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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A National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, says parental leave, ranging from seven days to four weeks for fathers to support their spouses after childbirth, will address the gender gap.

He, therefore, advocated an extensive leave for working parents to replace the existing three-month maternity leave, which he described as insufficient, particularly for women.

Mr Sosu, also a Human Rights Lawyer, made the statement at a stakeholders’ briefing workshop on Maternity Leave Extension; Paternity Leave Introduction and removal of Value Added Tax (VAT) on imported pads Bill held in Parliament in on Monday.

The workshop is part of the MP’s efforts to address a Private Member’s Bill proposing an amendment to extend maternity leave from three months to four months introduced in Parliament.

The Bill, which seeks to amend the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), is also proposing an option for an additional two weeks of maternity leave in the case of a caesarean section (CS), stillbirth(s) or multiple births.

The Bill’s primary objective is to promote gender equality and ensure protection for both men and women in a suitable context.

The Labour (Amendment) Bill, 2023, also known as Parental Leave for All, is pushing for the introduction of paid paternity leave for men for a minimum of seven days.

It is aimed at allowing new mothers adequate time to give birth, exclusively breastfeed, care for and bond with their new baby, as well as recover before returning to work.

The essence of paternity leave is to enable men to take care of their wives and assist the new mothers with domestic chores.

Mr Sosu emphasised that the proposed parental leave for fathers was pivotal in fostering shared responsibility in childcare.

“The significance of the initial seven days will allow fathers to actively participate in late-night feedings and baby care, thereby contributing to the establishment of a strong bond with their newborns.”

“I have had some women say why do you want men to also have parental leave? Well, and I said, it’s the same thing. The advocacy in terms of bridging the gender gap has to do with protection for both men and women,” the MP said.

Mr Sosu noted that the initial seven days were a critical period for “responsible” fathers to be present during late-night baby care, fostering a deeper connection with their newborns and providing support to their wives who had given birth.

Madam Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, a National Democratic Congress MP of Ada, said the affordability and availability of sanitary pads were a fundamental necessity to health, dignity, and access to education.

“The call for the elimination of import duties and Value Added Tax is rooted in the belief that financial barriers should not deny anyone their basic human right to menstrual hygiene,” she said.

A New Patriotic Party MP for Abuakwa North, Gifty Twum Ampofo, called for the non-politicisation of the issues and that concerted efforts were needed to address them holistically to support both genders.

Other speakers called for the availability of sanitary pads to students in various schools as part of their prospectus.

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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.

Weavers of traditional Kente cloth at Bonwire in the Ashanti region are prevailