical Superintendent and certain staff members. Despite these challenges, Bimbilla Hospital has been recognized as the best hospital in the region for two consecutive years.

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In a bid to bolster the healthcare system in the Volta Region, the Chairman of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), Dr Kwaku Appiagyei, has made a passionate appeal to the government and relevant stakeholders to swiftly post doctors who are yet to be deployed to join the healthcare workforce in the Volta Region.

The Volta Region, like other regions, faces challenges in healthcare delivery due to various factors, including under-staffing.

Recognizing the pressing need for additional medical personnel, Dr Appiagyei, during the 2024 Volta GMA [Ghana Medical Association] awards held in Ho emphasised the critical role that these undeployed doctors could play in addressing the region’s healthcare needs.

Speaking on behalf of the GMA Volta Region chapter, Dr Appiagyei highlighted the dedication of the existing medical professionals who have been tirelessly serving the communities despite the challenges.

He stressed that the inclusion of more doctors would not only alleviate the workload on current staff but also significantly enhance the quality of healthcare services available to the people.

“We have a committed team of healthcare workers in the Volta Region who are doing their utmost best to provide care to our communities. However, the addition of more doctors would undoubtedly strengthen our capacity to reach more patients and improve health outcomes, “Dr Appiagyei remarked.

The appeal comes at a crucial time when the world is still grappling with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the recent flood disaster in the region.

The healthcare system in the Volta Region, like many others, has been stretched due to the demands of managing the pandemic alongside other health concerns.

Dr Appiagyei stressed that the deployment of these doctors would not only benefit the communities but also offer valuable experience to the medical professionals themselves.

He emphasised the unique learning opportunities and exposure to a diverse range of cases that serving in the Volta Region could provide.

“We are calling on the government and the relevant authorities to consider the urgent deployment of these doctors to the Volta Region. It is a chance for them to contribute meaningfully to our healthcare system while gaining invaluable experience that will shape their careers,” Dr Appiagyei added.

The Ghana Medical Association has been actively advocating for improvements in the country’s healthcare system, including addressing issues of under-staffing, limited infrastructure, and inadequate equipment. Dr Appiagyei’s appeal is seen as a continuation of these efforts to ensure that every Ghanaian has access to quality healthcare services.

As the call to action resonates across the region, residents, healthcare professionals, and authorities alike are hopeful that the appeal by Dr Kwaku Appiagyei will receive the necessary attention and lead to the swift deployment of additional doctors to the Volta Region.

The collective aim is to build a stronger and more resilient healthcare system that can better serve the needs of all citizens.

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• Volta Region GMA awards Senior Doctors for their selfless dedication to work

The Volta Region branch of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has honoured senior doctors for their dedicated service and outstanding contributions to the healthcare sector.

The prestigious award ceremony celebrated the selfless efforts of these healthcare professionals who have tirelessly served the people of the Volta Region, making significant strides in improving the health and well-being of the community.

The event, which took place at the luxurious Hotel Stevens, Ho, was filled with warmth, gratitude, and a deep sense of appreciation for the exceptional service provided by the awardees.

The GMA’s recognition of these individuals underscored their vital role in advancing healthcare in the region and their unwavering commitment to providing quality medical care to the people of Volta Region.

One of the doctors honoured was Dr Lawrence Kumi, who served for 25 years taking care of the needs of children and women and was very passionate about his work as a medical doctor.

The Chairperson of the Volta Region Branch of the GMA, Dr Kweku Appiagyei commended the awardees for their remarkable dedication, professionalism, and leadership in the medical field.

He emphasised the pivotal role that senior doctors play in shaping the healthcare landscape and serving as role models for younger healthcare professionals.

The National Chairman of the Ghana Medical Association, Dr Frank Serebour spoke about the conditions of service, the mental health of health workers, and the need for the government to help especially for those with health challenges.

The MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who sponsored one of the award categories commended the doctors for their selfless dedication to humanity especially during the recent floods caused by the Akosombo Dam spillage.

Another esteemed awardee, Dr John Tampouri, a senior doctor and the CEO of the Ho Teaching Hospital, recognized for his exceptional leadership in health care, has been instrumental in raising awareness about child health issues and most especially mentoring young doctors, who spoke about his commitment to advancing mental health care in the region.

In addition, Dr Hilarious Abiwu, a respected general practitioner, was honoured for his exemplary dedication to providing comprehensive primary care services to the people of the Volta Region.

Dr Abiwu’s commitment to preventive medicine and his holistic approach to patient care have significantly contributed to the overall well-being of the community.

The award ceremony was attended by prominent government officials, fellow healthcare professionals, and members of the community who came together to express their gratitude to the honoured doctors.

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, praised the GMA for recognizing the invaluable contributions of these senior doctors and highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting healthcare professionals in their efforts to improve healthcare delivery in the region.

The event also provided an opportunity for younger healthcare professionals to gain insights and inspiration from the seasoned doctors who have dedicated their lives to serving the region.
The awardees shared their experiences, challenges, and insights, encouraging the next generation of doctors to continue the legacy of compassionate and dedicated care.

In his closing remarks, Dr Kweku Appiagyei reiterated the GMA’s commitment to supporting and honouring healthcare professionals who go above and beyond in serving their communities.

He emphasised the importance of recognizing and celebrating the efforts of senior doctors, whose dedication and expertise have been instrumental in shaping the healthcare landscape in the Volta Region.

The award ceremony concluded with a heartfelt standing ovation from the attendees, acknowledging the remarkable contributions of the honoured doctors and reaffirming the profound impact they have made on the healthcare sector in the region.

The Volta Region branch of the Ghana Medical Association’s celebration of these senior doctors served as a poignant reminder of the immeasurable value of their service and the profound impact they have had on the health and well-being of the people they serve.

As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the unwavering dedication of these senior doctors serves as an enduring source of inspiration for the next generation of healthcare professionals, ensuring that the legacy of compassionate and selfless care continues to thrive in the Volta Region and beyond.

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• Ablakwa commends Volta Region health workers for their swift response during Akosombo Dam Spillage

In the wake of the recent floods caused by the Akosombo Dam Spillage in the Volta Region, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has extended heartfelt commendations to the medical doctors and healthcare workers who exhibited unwavering dedication and swift response in aiding the affected communities.

The Akosombo Dam Spillage, a rare but impactful event, resulted in widespread flooding in various parts of the Volta Region, displacing families and causing significant disruptions to daily life.

In the face of this crisis, healthcare professionals emerged as true heroes, working tirelessly to provide medical assistance and support to those in need.

The MP, Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto, who has been actively involved in relief efforts since the onset of the flooding, took a moment to acknowledge the remarkable efforts of the doctors, nurses, and medical staff. He commended their selflessness and dedication to humanity during these challenging times at the Volta GMA Awards night.

He emphasized their pivotal role in ensuring the health and well-being of flood victims, highlighting the long hours, sacrifices, and immense courage displayed by these professionals as they navigated flooded areas to reach those in need.

“The doctors and healthcare workers in the Volta Region have been nothing short of remarkable in their response to the recent floods,” stated MP Samuel Ablakwa. “Their commitment to serving humanity, even in the face of adversity, is truly commendable.”

Furthermore, Ablakwa reiterated the importance of recognizing the efforts of these frontline workers, who often work behind the scenes to provide critical care and support during emergencies.

He called on the government and stakeholders to continue to prioritize the needs of healthcare professionals, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary to carry out their duties effectively.

As the recovery and rehabilitation efforts continue in the flood-affected areas of the Volta Region, the acknowledgement of the heroic efforts of doctors and healthcare workers serves as a beacon of hope and gratitude.

Samuel Ablakwa Okudzeto’s commendations stand as a testament to the resilience and dedication of those who tirelessly serve their communities in times of crisis.

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The management of the Ho Teaching Hospital in the Volta Region has extended a passionate appeal for support to construct a mothers’ unit for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The Head of Child Health of the Ho Teaching Hospital, Dr. Bright Richard Danyo explained that mothers who have preterm babies on admission are forced to sleep on the floor, hence the need for a hostel.

He made the appeal when Kokrooko Charities donated an incubator, sanitary towels, tissues, overcoats, theatre clogs, cot sheets, and two refrigerators to the NICU of the hospital.

Dr. Danyo lamented the unfortunate situation of mothers in the quest to ensure the survival of their babies for about two months.

He said that some of them put up in the hallways, and sleep on paper cartons laid on the floor.

“The places our mothers are sleeping are not good. Some of them, and their babies are with us for two months, and six weeks, and all this comes with them hovering about or moving in and out of hospitals”, he said.

He said the provision of a hostel is imperative to ensure the well-being of the mothers and add to the quality of care being provided at the facility.

On average, about 300 babies are admitted to the NICU annually. There are 11 incubators available at the Unit.

The Founder of Kokrooko Charities and host of Peace FM’s Kokrokoo Morning Show, Kwami Sefa Kayi said his organisation would consider the request for a mothers’ hostel.

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President of the Accra College of Medicine, Professor Afua Adwoa Jectey Hesse has urged medical professionals to remain in the country and contribute to its rapid development.

She stressed that everyone had a duty to contribute to the nation’s progress, stating, “Love your country and don’t be in a hurry to abandon it to go and develop another country.”

Professor Hesse made these remarks during a White Coat ceremony held to induct students at the School of Medicine and Pharmacy of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, Volta Region, into their clinical year after successfully completing their pre-clinical training.

Addressing the theme, “The Path to Entrepreneurial Excellence in Healthcare,” she challenged the students to cultivate a mindset that would enable them to create job opportunities for themselves rather than relying solely on the government.

The President underscored the importance of integrity in the healthcare profession, emphasizing the value of truthfulness and integrity, stating that “what is right is right and what is wrong can never be right.”

She urged the students to be known for their fairness and to avoid discrimination based on social status or financial means, encouraging them to treat everyone with respect and dignity.

Furthermore, Professor Hesse advised the students to continuously add value to themselves, strive for excellence, and embrace creativity to seize opportunities that come their way.

Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice-Chancellor of the University, emphasized the importance of ethical principles in healthcare, noting that the white coat symbolized professionalism, compassion, and purity. She urged the students to dedicate themselves to their studies and training to acquire the necessary skills to become proficient healthcare workers.

Additionally, Prof. Aziato appealed for support to complete the University’s laboratory complex during the event.

In the Ayawaso West Municipality, a concerning health trend has taken center stage. Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTI) continue to surge, claiming the top spot among the 15 leading causes of morbidity for the third consecutive year.

In 2023 alone, the municipality recorded a staggering 25,700 cases of URTI, almost doubling the figures from 2021, when 13,300 cases were reported.

At an annual review meeting, it emerged that there were more than 172,000 illnesses reported at the various health facilities in the municipality. Principal Health Officer, Rosemond Asase gave the breakdown.

“It’s seen here once again that upper respiratory tract infection is topping. That has been the case since the municipality was created.”

Exposure to air pollutants such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone has been linked to respiratory issues, including URTIs. These pollutants can irritate the respiratory tract, making individuals more susceptible to infections.

Additionally, air pollution may weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off infections, making individuals more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses.

In her address, Dr Louisa Ademki Matey, the Municipal Health Director, underscored the significance of deteriorating climate conditions and their potential impact on the prevalence of respiratory infections.

“Other important issues emerging include climate change and issues relating to air pollution. The effects of these we know can be devastating to health.”

“We know also the relationship between air pollution and non-communicable diseases such as chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and even cancers.”

In recent weeks, Accra attained the unenviable top spot as the city with the most polluted air. The EPA and the Ghana Health Service both issued separate statements on the impact of the pollution on health.

Nonetheless, Dr Matey, while addressing the issue, refrained from immediately establishing a direct correlation between air pollution and the rising instances of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs). She spoke on the sidelines of the event.

“As a district, we would this year look into these conditions that we have classified as upper respiratory tract infections, liaise with the facilities and look at how we can segregate the data, take more history from people who come reporting with upper respiratory tract conditions and see how many of them we can relate to other things other than infections.”

Dr Matey revealed that the Municipality is dealing with a high mortality rate and a high rate of caesarian section.

“While we celebrate our successes, let’s also take some time to look at our failures. It’s the only sure way to learn and improve. Some of the areas of concern are: Low Percentage of babies breastfeeding within 1 hour after delivery (67% instead of expected 95%), High Caesarean section rate of 54% instead of expected 15%, High maternal mortality ratio of 179/100,000 instead of 125/100,000. High institutional all-cause mortality rate at 48% instead of 18% or less, High antibiotics prescription in some facilities to levels as high as 52% instead of 20%.

“Low Antiretroviral Coverage rate of 69.1% instead of 95%. Low detection and reporting of surgical site infections. Low reporting of depression and attempted suicide cases at 88/1000 and 0/1000 instead of 175/1000 and 25 per 1000 respectively. Low detection and reporting of public health priority disease such as measles, yellow fever and Acute Flaccid Paralysis.”

In 2023, the municipality reported only 1 case of AFP instead of the expected 3 and reported 3 cases of measles. There was no reported case of suspected yellow fellow. This suggests a weak disease surveillance system and we need to promptly change this. I would encourage all facilities here to make it their annual target to detect and report at least 1 suspected case each of AFP, measles and Yellow Fever. I know it is possible.

The area, surrounded by busy roads like the Tetteh Quarshie roundabout, deals with continuous air pollution from vehicle fumes. Clean Air Fund’s sensors highlight the issue.

Desmond Appiah, Clean Air Fund’s Country Director, stressed the need for investigations and specific policies in the Municipality to address the growing health concerns.

“Part of the projects that we are running is also putting local censors to augment what EPA has and it gives a good sense of where we need to realize that pollution may be high and then identify the things that are happening around those areas that may be leading to that pollution just so you can be able to target your actions. This is where they say the rubber hits the road. In the districts, it’s where the real action takes place.”

With a total of 32 health facilities, majority being privately owned, the Ayawaso West Municipality is set to welcome a new government-managed health facility. Municipal Chief Executive, Sandra Ahenkorah, confirms the upcoming addition to enhance healthcare services in the area.

“I am therefore happy to inform this forum that our municipality is benefiting from the government’s Agenda 111 program. This will involve the construction, of a 100-bed district hospital at Roman Ridge. Having finally overcome the major obstacle of land, the consultants have been instructed to commence work.”

New research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association suggests that using cannabis, regardless of the method  – either by smoking, eating or vaping it – may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Lead study author Dr. Abra Jeffers, a data analyst at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, highlighted the growing use of cannabis and the lack of awareness regarding its potential cardiovascular risks. 

“Despite common use, little is known about the risks of cannabis use and, in particular, the cardiovascular disease risks,” she stated.

The study analyzed survey data from over 400,000 U.S. adults between 2016 and 2020, investigating the association between cannabis use and self-reported cardiovascular outcomes. 

Results showed that any marijuana use was linked to a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes, with daily users having the highest odds.

Dr. Robert L. Page II, a Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, emphasized the importance of healthcare practitioners addressing cannabis use with patients. 

“As cannabis use continues to grow in legality and access across the U.S., practitioners and clinicians need to remember to assess cannabis use at each patient encounter,” he remarked.

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The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu the second, has toured some project sites of health facilities in the Ashanti region, which are either stalled or under construction.

Prominent among the facilities visited is the Sewua Regional Hospital which is 90 percent complete but left unattended with deplorable roads impeding its usage.

The Asantehene inspected the pace of work at the project sites, while advocating for their early completion. 

 The three project includes the ongoing renovation works he is spearheading at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, the stalled Sewua Regional Hospital and the Mother and Baby Unit at the Manhyia Hospital. 

The comprehensive renovation and modernisation of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital have reached a 60 percent completion rate. 

Otumfuo has been leading the ‘Heal KATH Project’ through a 10million dollar public fundraising exercise to renovate the traditional wards of the hospital.

“The hospital is not going to leak again when it rains. One of the problems of Komfo Anokye was that when it rains, it could leak for two weeks we are privileged that since it rained the roof hasn’t been leaking. The King is very pleased,” Samuel Adu Boakye, Chairman – Heal KATH project, said. 

The Asantehene later inspected the Sewua Hospital project which is to serve as a regional hospital.

The facility, already 90% complete, is left unattended with deplorable roads impeding its usage. 

“The hospital has been completed for the past one year. What we need is to connect electricity to the hospital to get it operational, and we must put the road in good shape,” Dr. Emmanuel Tinkorang, Ashanti Regional Health Director, indicated. 

Dr. Agyarko Poku, who spoke on behalf of the Asantehene, says the visit is to advocate for the completion of the projects. 

“It is part of his activity to occasionally go around to see the developmental activities going on. The Sewuah hospital is very significant so he must come and see to put up his advocacy,” he indicated. 

The Asantehene ended his inspection at the construction of the Baby and Mother Unit at the Manhyia Hospital. 

Treating neonatal jaundice in the Goaso municipality of the Ahafo region has over the years presented dire challenges to the municipal hospital due to the lack of an effective phototherapy machine.

An improvised phototherapy device built with a wooden framework and three defective UV-bulbs, is hampering treatments as babies take longer periods under the machine. 

An NGO, Redeeming Hands Foundation, has provided the hospital with its first-ever firefly phototherapy machine to ease the burden and facilitate quicker treatment of neonatal jaundice. 

Neonatal Jaundice poses a pervasive and critical threat to new-born babies globally, with a staggering 74% prevalence among hospital admissions, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

Africa, particularly Ghana, experiences a disproportionate burden, with neonatal jaundice prevalence at 34%.

This condition is compounded by financial barriers and geographical challenges, exemplified by the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s role as a major referral centre, creating significant hardships for parents.

From 2015 to 2019, Ghana witnessed a concerning escalation in neonatal jaundice cases, with reported numbers rising from 3,031 to 9,273. 

Neonatal Jaundice emerged as the third-highest cause of admission for new-borns at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. 

Here at the Goaso Municipal Hospital, an improvised machine was made to treat the condition to avoid referral to other centers outside the region.

Unlike the wooden improvised machine, the phototherapy firefly machine works very fast to decrease the amount of jaundice in the blood. 

“We’re using blue bulbs attached to a wooden table. That’s what we use to manage it. We don’t know the rays of light waves that we are giving to the baby. Maybe if a baby is supposed to be under the phototherapy machine for about 20 or 48 hours, the baby can go about a week before the jaundice will resolve after we have done our investigation.

“So, with this proper equipment, we know that treatment of jaundice will be far better,” Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Head, Irene Adofoa Antwi, said.

In 2022 the cost of the firefly phototherapy machine was GHC27,500 but is currently sold at GHC 62,000.

Director for Redeeming Hands Foundation, Wendy Boatemaaa Ofori, is prevailing on the government to make provisions for hospitals to afford the machines to curb neonatal complications in babies.

“There are no provisions made for the hospitals to afford these kinds of machines. Leaders and people in position should take this up because some of the kids are ending up with cerebral palsy and hearing loss.

All those things can be curbed if there was an available phototherapy machine, and these babies were being treated on time. So, that they wouldn’t suffer these kinds of complications. We were able to afford the machine because of the money we raised on social media,” she said.

Redeeming Hands Foundation educated nurses and midwives at the Goaso Municipal Hospital on neonatal jaundice and also donated a firefly phototherapy machine to curb neonatal jaundice.

The machine is the first to be donated in the Ahafo Region.

Four people have lost their lives to Cerebrospinal Meningitis (CSM) in the Upper West region, with a total of 18 cases reported since January 2024.

Deputy Upper West Regional Director of Public Health, Dr. Collins Boateng Danquah confirmed this in an interview with the media.

He said five out of the 11 Municipalities and districts in the Upper West region have reported cases of the disease.

The Wa Municipality has reported the highest incidence, with six reported cases, followed by the Nandom Municipality and Wa West district, each recording four cases respectively.

The Jirapa Municipality reported three cases, while the Nadowli-Kaleo District has the lowest with only one case reported.

Dr. Collins Boateng Danquah stressed that, bacterial meningitis constitutes the predominant global burden of the disease.

He said in the Upper West region, children and the elderly, who have compromised immune systems, are particularly vulnerable.

Dr. Danquah urged the public to swiftly report symptoms like headaches, fever, neck pains, high temperatures, convulsions, and vomiting to the nearest health facility.

He further urged adherence to safety protocols such as regular handwashing and avoiding crowded areas.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service is proactively engaged in surveillance to promptly detect and treat cases.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), popularly called stroke, has been identified as the leading cause of death at the Eastern Regional Hospital for the past three years.

This was revealed at the 2023 Annual Performance Review held in Koforidua by the medical superintendent at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw.

Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw noted that hypertension, premature birth, pneumonia, heart failure, kidney disease, chronic liver cirrhosis, liver disease, septicalmiaseptsis birth and asphyxia are also among the causes of death at the hospital.

He stressed on the need for public education and campaigns to raise awareness on these diseases and the steps that people can take to prevent them.

Dr Ampaw said, “we did mention that CV or strokes are the number one cause of mortality in the Eastern Regional Hospital and did also allude to the fact that when you look at the data, there is a shift in the pattern of mortality from communicable diseases, as we had, to non-communicable diseases.”

“What that means is that what kills people is not something that can be transferred to others. Lifestyle diseases such as stroke, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and others have now taken the lead,” he added.

In response to the region’s health challenges, Dr. Ampaw stated that the hospital has taken steps to train staff members and address gaps in the healthcare system.

He indicated that the hospital is speeding up the process to replace some of the experience health workers who have left the institution to ensure quality healthcare service is provided.

Background

This comes after the Ghana Society of Cardiology said the high incidence of stroke among young people is being driven by unhealthy lifestyle choices and a lack of exercise.

The Society is intensifying its efforts to educate the public about the risks of unhealthy lifestyles and the importance of regular physical activity.

It is also advocating for individuals to get regular checkups to screen for cardiovascular diseases.

At an annual general scientific meeting, held in Accra on February 22, 2024, the Vice President of the Ghana Society of Cardiology, Dr. Francis Agyekum, said that cardiovascular diseases often go undetected because they are not associated with symptoms.

President Akufo-Addo has appointed the Ghana Health Service’s Director of Health Promotion, Dr. Da Costa Aboagye as the new Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).

He replaces Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye who has been nominated as a Minister of Health.

The letter of appointment explained that the decision is in line with Section 14 (1) of the National Health Insurance Act, 2012 (Act 852).

The appointee is expected to indicate his acceptance or otherwise within fourteen days of receipt of the appointment letter.

The National Health Insurance Authority was established by the National Health Insurance Act 2003.

Its basic objectives include attainment of universal health insurance coverage in relation to persons resident in the country and others not resident in the country but who are on a visit to this country.

Profile of Dr Da Costa Aboagye

Dr Aboagye’s qualifications include a PhD in National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana (Research) from Leeds Beckett University (obtained in 2016), a Master’s degree in Public Health and Health Promotion (obtained in 2010) from the same university, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Cape Coast (obtained in 2006). His other qualifications include a higher national certificate in pharmacy technology from the Kumasi Technical University obtained in 2002.

The 45-year-old national health insurance expert is currently serving as the Director of the Health Promotion Division within the Ghana Health Service, and bring to the table a wealth of experience in the fields of National Health Insurance Finance, Public Health, and Health Promotion.  He led Ghana’s risk communication efforts and was part of the presidential taskforce for the management of covid-19 pandemic in Ghana from 2020 to 2023.

Prior to being appointed as the director of Health Promotion, he was the cohort leader for Public Health and Health Promotion programme at the University of West London, United Kingdom and an external examiner on National Health Insurance Financing, Public Health and Health Promotion at both the University of Salford and London Metropolitan University.

Furthermore, within the ECOWAS community, he has the honour of chairing the Public Health Risk Communication and Community Engagement for Disease Control within the West Africa Health Organisation. This role entails facilitating experience sharing, advocacy, learning, and promotion of better health through building stronger health systems across the 15 ECOWAS member states towards achieving universal health coverage and sustainable development goals.

Additionally, he serves as the Chairman of the Africa CDC Public Health Risk Communication and Community Engagements Community of Practice for the 55 member states, aimed at promoting best practices, health system strengthening including national health insurance finance, continuous learning and knowledge exchange in Africa.

He has about eleven (11) impactful research papers in field of health insurance, public health and health promotion and has presented his research work locally and internationally extensively.

Dr Da–Costa Aboagye has received numerous prestigious awards and citations, including the MTN Young Professionals Role Model in Health (Gold Category, 2020), the Golden Citizen Award (2021) and overall National Best Health Leader of the Year 2023.

He was honoured with the Order of the Volta – Companion Category, the highest award of the Republic of Ghana, for his contributions and sacrifices during Ghana’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2023.

The National Health Insurance Authority is in eight-month outstanding debt to health service providers across the country. 

Ashanti Regional Director of NHIA, Kwadwo Dwomoh, says the lapses are due to taxes and financial gaps experienced in the sector over the years. 

“I am unable to tell you the last month we paid but it has been prompt. We have not been able to close that gap as per law. We are behind on claim payment for about eight months which means about two months gaps,” he said. 

Mr. Dwomoh spoke with David Akuetteh on Luv FM at the back of JoyNews’ feature on the NHIS and its cost barrier, in which NHIS subscribers complained of poor access to health services under the scheme.

The government is looking to absorb the cost of dialysis and breast cancer under the scheme. 

But with the existing funding challenges, Kwadwo Dwomoh is convinced new income streams could be generated to support financing of the scheme. 

“We have always had a financing gap. The premium that we are paying and in addition to the taxes are roughly inadequate. By the time that we add all this thing on, there could have been another stream of income for the health insurance to be able to finance this,” he said.

He continued that: “this is a commitment Ghanaians have to make because health is wealth. The strength of every nation is dependent on the health of the nation so if we have to find money somewhere to do so, we will do this”. 

Meanwhile, the Regional NHIS Director is cautioning against the unapproved charges paid by subscribers for medications to health service providers.

He says charging of fees not sanctioned by the NHIA is unacceptable. 

According to him, the system is set up for regular drug price reviews and expects subsequent overall price increases for goods and services. 

“We have a periodic review and when we are reviewing the price, we anticipate a future increment in the general prices of goods and services which is a factor in the percentage of increment,” he noted. 

He also mentioned that there are agreements with providers for specific services and medications which providers must oblige until they involve the authority for charge adjustments. 

“Punishing people who try to take advantage of our subscribers is something that we are doing,” he added. 

Kwadwo Dwomoh noted that engagement with NHIS subscribers are ongoing to educate them not to fall victim to the situation regarding unapproved drug fees.

He further disclosed that measures have been put in place to retrieve all the unapproved fees charged to patients with receipts of the payment they made for medical treatment. 

“We have been able to retrieve all the unapproved fees that have been charged to our subscribers in Konongo,” he said. 

Hydration is key to a healthy lifestyle, but like anything in life, too much of a good thing can lead to unexpected consequences.

Just like how drinking little water has its effects on the body, drinking too much water has harmful effects on the body too.

Overindulging in water might seem harmless, but it can cause a ripple effect throughout your body, leading to a condition known as hyponatremia or water intoxication.

The dilution dilemma

Drinking excessive amounts of water can dilute the sodium in your bloodstream, leading to hyponatremia. This imbalance disrupts the regulation of water and electrolytes, affecting your body’s normal functions.

Symptoms to watch out for

Early signs include nausea, headaches, and confusion, escalating to seizures or coma in severe cases. It’s crucial to recognize these symptoms early to prevent serious health issues.

Understanding your limits

Your water intake should align with your body’s needs, factoring in activity level, climate, and overall health. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but staying attuned to your body’s signals is key.

Finding the balance

In life, balance is everything, and striking the right balance in water consumption is essential. While staying hydrated is important, listening to your body and understanding its limits can prevent the adverse effects of overhydration.

In essence, moderation is the cornerstone of a healthy hydration habit. Ensuring you drink enough water, but not too much can help maintain your body’s balance and keep you feeling your best.

In our quest to maintain good health let’s strive for balance in all we do, this is key to maintaining good health.

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA), popularly called stroke, was last year identified as the major cause of death at the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua.

It was followed by hypertension, premature birth, pneumonia, heart failure, kidney disease, chronic liver cirrhosis, liver disease, septicalmiaseptsis birth and asphyxia.

The Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Arko Akoto-Ampaw, said the delay in reporting to the hospital by patients had led to most of the fatalities.

He explained that in many cases reporting early at the hospital for management of cases would have saved the lives of the patients.

Dr Akoto-Ampaw made this known at the hospital’s 2023 annual performance review meeting with the Eastern Regional press corps in Koforidua last Friday.

The event was on the theme: “Impact of the Implementation of the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) on Healthcare Delivery – Achievements, Challenges and the Way Forward”.

Stroke

Stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot, bursts or ruptures.

Symptoms include confusion and difficulty in speaking and understanding speech.

It also comes with headache, possibly with altered consciousness or vomiting, numbness or an inability to move parts of the face, arm, or leg, particularly one side of the body.

Vision too becomes difficult in one or both eyes, difficulty walking including dizziness and a lack of coordination.

Vision

The medical director said the hospital which was established in 1926 years ago with a vision of becoming a leading medical centre of excellence in quality healthcare provision, had lived up to that vision.

Dr Akoto-Ampaw said in 2023 the incidence of malaria topped the 10 major ailments reported at the hospital, and was followed by anaemia, hypertension, pneumonia, premature birth, tonsillitis, diabetes mellitus, jaundice and gastroenteritis.

He stated that the hospital had provided quality healthcare services for patients, not only in the region but other parts of the country over the years.

He said despite the provision of quality healthcare services, the facility recorded 855 deaths, out of which stroke accounted for 183 deaths.

He said in the previous year, the death rate had been lowered by 73, thus 782 deaths were registered, out of which stroke again was the major killer with 157 deaths.

The Medical Director further told the gathering that non-communicable diseases had now taken the lead in the cause of deaths other than communicable diseases.

Dr Akoto-Ampaw advised patients as well as relatives to always report medical cases to the hospital on time, since that was the only panacea to prevent untimely deaths.

He also appealed to residents in the region to consider constant medical check-ups as a duty.

“We don’t need to get ill before we go on healthcare. Run some tests, see how your sugar level is doing, blood pressure, check your weight” he said. 

Greener pastures

Touching on the hospital’s operational difficulties, he said although some of the medical staff such as doctors and nurses had been exiting the facility for greener pastures that had not been a big challenge since those at post had been able to hold the fort.

On the hospital’s future projects, Dr Akoto-Ampaw emphasised that a new oxygen plant would be constructed while the physiotherapy building, main stores and the pharmacy bungalow would all be rehabilitated.

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The Director of Public Health, Ghana Health Service, Dr Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe is pushing for an extensive roll out of the Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis system (SORMAS) to keep disease outbreak in check.

The system, which was introduced in 2015 detects, investigates and controls diseases.

The system has successfully been deployed in 3 simultaneous outbreaks in Nigeria that is Lassa fever, bacterial meningitis and monkey pox.

In Ghana, SORMAS has been piloted in 36 districts in 2 regions.

Speaking at One Health Sub-Saharan Africa workshop in Kumasi, Dr Asiedu-Bekoe identified inadequate use of SORMAS is causing delays in sample results feedback.

He again observed low coverage of staff in implementing districts and regions as hampering effective use of the system.

He was optimistic the training of staff and a nationwide implementation of SORMAS will help quell pandemics.

It was organized by the Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology in collaboration with the International Programmes Office and the University of Bremen.

It is also supported by the E-Learning Centre KNUST and AI4PEP Project.

The 3-day workshop, which was both in-person and online saw participation of experts across the sub-region deliberate on public health issues.

The programme featured experts like Malaria Data Advisor at the National Malaria Eradication Programme, Samuel Oppong who discussed malaria transmission in Ghana.

The malaria discourse also had Dr Myat Su Yin of Mahidol University who is using Internet of Things for Mosquito surveillance. Prof. Dr Peter Haddaway of the same University also discussed mapping of dengue vector breeding sites from street view images.

Prof. Ebenezer Bonyah of Akenten Appiah-Menka University also spoke about the social perspective of malaria.

Emerging technologies like Artificial intelligence use in healthcare was also discussed.

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As Ghana grapples with harsh weather conditions characterized by dryness, dust, and elevated temperatures, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has issued a set of recommendations to mitigate the adverse health effects associated with the prevailing weather patterns.

The Environmental Protection Agency has reported a high Air Quality Index due to dust particles in the atmosphere, while the Ghana Meteorological Agency forecasts a continuation of hot conditions throughout March and April. 

These weather conditions increase the risk of respiratory illnesses and meningitis, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

In response to these challenges, the GHS in a press release issued February 25, 2024, outlined the following measures to minimize the health impact of the harsh weather:

1. Limit Outdoor Activities: The public, especially children and the elderly, are advised to reduce outdoor activities to minimize exposure to dust and dry air.

2. Wear Face Masks: Individuals are encouraged to wear face masks to reduce inhalation of dust particles, thereby protecting respiratory health.

3. Stay Hydrated: It is essential to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration, which can be exacerbated by the dry weather conditions.

4. Continue Medications: People with chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma, should continue taking their prescribed medications to manage their conditions effectively.

The GHS press release stressed the importance of adhering to these recommendations and urged the public to seek medical attention promptly if experiencing difficulty breathing or other symptoms associated with respiratory illness. Treatment is available for all reported conditions, including meningitis, and individuals exhibiting symptoms such as fever and neck stiffness are advised to seek immediate medical assistance.

Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, reassured the public of the organization’s commitment to identifying and responding to any potential health outbreaks during this period of challenging weather conditions and beyond.

For further information or assistance, individuals are encouraged to contact their nearest health facility.

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The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has released guidelines to help individuals in managing the current severe weather conditions prevailing in the country.

The month of February has seen exceptionally severe weather, with dryness and dust leading to a notably high Air Quality Index, according to reports from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency also reports intense heat in the forthcoming months of March and April. These unfavorable weather trends present health hazards, particularly respiratory ailments and meningitis, for the populace.

The GHS in response to this, has put out guidelines aimed at mitigating the effects of severe weather conditions on public health.

These recommendations include; restricting outdoor activities, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, advocating the use of face masks to diminish dust exposure, emphasizing the importance of staying well-hydrated by consuming ample water throughout the day, and ensuring that individuals with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma adhere to their prescribed medication regimen.

The GHS also noted that, the Northern region of the country, in particular, is confronted with a heightened risk of meningitis due to the dry and hot weather conditions prevailing there.

However, the Health Service advises individuals who experience symptoms such as fever and neck stiffness to promptly seek medical attention at the nearest health facility.

Press release below:

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The Tempane District in Ghana has faced significant challenges in healthcare delivery due to infrastructure deficits, according to Eugene Osei Yeboah, the District Director of the Ghana Health Service.

In an interview, Mr. Yeboah revealed that over the past years, the district has struggled with inadequate infrastructure, leading to difficulties in accessing healthcare facilities.

As a result, many pregnant women have been forced to deliver at home due to the lack of nearby health facilities.

However, Mr. Yeboah highlighted that with support from partners, there has been some improvement in addressing the infrastructure challenges.

Despite this progress, he emphasized that more support is needed to fully address the remaining challenges.

During the end-of-year review at Tempane, Mr. Yeboah reiterated the need for continued assistance from partners, noting that some Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds are still operating under inadequate conditions, with some even functioning under trees.

Additionally, Mr. Yeboah expressed concerns about low vaccination rates in the area, emphasizing the importance of addressing this issue to ensure the health and well-being of the community.

The disclosure of these infrastructure challenges underscores the ongoing efforts needed to strengthen healthcare delivery in the Tempane District and the critical role of partnerships in addressing these issues effectively.

The Medical Director of Tema General Hospital, Dr. Richard Anthony, has expressed deep concern over the frequency of individuals arriving at the hospital already deceased.

He said a total of 1,079 individuals, comprising 621 males and 458 females, were brought to Tema General Hospital dead on arrival in 2023.

During the annual performance review of the Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate, Dr. Anthony underscored the urgency of addressing this issue, given its escalating nature.

He emphasized the troubling nature of this trend, noting a significant rise from the previous year’s figure of 882 in 2022. Additionally, he highlighted that a majority of these cases involved individuals from the working class.

“We recorded a worrying trend of several people being brought in dead on arrival; it is alarming,” he stressed.

Dr Anthony said the hospital was looking into the possible causes of the trends and advised the public to promptly report any health issues to the nearest health institutions.

He added that sick people who might develop some complications after discharge from admission should also immediately return to the hospital instead of staying at home in the hope that their health would improve.

Statistics from the hospital available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) indicate that the top 10 certified causes of death conditions in 2023 were cerebrovascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, hypertensive complications, and diabetic complications.

The others were liver diseases, acute respiratory distress, severe sepsis, pneumonia, kidney diseases, and hypovolaemic shock.

Director of Asante Akyem North Health Directorate, Roland Mai has applauded the Asante Akyem North Municipal Health Directorate for its achievement of zero maternal deaths in 2023.

Speaking to Adom News, Mr. Mai said although previous challenges in recording maternal deaths, the Municipality managers successfully prohibited any such cases in 2023 through additional measures.

According to him, maternal mortality was pervasive in the district, thus the current progress is an important achievement.

He commended the midwives and all health workers for their contributions.

He used the opportunity to appeal to all stakeholders in the district to assist health workers to improve health status of the municipality.

Meanwhile, the District Coordinating Maternal Health Officer, Emma Serwaah Osei Job also spoke to Adom news urged every pregnant woman to go for a regular check.

The Ghana Society of Cardiology has indicated an increasing prevalence of stroke among young individuals.

To address this concern, the Society is intensifying efforts to raise public awareness regarding the dangers associated with unhealthy habits and the significance of consistent exercise.

During the Annual General Scientific Meeting held in Accra on February 22, 2024, Vice President of the Ghana Society of Cardiology, Dr. Francis Agyekum said cardiovascular diseases frequently go undetected as they are not typically accompanied by noticeable symptoms.

“Formerly, we used to say that atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases were the disease of the rich country but now we are seeing a number of them. You can attest to the fact that you are hearing a lot of stroke cases. If you go outside, they are more elderly but in Ghana, we are seeing more of the people in the productive age group.

“Our patients are younger if you compare that to the United States or the UK. My youngest patient that came with a heart attack was 27 years old,” he said.

Dr. Agyekum attributed the surge in cardiovascular diseases to lifestyle shifts, particularly in dietary preferences.

He said increasing number of people are opting for processed and fast foods while reducing their intake of fruits and vegetables, consequently contributing to the escalation of cardiovascular diseases.

“People are now eating more energy-dense meals, fast foods, cholesterol, excessive salt intake. People are eating less of fruits and vegetables. People are not exercising. In fact there are people who wake up from their bed, sit in their cars, go to work and then come back sit behind the television and sleep,” he said.

The Minority in Parliament is accusing government of engaging in deceptive assurances after the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital’s Nephrology Department reported serious challenges with dialysis equipment.

It currently has only one operational dialysis machine, compelling the unit to refer individuals in need of services to private facilities.

Finance Minister, Mohammed Amin Adam assured that the challenges facing KATH would be addressed.

“Because of the concern by our president, the directive for us to find money and address these outstanding infrastructure issues.

“You have seen us moving very quickly and this visit by me demonstrates the commitment to addressing these challenges so we can bring relief to the people of Kumasi, Ashanti region.

“And I know that lots of cases are referred to Komfo Anokye from other regions of the country,” he said.

However, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee in parliament, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh says government has a problem of misplaced priorities.

“I don’t understand why government cannot purchase dialysis machines for hospitals. And we are interested in Agenda 111, wasting a lot of money.

“And if you listen to the kind of things we are using our resources, you ask yourself, do we have our priorities right?” he quizzed.

According to him, funds for the Agenda 111 project could have been used to retool many hospitals.

For him, government has demonstrated no commitment to solving the problem.

“And when you get officials to come and speak to the issue, they either lie to you, or they give you hopeless hope.

“You’ll recall that the Minister was briefing the Parliament of Ghana on the floor that House indicated that the President has instructed him to look at means of including dialysis in the National Health Insurance Scheme.”

“Have you ever gotten ready to do anything about it? They are not ready to do anything about it and it hurts.”

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US daytime talk show legend Wendy Williams Hunter was diagnosed last year with primary progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), her care team has revealed.

The team said it was sharing the news “to correct inaccurate and hurtful rumours about her health”.

Ms Williams, 59, hosted the popular, nationally syndicated Wendy Williams Show for over a decade.

But it ended in 2022 amid the health struggles she has been facing.

The news of her diagnosis comes a day after a People Magazine cover story, in which relatives said Ms Williams is at a care facility in an unknown location and has been in a shocking health “spiral”.

“As Wendy’s fans are aware, in the past she has been open with the public about her medical struggles with Graves’ Disease and Lymphedema as well as other significant challenges related to her health,” her care team wrote in a statement on Thursday.

“Over the past few years, questions have been raised at times about Wendy’s ability to process information and many have speculated about Wendy’s condition, particularly when she began to lose words, act erratically at times, and have difficulty understanding financial transactions.”

The team added Ms Williams’ diagnosis was confirmed by “a battery of medical tests” last year.

Aphasia is a nervous system syndrome that affects the ability to communicate, with patients often struggling to express thoughts and even losing their ability to speak or write.

FTD is an incurable brain disorder caused by damage to the left side of the brain that affects language and communication abilities. Its symptoms, which get worse over time, can be managed but there is no treatment that can slow or prevent their progression, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say.

The rare disease tends to strike people at a younger age than other forms of dementia, with most diagnosed between the ages of 45 and 64 years old.

Ms Williams’ progression mirrors that of Hollywood icon Bruce Willis who was diagnosed in 2022 with aphasia and then FTD last year.

In its statement, the New Jersey native’s care team said FTD has “already presented significant hurdles” but Ms Williams “is still able to do many things for herself”.

“Most importantly she maintains her trademark sense of humour and is receiving the care she requires to make sure she is protected and that her needs are addressed,” they wrote.

The talk show host, who turns 60 in July, began her career in radio as a DJ and shock jock in New York.

But she made a name for herself as the host of The Wendy Williams Show from 2008 to 2021. Ms Williams’ hosting style, candid remarks and on-air spats live on as viral moments on the Internet.

Concerns over Ms Williams’ health have swirled for years.

In 2017, she fainted in the middle of a Halloween episode.

A series of guest hosts had to step in for Ms Williams while she was out on medical leave to address Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder, back in 2021.

Producers cancelled the show the next year. Ms Williams was placed under a financial guardianship a few months later, after the Wells Fargo bank argued she was “incapacitated”.

The Lifetime network – which has previously aired a documentary titled Wendy Williams: What a Mess – is set to release another two-part documentary called Where is Wendy Williams? this weekend.

The decision to go public was made to advocate for compassion toward their client and to raise awareness for others with the condition, her care team said.

Not all physicians recognise the condition, so FTD patients are often misdiagnosed or not diagnosed at all, according to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration.

Stigma and misunderstanding may also result from a patient’s behavioural changes.

What you need to know:

• Joe Mudukiza, 28, was diagnosed with sickle cell at the age of two. It is only until last year that the disease completely knocked him off.
• He now wants to be medically assisted to die, but everyone around him is against his decision. Only one step is remaining for him to travel to Belgium for the procedure

“For five months, my mind has been clouded by thoughts of my death. I have tried wearing a mask of strength that everyone around me is familiar with, but pain has been peeling off that mask.

This is the first time, in 26 years, that I choose to show the world my vulnerability. I have made a resolve to find peace, if there will be, in the afterworld. While the decision

I am making is strange to my people, my culture and my country’s laws; would I rather live with pain so unbearable that it pricks every cell in my body?

Ever since I was diagnosed with sickle cell disease more than two decades ago, I have known pain as a constant visitor that shows up uninvited to disrupt my life. Despite getting accustomed to this fact, I didn’t know that its pangs increase with age. Since April last year, my life has taken a complete turn-around and even the pain that is not strange to me shocks me every day. 

I have tried all there could be to suppress its sting, but I am now holding on to the last string. The internet has provided me with my last option — euthanasia, what other people call mercy killing. I included this option in my bucket list when I had one of the worst pain episodes. At the time, I was living with my cousin in Kasarani.

I remember being surrounded by nurses who were trying to find my veins in vain, yet the pain intensified every minute. This lasted for six hours, and when I went home after that, I started researching on euthanasia. I have watched countless YouTube videos of people who chose to be assisted to die. I have read every material there could be on the internet about mercy killing. I now know some of the laws by rote.

While Kenya does not have this option, I reached out to the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity in Belgium. They responded positively and I have started the process, only that no one around me supports this move. I am on my own. 

All my Kenyan doctors, who are supposed to sign one of the documents needed before the medical procedure is done in Belgium, have refused to be part of this mission to my grave. They told me that they are in the profession to preserve life, and not to end it.

I told the Belgian physicians about this development and they said that I can still get my desire without their signature. I just have to confirm, beyond reasonable doubt, that I am mentally fit and it is my last solution.

My mother learnt of my decision five days after I put up a Facebook post detailing my intention. She was steeped in disappointment. She sent a message, reminding me that she is the only parent that I have. She reminded me to go to her when I felt heavy-laden.

I, however, feel that my yoke is too heavy for her. I am not sure if I will go to see her as she wishes. She has told me that she is the only one who should make a decision on my travel to Belgium and I shouldn’t do it without her approval.

She knows that I am the strongest person living with sickle cell, and she still can’t imagine that I can make such a decision.

But, sometimes, even the strongest soldiers know when to retreat. When I asked her if she would like to be interviewed, she declined.

Growing up, I had a timetable for medicine and no one cared to explain to me why this was part of my life. I incessantly asked my mother why, out of my five siblings, I was the only one who had a carved in stone routine that felt a bit desolate. Her rejoinder, all the time, was that I was a special child. I felt special, when that lasted, until the day that I learnt that there was more to just being a special child.

The expiry date for my mother’s white lie was when I joined high school. That was the time I outgrew her comfortable wings and joined boarding school for the first time. It is then that she told me that I had sickle cell disease.

Life in my first boarding school punched my already frail self and knocked me down. I could not stick to my drug’s routine as I did in the previous years. I became puny and had to change schools. I moved to another boarding school near my village. 

It is in my new school that I was engrossed in reading about my condition. While I was a full-time student, being in school felt part-time in every sense of it. My pain doubled and I had to be out of school most of the time. In the unfortunate event — which happened countless times, that I got into a crisis while in school, my fellow students would move away from me.

Most of them did not know about sickle cell, so my life became like soft wax; the students stretched and twisted their idea of my sickness to their liking. They called me a devil worshipper and accused me of being part of a cult. When I first got wind of my new ‘titles’, I would cry, but I later got used to it and cared less about what people thought and said about me. 

Regardless of the many times that I was out of school, I still made it to university and studied English and Literature. While I always wanted to be a journalist, my dad wanted me to be a teacher. I went ahead and also did a course in Film and Media.

I enjoy teaching, but I quit because of my condition. I chose to stick to my other passion; drama, but that too is impossible now. My highlight for my career was in 2019 when I wrote a play about my life and that of other sickle cell patients. It was staged by students of Kapsabet Boys High School and that made me swell with pride. 

I am a dad. Long before my sickness became the crippling shadow that it is now, I was energetic and loved community work. This is because when I was growing up, I was isolated from society. I could not do things that other people would ordinarily do. While doing my service to the people, I met children who I thought needed my help.

So I ended up legally adopting five children. I also have one biological child. My children know about my condition and they have in so many ways helped me when I get a crisis. When they are around, I get a sense of responsibility, I feel like I have something to live for. I don’t know what they would say when they learn about my decision.

What a pain crisis feels like

Living with sickle cell is strange; you wake up tired and retire to bed the same way even when you have done nothing. When I get a crisis, it feels like someone is ripping off my skin and then inserts broken glasses into my veins.

When this happens, I can’t speak. When I try to talk, every word that comes from my mouth feels as though I am chewing razor blades and swallowing them. Every word spoken is equivalent to swallowing a hundred razor blades. When in pain, I just sit and watch, or sleep. When pain seeps into my bones, I lose my ability to think straight. It interrupts my thought process.

I am unproductive, in pain, and my unproductivity keeps graduating to levels higher than before. The only time that I feel better is when I am on opioids. They numb me. But, for how long? I can’t be on opioids all the time despite it being a prescription drug. When I take it, I get into a trance. I find myself ensnared in a feeling of fleeting relaxation, albeit temporarily. Unlike most people who take opioids in a day, I take a dose of an opioid after every six hours.

Now I can’t leave the house alone. I always have to walk with someone. My caregiver, a 20-year-old who is volunteering to take care of me because of his passion for medicine, has been by my side since last year. This phase reminds me of my dad’s death.

He died of cancer. He was the strongest person that I knew since I was a child. Cancer took that from him. I saw him cry like a baby. I saw him depend on my mother for literally everything. He lost his memory and mum had to start making decisions on his behalf. I don’t want to get to that point.

My children see me as their source of strength. Many times when I am in pain, I see their faces painted in dull colours of pity. I don’t like that. I want to die honourably. My condition keeps deteriorating. In the last 10 months, my peripheral veins have been poked so many times that they can’t be accessed anymore.

My doctors have told me that I should get a minor surgery called the central venous catheters. Should I get this, I need to be admitted to hospital for some time because I need to be trained how to use it since it is prone to infection. Because of my hip bone that cannot support the lower part of the body, the doctors have also recommended that I should get a vascular necrosis surgery.

This surgery will help in restoring the flow of blood and oxygen to my hip joints. I have no resources to pay for any of these surgeries. One time I volunteered to be part of a clinical trial that would potentially help sickle cell patients here in the country, but I didn’t make the cut for candidature.

I have heard that there are options for new forms of treatment like CRISPR, CAS/9 gene editing, but it is out of reach for myself and many Africans living with the disease.

When I was strong enough, I was also part of a team that pushed for a petition in Parliament seeking to subsidise the medical cost of sickle cell and that all level five hospitals to have an emergency section for sickle cell patients. Through the help of the current government spokesperson, we registered an organisation that had people living with sickle cell disease. This has since stalled. Where do we get our hope now? I have no doubt had enough. 

Please, just allow me to die!”

Lawyer’s Perspective

The World Medical Association defines euthanasia as the act of deliberately ending the life of a patient. But even at the patient’s own request or at the request of close relatives, it is unethical.

Dennis Nkarichia, who specialises in medical law, explains that there are different forms of euthanasia including; passive euthanasia and withdrawal of treatment.

“With passive euthanasia, a physician can assist someone with a terminal illness to end their life, for instance by prescribing a drug to you, knowing that it will end your life, but they don’t take an active step,” he explains.

He says that in Kenya, it can be termed as death tourism. This is because we don’t have this option in our laws so people who have ever done it travel abroad to die.  At the moment, there is no African country that allows euthanasia.

“You just need to see a doctor who will assess your mental health. It is a criminal offence to kill someone, the only loophole is that if the doctor assesses you and finds your mental function is okay, then you can go ahead and be assisted to die in another country,” he says.

Withdrawal of treatment is just as is, only that one needs to be careful.

“There is a very clear ethical boundary under legal distinction between one being charged for murder or manslaughter and that of euthanasia,” he adds.

He says that since the Constitution grants everyone rights at a personal level, and at a community level, people can make decisions on euthanasia by themselves.  “As a person, you have autonomy over your medical status and condition. The state will only intervene when you attempt suicide. As it stands, there is no legal documentation between countries on medical tourism,” he explains.

He says that once a person goes to the country where mercy killing is offered, whatever happens to that body is dependent on the agreement the hospital had with the patient. “Some people are cremated, and others leave their bodies to be used for organ donation,” he says.

He is afraid that the Kenyan laws on euthanasia are not likely to evolve soon. If they do, then it will be from a private person driven capacity and not from a legislative capacity. “It is an emotive issue. If I were in such a position as a private person, I would go through the High Court to get a declaration that can help one to terminate their life if there are no options,” he says.

About sickle cell disease

Sickle cell disease is prevalent mostly on the coast and in western Kenya. Dr Sophie Uyoga, a research scientist at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, explains that in the country, the predominant option for the disease is basically management and not treatment.

“We have drugs like Hydroxyurea, for those who can afford it because there is a challenge for access. These management strategies have yielded fruit and we are seeing most patients survive,” she says.

She tells Healthy Nation that the Health ministry’s new guidelines on newborn screening will go a long way.

“Most parents don’t know that they are carriers of the condition. The sooner we get the children, the sooner we will start managing them for a better life ahead,” she explains.

Treatment options for the disease keep evolving and scientists recently came up with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology, one which Dr Uyoga explains that it works like a cut and paste function of a computer but in a laboratory.

“When someone has sickle cell, they get a change in their genetic composition. That change is what causes the red blood cells to sickle (form a crescent like shape),” she says.

“This technology allows one to edit, essentially you are able to correct the genes. You can either remove the section of the gene that has the mutation or insert back a normal gene, or you can switch back on a haemoglobin that is usually produced when one is a baby (called haemoglobin F). It is good at carrying oxygen around the body,” she explains.

She, however, says the drug is quite costly (about USD 2 million), and accessing it can be a hurdle. This is the second year since the first patients were put on it.

“Results from the initial clinical trials show that the drug prevents sickle cell patients from getting a crisis, which is like the main thing that affects people living with sickle cell,” she says.

“There has to be more follow-up to see if there are any effects. The problem with gene editing is that one may end up editing other sections of the DNA that are not what you are aiming for. So you can imagine the impact of that. We still don’t have knowledge on that,” she adds.

She says there’s hope that one day the drug will reach us, but not as soon as most patients may want it.

“As scientists working with sickle cell patients, we would want our patients to live now and live a fruitful life,” she says.

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hshikanda@ke.nationmedia.com

The scheme has over the years served as a good intervention.

However, there have been instances where NHIS subscribers purchase medicines that should be covered under the scheme.

Complaints about the quality of services provided under the NHIS include underfunding, compelling facilities to charge extra medical fees ordinarily covered by the scheme.

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, confirmed over 61% increase in NHIS registration since 2017.

But, do these numbers mean anything at all, especially, with the quality of services provided in various hospitals across the country?

Outside of the imposing gates of the Accident and Emergency Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, and the waiting room of the KNUST Hospital, a restless crowd gather with their faces imprinted with worry and desperation.

These are not just visitors earnestly waiting for good news concerning their sick relatives, but patients and family members perturbed with medical bills they cannot foot.

Gifty Boakye almost shed a tear, talking about her sick mother.

She has spent days at the hospital, banking hopes on the National Health Insurance Scheme, which she describes as ‘stale’.  

“The health insurance scheme has become stale. Now if you don’t have enough money, you won’t receive quality health care.  Why should we suffer like this?” she quizzed.

There have been several complaints about the quality of NHIS service provided by some health facilities across the Ashanti region.

Some individuals are reporting long delays in receiving treatment due to not having a health insurance card.

They disclose instances of lack of essential medications due to inadequate coverage of expenses.

These required subscribers to purchase medicines that they expected should be covered under the scheme.

“This small illness. Look at the number of drugs they have prescribed for me. The health insurance is not working. Why will we be buying all sorts of drugs if it’s working?” a subscriber said.

“They took 20 cedis before giving me a bed in the ward here in Kumasi South Hospital. And this was without receipt. I don’t even know what the scheme covered,” said another subscriber.

“I brought my mother but we have paid a bribe of 100 cedis before getting a bed. And I could see people in wheelchairs receiving treatment in their chairs. The health insurance is not working here. I have bought all sorts of drugs for about 2,000 cedis,” Kwame Dawu said.

For these aggrieved individuals, the struggling health insurance scheme is not just a health administrative obstacle, but a point of evidence of poor health systems and the inflicting realities of the poor.

This is Samuel Tei Wayo.

“The ones I have been given for free are not expensive, but the expensive ones are the ones we have to buy. The waiting period for health insurance to take effect is long and unnecessary” he said.

According to the 2023 medicine list of the national health insurance, appraised by a specialist group, the currently reviewed Medicines List contains a total of Five Hundred and Forty-eight (548) formulations.

Childhood immunizations, tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS and mental health care are exempted from the scheme.

The document disclosed that executive management of the NHIA has directed and approved a 20% increase in prices of medicines as a stop-gap measure to mitigate the recent increases in prices of medicines on the open market. 

A health official who pleaded anonymity, explains the hospitals are compelled to top up prices of drugs and medical consumables due to price disparities in the open market price and the bench price covered by the NHIS.

The situation seemingly grants profit-seeking hospitals a chance to charge patients more than required as top-ups.

“Let’s say Paracetamol Tablet, 500 mg is supplied to the hospital at Ghc1, but the scheme pays hospitals Ghc0.50p, it means hospitals will make up for the extra by writing it as cost for patients to bear. Even the government-supplied medicines at the Central Medical stores, have disparities in pricing,” said the health worker.

He further disclosed underfunding of several hospitals and bureaucratic hurdles of NHIS medicine administering guidelines are engulfing several facilities.

“The insurance money doesn’t come, so it is the top-ups that hospitals use to be able to constantly stock their pharmacies. Premium drugs are high-quality drugs yet expensive. The authority rejects treatment costs that are against their treatment coverage guidelines, and the costs are borne by hospitals.

“Health institutions are just sticklers of NHIA rules. If the scheme allocates a specific treatment cost to a patient, and there is an emergency where extra treatment is required, the hospital supper to bear it,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Ashanti Regional Health Insurance Office have proven unsuccessful, but health officials are proposing an increase in premium drugs covered by the NHIS.

“Premium drugs are drugs of high quality but are expensive. Sometimes patients need those drugs but we have to give them ‘NHIS-covered ones’ which are not so high grade, because it’s free and the hospital doesn’t want to incur losses. I’d appeal to the scheme to increase its quota for such drugs,” he said.  

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Renowned Ghanaian medical centre, Spintex Medical Center, heralds a new era in healthcare with the launch of its cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) treatment system.

This groundbreaking system is designed to revolutionize stroke rehabilitation, pain management, palliative care, and stress relief.

Harnessing the power of Virtual Reality technology, the Spintex Medical Center aims to redefine patient care by providing immersive, realistic, and three-dimensional experiences. Through the use of motion-sensing VR headsets, patients are transported to novel and emotionally enriching environments, offering a refreshing departure from traditional treatment methods.

Dr. William S.K Anarfi, CEO of Spintex Medical Center, emphasized the transformative potential of VR therapy, stating, “Our VR devices provide patients with a unique opportunity to escape the confines of their hospital room and embark on a journey of healing and relaxation.”

As the first hospital in Africa to introduce state-of-the-art virtual reality systems, Spintex Medical Center leads the way in utilizing cutting-edge technology to enhance patient care.

The immersive experiences offered by VR therapy have been shown to accelerate healing, alleviate pain, and promote overall well-being. Doctors at the Spintex Medical Center have observed remarkable results from patients undergoing VR therapy.

Moments of cognitive and physiologic immersion signify the profound impact of VR on patients’ well-being, with many experiencing significant reductions in pain and stress.

Patient testimonials further underscore the transformative effects of VR therapy, with individuals reporting relief from acute pain and stress after just a short session. By providing a therapeutic escape from the challenges of illness and hospitalization, VR therapy offers a ray of hope and healing for patients at Spintex Medical Center.

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More than 100 female residents of Tefle, a community in the Volta Region, have been screened for syphilis and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Organized by the EdithCare Foundation, the event, held on Saturday, February 17, 2024, was in response to the dominant health concern of STIs in Tefle.

A significant number of women and girls showed up, all eager to prioritize their health, participated in this comprehensive exercise, aimed at detecting and addressing various sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Additionally, participants received counseling sessions to address any concerns or questions regarding sexual health and well-being.

EdithCare Foundation, known for its dedication to sexual and reproductive health, also provided screening for Hepatitis B. P

President of the EdithCare Foundation, Helena Hutchful, emphasized the importance of proactive healthcare measures, especially STIs.

She stated, “EdithCare Foundation is committed to the well-being of young people and women. We aim to create a society where individuals can freely express themselves and receive necessary education on personal and menstrual hygiene, as well as sexual and reproductive health.”

The initiative received praise from residents and community leaders, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to access essential healthcare services.

Assembly member of the area, Benjamin Amekudzi expressed appreciation on behalf of the community.

“The people of Tefle are grateful for the tests conducted, and we hope to receive more in the future” he added.

The event ended with a distribution of sanitary pads, toilet rolls, drinks and others items to members of the community.

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The Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah, has disclosed that over 200 nurses and other health professionals left the hospital in 2023.

The CEO lamented that, the departure of the health workers is negatively affecting the smooth operations of the facility.

During an interaction with Finance Minister, Mohammed Amin Adam and his team during a tour of the facility, Professor Addai-Mensah appealed to the government to allow authorities to replace the departed staff to enhance service delivery.

“In the past year, we have had over 200 nurses leave Komfo Anokye. Every day, I have had to approve three to five applications for either leave of absence or resignation, mostly nurses, radiographers, and medical laboratory scientists, and so we are praying that we should be given the opportunity to replace these people who are leaving so that we can continue with the care that we are supposed to be giving to our patients.”

The hospital also grapples with an acute equipment deficit, for which Professor Otchere Addai-Mensah urged the government to make commitments toward retooling the various departments.

“One of the major things we are facing is the retooling of the hospital. We are aware of the difficulties that the government has had with respect to COVID-19 and others, but we believe that it is also possible for some help to be extended [to us] as far as retooling is concerned, especially given the fact that we are serving twelve regions.”

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Following its establishment in 2003, the National Health Insurance Scheme was intended to provide equitable access and financial coverage for basic health care services to all Ghanaians.

But more than two decades after its establishment, the scheme appears to be struggling.

At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which is the nation’s biggest referral health centre, patients from far and near come to receive medical care.

However, quality healthcare here comes at a cost, even with a valid National Health Insurance card.

Cecilia Borden is a mother whose son was knocked down by a car in the central region where they reside.

He was rushed to the Effia Nkwanta Hospital in the Western Region, but the son had to be quickly transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital owing to the severity of his injuries.

Cecilia shares how she has had to pay more money than she thought she would, after being told that the Health Insurance does not cover most of the medication needed for her son’s treatment.

In one of the corridors of the Hospital is a pensioner and former staff of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

His old age and deteriorating health mean he frequents the hospital for medications and health advice.

But he is worried his National Health Insurance card does not cover the cost of most of his medications.

He often has to postpone his doctor’s appointment even at the risk of complications if his pension fund does not hit his account early. Without it, he wouldn’t have the cash to cover his medication costs at the hospital.

In 2022, the National Health Insurance Authority added treatment of four childhood cancers to the National Health Insurance Scheme’s Benefit Package but several concerns continue to emerge about the effectiveness of the Scheme and why it no longer covers the costs of some of the most basic diseases.

Just like Cecilia, Belinda Quaye is also a mother who brought her sick daughter to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for treatment.

But her heart sank when she learned that most of the medicines the doctor prescribed for her daughter weren’t covered by the Health Insurance Scheme.

In the various parts of the hospital, patients continue to feel the pinch as they’re asked to pay either extra for services at hospitals or the scheme does not cover some basic services they expected it should cover.

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In a significant step towards modernising healthcare delivery in Ghana, the country’s first Virtual Reality treatment machine has gone into service.

This cutting-edge device is poised to alleviate stress and pain for patients, marking a notable advancement in medical technology within the country.

JoyNews Health desk witnessed the first sessions for patients at the Spintex Medical Centre and filed the following report.

Young adolescents across the country would get the opportunity to interact one-on-one with the 2023 Miss Malaika Ghana, Queen Lady Nana Yaa Nsarko.

Ms Nsarko is set to roll out her HIV/AIDS prevention awareness project by taking the campaign to their doorsteps.

The project dubbed, “Live On Campaign with Miss Malaika Ghana 2023” will target in-school and out-of-school young adolescents.

The target group will see the crowned Beauty Queen socialize with young adolescents using that opportunity to educate them on HIV/AIDS prevention.

She would also encourage young adolescents to avail themselves for counseling and testing services.

Queen Lady Nsarko who is an Ambassador of the Ghana AIDS Commission, together with her team from Miss Malaika Ghana and other HIV/AIDS experts from NACP would embark on this HIV/AIDS prevention campaign across various communities in the country, especially, the red flag zones where the HIV virus is prevalent.

She would take the campaign to schools, churches, mosques, markets, shopping malls, taxi ranks, lorry stations, bus terminals, and other public places where head porters popularly called Kayayeis are.

The Beauty Queen has since her unveiling as HIV/AIDS prevention Ambassador, been under training at the National AIDS/STI Control Programme, preparing assiduously for this project which aims among other things to sustain the gains made in the fight against the HIV/AIDS and to help to reduce further, the number of new cases.

She told journalists moments after the media launch of ART@20 on Friday, February 16, 2024, that “I can’t wait to see the start of this project to enable me to share the knowledge I have acquired with my peers out there. I am so excited to serve my country, Ghana, on a bigger platform that has been provided to me by the kind courtesy of the Ghana AIDS Commission which has truly made a remarkable achievement in the fight against HIV/AIDS”.

The Minister-designate for Health and outgoing Chief Executive of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye is set to launch a book detailing Ghana’s battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a recent visit to the new Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Oppong-Peprah, Dr. Boye reminisced about the crucial role played by the army in combating the pandemic.

He recounted nights filled with challenges, including flying logistics to the Northern region where he personally accompanied military personnel to distribute supplies.

Reflecting on his experiences as a member of the COVID-19 task force, Dr. Boye expressed gratitude for the frontline workers’ dedication and courage.

He revealed that, a book documenting Ghana’s experiences during the two to three-year period of the pandemic is now completed and ready for publication.

“As a member of the COVID-19 task force, I remember the key role that was played by the army. In fact, I remember those dark nights when logistics had to be flown to the north. I remember coming to the Air Force base to fly with your men to go and distribute some of the items. They were frontline workers taking the risk and confronting the virus, and because I was part of the whole battle, by the grace of God, I went through some challenging assignments to put together all our experiences as a country during the two to three years that the virus roamed within our borders. Finally, a book is ready.”

For his part, Lt. Gen. Oppong-Peprah underscored the need for Ghana to be ready for future pandemics, proposing the establishment of a biomedical unit within the Armed Forces.

He stressed the military’s role in promptly responding to outbreaks to avoid being caught unprepared, and expressed his intent to pursue this initiative during his tenure as Chief of Defence Staff.

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A senior lecturer at the Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr Isaac Okyere, is cautioning tertiary students against entering early relationships.

He said the heart is an emotional organ that weakens with stress and increases the risk of hypertension.

Dr. Okyere was speaking in a monthly podcast by the E-Learning Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology on the theme “Heart Health; The Heart of Man and Total Wellbeing.”

This early emotional engagement often leads to heartbreaks which puts emotional and psychological stress on students making them suffer academically.

“There is much life ahead of you. If you have the so-called “broken heart syndrome”, you are putting stress on the heart. One can go through and have psychiatric issues while another may not feel anything. Guard your heart with all diligence. Be careful with your relationship here on campus. There is so much stress awaiting you outside campus in terms of work, and marriage among others,” he advised.

The students were advised against an activity like September rush, where continuing students woo female freshers into relationships

Other students reportedly live as couples on campus.

Research from the National Library of Medicine in 2021, reveals among Ghanaian students currently in second-cycle educational institutions, 19.91% were hypertensive and 26.07% were prehypertensive.

This may indicate a probable high prevalence of hypertension in the future adult population if measures are not taken to curb the associated risks.

Dr Isaac Okyere charged the youth to manage their diet, monitor glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, and limit the consumption of alcohol and smoking.

More than 50 per cent of expectant and new mothers experience perinatal depression, a situational analysis of mental health disorders related to pregnancy has shown.

Among the number, between 13 and 17 per cent develop suicidal intentions.

The analysis was conducted by the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UK-Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO), the Mental Health Authority, academia, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) among other partners.

The report on maternal mental health was disseminated among key stakeholders in Accra last Tuesday.

Maternal mental health refers to the mental well-being of women during pregnancy,  childbirth and the postpartum period and includes depression,  anxiety,  post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis.

The exercise was to review literature, existing policies and the state of maternal mental healthcare to identify gaps, strengths and make recommendations that would improve mental health and mental healthcare delivery during and after pregnancy.  

Stakeholders at the dissemination workshop included the WHO, the Ghana Medical Association, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, the Mental Health Authority, academia, scientists among others.

Gaps 

Throwing more light on the report, a consultant to the WHO, Dr Promise Sefogah, said even though sufficient evidence existed on the adverse impact of maternal mental health disorders on mothers and infants, coupled with the high prevalence in the country, there was little provision in the healthcare system for its screening, early detection and effective management.

He also mentioned the findings to include inadequate training of healthcare workers on maternal mental health and lack of knowledge on diagnostics, management and referral pathways.

He said the report, therefore, called for an integration of maternal mental health interventions within the health system along the entire value chain at all levels of care delivery and a national policy in that regard.

He also mentioned other recommendations to include high-level advocacy in Parliament, increased government investment in the sector and the inclusion of maternal mental health in the National Health Insurance policy to make it accessible and affordable for all. 

The outgoing Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, said maternal mental health issues could have significant implications for maternal and child health outcomes. 

“Untreated maternal depression and anxiety can lead to adverse birth outcomes such as low birth weight and preterm birth and may affect breastfeeding practices and infant bonding. 

“This can also lead to long-term consequences for emotional, cognitive and behavioural development of children,” he said.

“To address these challenges holistically and globally, WHO member states adopted and committed to meeting global targets of the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013–2030 for improved mental health services to the people,” he explained. 

Mr Agyeman-Manu said through the review, the government had made several efforts to ensure the provision of high-quality mental health services to the population.

He said strengthening the mental health system and ensuring that women had access to the support and care they needed during pregnancy and the postpartum period was a collective effort that required all levels of society to provide high-quality sustainable maternal mental health services. 

“I wish to assure you that the Ministry of Health will provide the necessary leadership and direction to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations in this report,” he said.  

WHO

In a speech read on his behalf, the Country Representative of WHO, Professor Francis Kasolo, said over the past decade, maternal health indices had been the priority of the global community with a focus on maternal mortality to the neglect of other conditions that affect the wellbeing of the mother, particularly her mental health.  

Globally, evidence suggests that the prevalence of postpartum depression, anxiety and stress is relatively very high.

“The dissemination of the status report today is the first step in translating policy into action and I want to congratulate the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service, the Mental Health Authority, academia and civil society organisations on your commitment in conducting this assessment. 

“The WHO and partners would continue to work with the Ministry of Health and its agencies to ensure that identified strengths and opportunities such as the Network of Practice (NoP) approach are leveraged in developing specific interventions that promote the integration of maternal mental health services into routine perinatal care across various levels of service delivery,” he said. 

He said that would ensure improvement in the well-being of pregnant and postpartum women generally, as well as focused intervention targeting those with vulnerabilities such as adolescent girls, women with disabilities and those who have suffered foetal loss. 

Neglect 

In a speech read on his behalf, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, said it was an undeniable fact that the bid to significantly reduce preventable maternal and newborn mortality had diverted attention from the agony and personal sad stories of numerous women and families that go unnoticed even in health facilities.

He said improving the quality of maternal and newborn care as outlined in the Reproductive Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) strategic plan 2020-2025 would require considerable improvement in the individual experience of women during childbirth, with particular attention to their psychological and social wellbeing.

“It is worth noting that in childbirth in its entirety, the related vulnerabilities place a mental health burden on women, if not supported.

The situational analysis has provided significant insights into the structure gaps in our healthcare setting, the extent of the human resource challenges in mental health and the highly stigmatising environment we live, in our communities.

“Nevertheless, these are the opportunities to craft pathways for more humane and enabling care through promoting family involvement and support during childbirth, which has traditionally characterised our society. 

“Improving access to maternal mental health services in a congenial atmosphere, supported by the right skills mix and equitable distribution of healthcare workers with the capacity to deliver comprehensive and integrated maternal mental health services at all levels of care, needs to be prioritised,” he said.

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Marieme and Ndeye were not expected to survive for more than a few days when they were born.

Now aged seven, they are thought to be the only growing conjoined twins in Europe.

While both girls have their own unique personalities and moods, they rely on each other to survive.

“When you are told from the beginning there is no future, you just live for the present,” said their dad, Ibrahima.

Conjoined twins are rare, representing about one in every 500,000 live births in the UK.

Around half are stillborn, with another third dying within 24 hours of birth.

So seeing Marieme and Ndeye celebrate their seventh birthday with a classful of friends doesn’t just give Ibrahima joy, but also to the doctors who have cared for them.

Marieme and Ndeye share one pair of legs and one pelvis but each has a spinal cord and a heart.

They have round-the-clock care but go to a mainstream school in south Wales with their friends.

“They are fighters and proving everyone wrong,” said Ibrahima.

“My daughters are very different. Marieme is very quiet, an introverted personality, but it’s completely different with Ndeye, she’s very independent.

“I would not pretend it’s easy but it’s a huge privilege. You feel lucky to witness this constant battle for life.”

When the twins were born in Senegal in 2016, their parents had been expecting one baby. Doctors didn’t expect them to live much longer than a few days.

“I was preparing myself to lose them very quickly,” Ibrahima told the BBC’s Inseparable Sisters documentary.

“The only thing we could do is be beside them and not allow them to walk alone through this journey. We saw very clearly early on that we were dealing with warriors, who hang on to life.”

Their best chance of survival was believed to be separation.

After calling hospitals around the world “begging” for help, the family arrived in the UK for treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London in 2017.

Ibrahima hoped that the renowned children’s hospital, which had separated more conjoined twins than anywhere in the world, would be able to separate them and that they could go back home to their brothers and sisters in Dakar – but it didn’t work out that way.

Tests found that Marianne’s heart was too weak for the complex surgery.

The medical experts warned the family that, without separation, neither daughter may survive more than a few months.

But, doctors advised, separation would give Ndeye the best chance of survival.

“It was killing one of my children for another, it’s something I can’t do,” Ibrahima said at the time.

“I can’t allow myself to choose who will live and who will die now.”

As their mum returned to Africa to look after their other children, Marieme, Ndeye and Ibrahima remained in the UK for medical care and the three moved to Cardiff.

An uplifting insight into the lives of seven-year-old conjoined twins, who weren’t expected to live more than a few days.

“Not being able to go back home was very difficult because you had the rest of your family and your job back home,” said Ibrahima, who is the former managing director of a travel organisation in Senegal.

“It’s into the unknown but I didn’t think too much, I just followed my heart. It is my parental responsibility to make sure they will have somebody who will be here for them, that will be my life purpose.”

The twins need regular hospital check ups as they are at serious risk from infection and heart failure.

“At first it was a bit of a novel excitement and then a realisation that this is something I’ve only ever read about in text books,” said Dr Gillian Body, a consultant paediatrician at the University Hospital of Wales.

“They’ve got one pair of legs between them and one pelvis. Moving up through their abdomen we’ve got a lot of different organs. We don’t know exactly, but we know some bits are shared and they have some individual bits.

“They’ve two separate spinal cords with all their nerves yet somehow they completely coordinate and they don’t have to tell each other how to move an arm or how to move a leg, it just works.”

Clothing the twins is challenging.

“You have to buy two identical tops and take them to the alterations shop to join them together,” said Ibrahima.

“They have two legs, so they can have regular trousers, but their hip is very wide so you have to take that to the alternations shop too.”

The family have now integrated into their community in Cardiff and the twins are looked after night and day as carers help dad with respite support.

They are in year three at their local mainstream primary school, where the sisters are helped by two classroom support workers.

“I want them to have a normal life, play and laugh with kids and make friends and develop as individuals,” said Ibrahima.

“They don’t have to hide from anybody and being in mainstream school shows they’re part of society and they are lucky to be part of this community.”

The next challenge for Marieme and Ndeye is to try to stand and walk. They are currently managing about 20 minutes each day with the help of a standing frame.

“They have achieved things that nobody thought they would,” said Ibrahima.

“When you’re told from the beginning there is no future, you live for the present,” he added.

“I know that any time, I can receive a call to say that something bad has happened.

“How long? I don’t want to know. We’re going to make every day a surprise and celebrate life.

“It can be conflicting but you feel lucky despite whatever the difficulties you’re having. They are bringing me such joy. It is a huge blessing to be their dad.”

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The Founder and Leader of Bethel Prayer Ministry in Kumasi, Prophetess Vida Osei Mensah, has demonstrated remarkable compassion and generosity by spearheading the renovation of the MBU Annex ward at the Mother and Baby Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

In addition to this significant effort, Prophetess Mensah also made a substantial contribution of GH₵10,000 to support Asantehene’s initiative aimed at improving the hospital’s facilities.

Prophetess Mensah’s commitment to serving her community and uplifting the lives of others was evident as she personally oversaw the renovation project at KATH.

Her dedication to making a difference in the lives of patients and their families reflects her deep-rooted belief in the importance of giving back when one is blessed by God.

Expressing gratitude on behalf of the hospital management, the Director of Human Services at KATH commended Prophetess Mensah for her benevolent gesture, which has significantly enhanced the environment and facilities at the MBU Annex ward.

Patients at the ward, overwhelmed with joy, extended their heartfelt appreciation to Prophetess Mensah for her kindness and generosity.

Prophetess Vida Osei Mensah’s philanthropic efforts serve as an inspiring example of the positive impact individuals can have when they selflessly dedicate themselves to improving the lives of others.

Her actions not only contribute to the well-being of patients at KATH but also serve as a beacon of hope and compassion for the entire community.

A new National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) office has been commissioned and handed over to the regional health authorities in the Savannah Region.

The inauguration ceremony, presided over by the Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril, underscored the critical importance of the newly established facility in improving access to healthcare for residents of the region.

During his address at the ceremony, Minister Jibril spoke on the need for diligent maintenance of the new facility to ensure its effectiveness in serving the healthcare needs of the community.

He urged the management of NHIS to prioritize the upkeep of the infrastructure, adding that proper maintenance is essential for the facility to fulfill its intended purpose of providing quality healthcare services to the people of the region.

Acknowledging the support of the government, Minister Jibril expressed gratitude on behalf of the residents of the Savannah region for the various infrastructure projects that have been initiated in recent times.

He highlighted the significance of these developments in improving the overall well-being of the people and reiterated the government’s commitment to investing in healthcare infrastructure to meet the needs of the populace.

The commissioning ceremony was graced by many including CEO of NHIS and Minister designate for Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye.

Dr. Okoe-Boye handed over a brand new vehicle and introduced the Experience Stand initiative aimed at addressing complaints and issues promptly within healthcare facilities.

In his remarks, Dr. Okoe-Boye assured residents of continued support from the NHIS in improving healthcare services and reducing the prevalence of the cash and carry system.

He commended the chief of Damongo and elders for their role in encouraging residents to register with the Health Insurance scheme, emphasizing the importance of universal healthcare coverage in promoting the well-being of the community.

Chief Dauda Mahama, the Savannah Regional Director of NHIS, expressed gratitude to the leadership of NHIS for the provision of the new facility.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) is warning of the possible worsening of the conditions of HIV patients if the government fails to address the difficulty the service faces in clearing antiretroviral drugs at the port.

Programmes Manager for the National AIDs and Sexually Transmitted Diseases at the GHS, Dr Stephen Ayisi Addo said the taxes on drugs at the port are high which makes it difficult for the service to purchase them due to the limited resources.

Speaking to JoyNews on The Pulse on February 14, Dr Addo said the continued delay might affect their patients and worsen their conditions.

“There has been a significant escalation in the pricing for clearing. So what is even allocated in our budget is lower than what is required now for the clearing,” he said.

He explained that the government must understand that these drugs sustain human life and measures must be put in place to ensure that there is constant supply.

“We need to first of all agree that this is life-saving. It is preventing something. If we actually lift our foot off the pedal, what will happen is we are building a reservoir of HIV drug resistance streams because now you don’t have the medication.

“People don’t take it. The virus multiplies, and we have mutated streams. That will be more difficult to treat, and so we don’t want a second epidemic. The country must agree that it is important, and we need to prioritise it,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said the GHS is having discussions to secure a tax waiver from the Ministry of Finance to be able to secure drugs cheaply.

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The Multimedia Group has been honoured for its significant contribution to the fight against malaria in Africa.

As a key partner in the Zero Malaria Business Leaders Initiative, led by Ecobank PLC and SpeakUp Africa, the Multimedia Group was praised for playing a crucial role in efforts to reduce the malaria burden across African nations.

In 2022, malaria claimed the lives of over 608,000 people globally. Ghana recorded 151 deaths, but almost its entire population of 33 million is considered to be at considerable risk.

Collaborating with SpeakUp Africa, the National Malaria Elimination Programme, and other stakeholders, Ecobank Ghana launched the Zero Malaria Business Leadership Initiative (ZMBLI) in 2023 under the auspices of the Ministry of Health.

Since joining forces, the Multimedia Group has dedicated significant airtime to broadcasting content focused on malaria prevention, treatment, and eradication.

At a ceremony held at the Ecobank Headquarters in Lome, Togo, various individuals and organizations were recognized for their outstanding contributions to malaria elimination efforts on the continent.

Mr. Francis Fiifi Koomson, General Manager for the JOY Brands of the Multimedia Group, accepted the award on behalf of the group, reaffirming its commitment to public interest journalism and the fight against malaria.

“Our dedication to serving the public interest through journalism remains unwavering. This recognition strengthens our resolve to combat a disease that continues to claim lives,” stated Mr. Koomson.

“Our core values of leadership, integrity and community guide our work.”

Elisa Desbordes, Director of Operations at the Ecobank Foundation, stressed the importance of mobilizing funds for malaria eradication, highlighting the significant impact of the disease on businesses and communities.

“Business leaders and companies have a crucial role to play in supporting their communities and safeguarding their workforce. Malaria affects productivity and employee well-being,” Desbordes said.

“As leaders, it is our responsibility to utilize our influence to drive malaria elimination efforts and protect our communities.”

The awards ceremony followed a conference with stakeholders aimed at developing strategies to secure funding for malaria elimination projects.

The renal dialysis unit of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is warning of a possible shutdown due to the facility’s inability to raise money to purchase consumables for service delivery. 

According to the Head of the Unit, Prof. Vincent Boiman, with every dialysis section, the unit loses GH₵380 which is accumulating as debt.

Prof. Boiman says the situation is now affecting service delivery and may lead to the shutting down of the unit.

Speaking to JoyNews, he said “Each time, we dialyse one person at GH₵380, we lose another  GH₵380  because the actual cost is more than double what the patients are paying now. We are actually incurring costs which is not being paid for.”

“In terms of improving their quality of life, in terms of prolonging their treatment in the long term or giving them a chance of surviving for a long time and good treatment satisfaction. Probably, we may not be able to provide all these things because we are not charging at the rate that will help us to buy the consumables needed.

“For instance, what if this unit closes in the next one or two months because we are running out of consumables and we are dialysing at the rate that we can’t buy enough?.”

On February 9, the Director of Medical Affairs at the KBTH, Dr Owusu Sekyere, said the facility had incurred another debt of GH₵2 million for treating kidney patients.

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Health Minister designate, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has announced plans to engage healthcare workers to explore strategies to reduce the number of health professionals seeking better opportunities abroad.

In his view, building a relationship with health workers will make it very easy to solve the problems.

“Sometimes, it is not the programs you introduce but the relationships you make and keep, and having the right things in place. When you talk to people, they will know they have someone willing to listen to them and help you achieve your goals” Dr. Boye stated.

He underscored the need for collaborations, noting that it can influence the sentiments of a social group.

“If you make the stakeholders happy and understand what you are about, then you are well on your way to making a mark,” he said in an interview on Citi FM.

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For many, caffeine is considered a guilty pleasure. But there is growing evidence that our daily fix isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it might actually be doing us some good.

Caffeine has been getting a bad rap recently. Whether it’s highly caffeinated energy drinks making it difficult for kids to concentrate in class, or too many teas and coffees during the day leaving us unable to sleep at night, caffeine, in many people’s eyes, is a cause for alarm.

As such, the general advice regarding caffeine consumption increasingly seems to be to cut back on it or cut it out altogether. But it’s not as if caffeine is entirely without merit. There’s no denying it’s a psychoactive substance. Or, to put it more bluntly, caffeine is a drug (the world’s most widely consumed drug, in fact – chances are, you’re under its influence right now).

But, like many drugs, in the right dose, it has benefits. It was the clarity and energy that doses of caffeine provided (distributed via the tea and coffee houses of Europe) that helped usher in the Enlightenment and make the switch from farms to factories during the Industrial Revolution.

But dosage is the key variable. And although coffee and tea have been providing us with a tasty pick-me-up for centuries, nowadays more of us are consuming caffeine in much higher concentrations due to the boom in energy drinks and tablets.

This has prompted a rise in research into caffeine, as scientists work to better understand its effects on us and the mechanisms by which it produces them. So what are we learning from all this research? For one thing, just how differently each of us processes and reacts to caffeine.

But perhaps more importantly, it’s providing evidence that as well as perking us up in the morning, a few cups of coffee or tea each day might also help us stave off illnesses, such as diabetes and certain forms of cancer. So does caffeine really deserve its bad reputation?

The dose makes the poison

Anyone who consumes caffeine every day knows the importance of dosage: how much to take and when to take it. Get the dose right, and caffeine can lift your mood and make you more alert; overdo it and you risk anxiety, tremors and disrupted sleep.

Both the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority say that a daily caffeine intake of 400mg (about two to three mugs of filter coffee, depending on the size of the mug) won’t cause problems for healthy adults.

As for when to take caffeine – or rather, when to stop taking it in order to prevent it from affecting your sleep, that depends on how you administer it.

Researchers in Australia and the UK published a study in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews earlier this year that tried to give clear guidance on when your last ‘dose’ of caffeine should be. According to their report, you should drink your last tea or coffee 8 hours and 48 minutes before you go to bed.

Caffeine’s effects enable us to shake off our natural circadian rhythms, if we need to be awake and alert when we’d normally be asleep. – 

If, however, you use a pre-workout caffeine supplement, which typically has double the caffeine of a cup of coffee, that should be taken no later than 13 hours 12 minutes before bedtime.

The problem with giving definitive directions on how much caffeine is okay and when to stop consuming it, however, is that some of us are more sensitive to it than others.

How long it hangs around inside our bodies varies, too – caffeine has a half-life (the time required for a substance to lose half of its initial effectiveness) of 3-7 hours in adults. The reason for this is genetic. But to understand it, you first need to know what caffeine does inside your body.

Caffeine and your genes

During the day, a molecule called adenosine builds up in your brain. Adenosine binds with receptors on nerve cells, or neurons, slowing down their activity and making you feel drowsy.

But caffeine is also able to bind with these receptors, and by doing so it blocks adenosine’s effect, making your neurons fire more and keeping you alert. Caffeine also activates the pituitary gland at the base of your brain.

This releases hormones that tell the adrenal glands on your kidneys to produce adrenaline, causing your heart to beat faster and your blood pressure to rise. If, however, your daily caffeine intake is consistent, your brain will adapt to it.

“Your brain is like, ‘Okay, every morning I’m getting this caffeine that’s binding to these receptors and blocking adenosine from binding to them’. And so [your brain] creates extra receptors to give adenosine more of an opportunity to bind with them and have its usual effect,” says Prof Jennifer Temple, whose lab at University at Buffalo in New York, carries out research on the effects of caffeine.

“And more adenosine is also produced to counteract the caffeine. That’s why it takes more and more caffeine to have the same effect.”

These adaptations take place rapidly – within as little as a week. Part of the differences in how we respond to caffeine is down to the extent to which each of our bodies have adapted to it.

But then there’s also the effect of our genes. Caffeine is mainly broken down, or metabolised, by the CYP1A2 enzyme in the liver, and the gene that codes for that enzyme has been found to vary a lot between people.

Research shows that, for the most part, it’s the version of the CYP1A2 gene you have that determines how quickly you can metabolise caffeine and therefore how long it hangs around in your body. Fast metabolisers are able to clear caffeine quickly, so the effect of an espresso wears off faster for them.

The adenosine receptors in the brain also vary a lot depending on a person’s genetic makeup. And there are also some variants of the ADORA2A gene, which encodes one type of adenosine receptor, that make people particularly sensitive to caffeine. It’s also our genes that influence how much caffeinated coffee and tea we drink each day.

“Coffee is naturally a bitter substance and so it’s interesting how such a bitter beverage has become so popular,” says Marilyn Cornelis, Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University in Illinois who researches the links between genes and caffeine.

“Based on evolution, we should naturally avoid bitter foods – it’s a protective effect your body has to avoid poisonous things.” It’s therefore logical to assume that people who are less sensitive to bitter tastes will be the ones who drink more coffee. But that’s not the case.

A study led by Cornelis and published in Scientific Reports shows that the version of the CYP1A2 gene we have influences how much coffee we drink to a much greater extent than our sensitivity to bitter tastes.

Caffeine has been getting a bad rap recently. Whether it’s highly caffeinated energy drinks making it difficult for kids to concentrate in class, or too many teas and coffees during the day leaving us unable to sleep at night, caffeine, in many people’s eyes, is a cause for alarm.

As such, the general advice regarding caffeine consumption increasingly seems to be to cut back on it or cut it out altogether. But it’s not as if caffeine is entirely without merit. There’s no denying it’s a psychoactive substance. Or, to put it more bluntly, caffeine is a drug (the world’s most widely consumed drug, in fact – chances are, you’re under its influence right now).

But, like many drugs, in the right dose, it has benefits. It was the clarity and energy that doses of caffeine provided (distributed via the tea and coffee houses of Europe) that helped usher in the Enlightenment and make the switch from farms to factories during the Industrial Revolution.

But dosage is the key variable. And although coffee and tea have been providing us with a tasty pick-me-up for centuries, nowadays more of us are consuming caffeine in much higher concentrations due to the boom in energy drinks and tablets.

This has prompted a rise in research into caffeine, as scientists work to better understand its effects on us and the mechanisms by which it produces them. So what are we learning from all this research? For one thing, just how differently each of us processes and reacts to caffeine.

But perhaps more importantly, it’s providing evidence that as well as perking us up in the morning, a few cups of coffee or tea each day might also help us stave off illnesses, such as diabetes and certain forms of cancer. So does caffeine really deserve its bad reputation?

The dose makes the poison

Anyone who consumes caffeine every day knows the importance of dosage: how much to take and when to take it. Get the dose right, and caffeine can lift your mood and make you more alert; overdo it and you risk anxiety, tremors and disrupted sleep.

Both the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority say that a daily caffeine intake of 400mg (about two to three mugs of filter coffee, depending on the size of the mug) won’t cause problems for healthy adults.

As for when to take caffeine – or rather, when to stop taking it in order to prevent it from affecting your sleep, that depends on how you administer it.

Researchers in Australia and the UK published a study in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews earlier this year that tried to give clear guidance on when your last ‘dose’ of caffeine should be. According to their report, you should drink your last tea or coffee 8 hours and 48 minutes before you go to bed.

Caffeine’s effects enable us to shake off our natural circadian rhythms, if we need to be awake and alert when we’d normally be asleep. 

If, however, you use a pre-workout caffeine supplement, which typically has double the caffeine of a cup of coffee, that should be taken no later than 13 hours 12 minutes before bedtime.

The problem with giving definitive directions on how much caffeine is okay and when to stop consuming it, however, is that some of us are more sensitive to it than others.

How long it hangs around inside our bodies varies, too – caffeine has a half-life (the time required for a substance to lose half of its initial effectiveness) of 3-7 hours in adults. The reason for this is genetic. But to understand it, you first need to know what caffeine does inside your body.

Caffeine and your genes

During the day, a molecule called adenosine builds up in your brain. Adenosine binds with receptors on nerve cells, or neurons, slowing down their activity and making you feel drowsy.

But caffeine is also able to bind with these receptors, and by doing so it blocks adenosine’s effect, making your neurons fire more and keeping you alert. Caffeine also activates the pituitary gland at the base of your brain.

This releases hormones that tell the adrenal glands on your kidneys to produce adrenaline, causing your heart to beat faster and your blood pressure to rise. If, however, your daily caffeine intake is consistent, your brain will adapt to it.

“Your brain is like, ‘Okay, every morning I’m getting this caffeine that’s binding to these receptors and blocking adenosine from binding to them’. And so [your brain] creates extra receptors to give adenosine more of an opportunity to bind with them and have its usual effect,” says Prof Jennifer Temple, whose lab at University at Buffalo in New York, carries out research on the effects of caffeine.

“And more adenosine is also produced to counteract the caffeine. That’s why it takes more and more caffeine to have the same effect.”

These adaptations take place rapidly – within as little as a week. Part of the differences in how we respond to caffeine is down to the extent to which each of our bodies have adapted to it.

But then there’s also the effect of our genes. Caffeine is mainly broken down, or metabolised, by the CYP1A2 enzyme in the liver, and the gene that codes for that enzyme has been found to vary a lot between people.

Research shows that, for the most part, it’s the version of the CYP1A2 gene you have that determines how quickly you can metabolise caffeine and therefore how long it hangs around in your body. Fast metabolisers are able to clear caffeine quickly, so the effect of an espresso wears off faster for them.

People with the version of CYP1A2 that makes them fast metabolisers drink more coffee. And tests show fast caffeine metabolisers have lower caffeine levels in their blood.

“It suggests that they’re metabolising caffeine so quickly, [that] they’re consuming more coffee to get the stimulant effects we equate with caffeine,” says Cornelis.

But whether you’re a fast caffeine metaboliser or not, chances are you’re pretty good at moderating your caffeine intake.

“The data suggests that, whether they’re conscious of doing it or not, people do a really good job of adjusting their caffeine intake to hit their sweet spot,” says Temple. “Because when they go over it, the effects are unpleasant and there’s a memory of that, so they go back to their sweet spot.”

Caffeinated energy drinks are enormously popular, but the amounts of caffeine, as well as the blend of other ingredients they contain, can vary a lot between brands. 

That perfect balance of caffeine intake is potentially harder to gauge with caffeinated energy drinks, though. Studies show that the top-selling caffeinated energy drinks in the UK and US contain 75-160mg of caffeine.

But research published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence reported that some contain as much as 500mg of caffeine. By comparison, a 240ml mug of filter coffee contains about 190mg. The varied caffeine levels in different energy drinks can make judging your caffeine intake tricky.

But the complicating factors don’t end there. “Energy drinks contain other ingredients that interact with the caffeine in a way that we’re still trying to understand because we don’t know what they are,” explains Temple.

“All these blends are proprietary so we don’t know the exact formulation. But people respond differently. [So] we’re studying the effects of energy drinks in the same way we’ve been studying coffee and caffeine systematically,” she says.

The benefits of caffeine

While the formulations of caffeinated energy drinks, and the effects they have on us has prompted a lot of recent research, there’s also a growing interest in caffeine’s beneficial effects. For example, caffeine is increasingly being used as a legal performance-enhancing drug in competitive sports. A review of research into caffeine and athletic performance by the International Society of Sports Nutrition in 2022 said caffeine has a ‘small to moderate effect’ on muscular endurance and strength.

Its biggest effects on performance are seen in endurance sports, though. It’s thought that at least some of this performance boost is likely down to caffeine aiding muscle contraction by changing levels of calcium, sodium and pota
ssium, as well as acting as a painkiller.

There has also been a raft of studies attempting to determine how caffeine boosts our cognitive abilities. They’ve found that a moderate dose, up to 300mg, helps us stay focused for longer. Some research also shows that in the long term, caffeine can boost our memory, but here the evidence is somewhat mixed.

When it comes to determining the long-term health benefits of caffeine, things get complicated as most of the research has been carried out with coffee, which contains a cocktail of bioactive ingredients. Deciphering whether it’s caffeine or one of the many other components of coffee that brings about a health benefit, is difficult.

There’s good news for coffee drinkers, though. A review published in The New England Journal of Medicine in 2020 reports that your regular coffee fix reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, liver disease and certain forms of cancer, such as liver cancer.

For some conditions, such as type 2 diabetes, research shows it’s not the caffeine but some other component of coffee that helps to prevent them – as decaf coffee reduces the risk just like caffeinated coffee.

“But interestingly, if you look at other conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, it seems to be completely the caffeine,” says Rob van Dam, Professor of Exercise, Nutrition Sciences and Epidemiology at The George Washington University in Washington DC, who led the review.

“Then there are some that sit in the middle, like liver cancer – it seems that caffeine may have some benefit, but there might be additional gain from some other components of coffee.”

In the future, scientists will discover more about how our genes determine the effects caffeine and coffee have on us. And the more we learn, the closer we’ll get to the prospect of personalised guidance for daily caffeine intake.

“Most of the guidelines for caffeine have really been just looking at the population level,” says Cornelis. “They don’t account for the individual variation and we’re at a stage in research where there are opportunities for personalised nutrition.”

It means that one day a genetic test could tell you precisely what the ‘sweet spot’ for your daily caffeine intake is. And that day might not be as far off as you think. “When I first started this genetic research during my PhD around 2001, I couldn’t imagine a day where every individual would be able to access their full genome. Well, it’s 2023 and we’re at that point where people are knowledgeable about their genetics and have paid these companies to get access to them. I’ve had people email me and say, ‘Hey, I just got my genotype back and I read your paper and it looks like I’m a rapid caffeine metaboliser.’”

The Health Minister-designate, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has affirmed his commitment to continue projects initiated by his predecessor, Kwaku Agyeman Manu.

Despite having his priorities, Dr. Okoe Boye views this approach as essential for a seamless tenure, especially considering the limited time left for the Akufo-Addo administration.

President Akufo-Addo’s recent reshuffle on February 14, 2024, nominated Dr. Okoe Boye to replace Kwaku Agyeman Manu. Pending approval by Parliament’s vetting committee, Dr Okoe Boye, who previously served as Deputy Health Minister from 2020 to 2021, is set to return to the health sector.

While the reshuffle has stirred public dissatisfaction, Dr Okoe Boye, in an interview on Citi TV said he will continue the positive initiatives of the former Health Minister.

He stated, “But sometimes it is not the programmes you introduce into a sector that makes people happy or improve the state of mind, it is the relationship and addressing basic things which do not require resources necessarily but require attention and offering protocols and this is going to be my major priority.”

Acknowledging that meaningful changes often involve addressing fundamental issues and building relationships, Dr Okoe Boye highlighted the importance of engaging stakeholders in the sector.

Prior to his approval, he revealed that, he had already initiated discussions with key players, including those at Korle Bu and the Ghana Medical Association.

“When I went to Korle Bu, what I did was that I sat with those who have been there for a long time and most of them have a fair idea what the problems are, what it ought to be done and what to put in. As I speak to you, I’ve spoken to the Ghana Medical Association President and some of the executives.

“I’ve not gone for the vetting but informally, I’m like guys, let’s sit down, what do you want, where do we get to? What must be done? The first approach is to talk to the people in the field.”

Addressing concerns about the limited timeframe, Dr Okoe Boye acknowledged the challenge of implementing significant infrastructure changes in a short period.

However, he pledged to focus on streamlining processes, ensuring adequate funding, and leveraging his experience to elevate the health sector during his tenure.

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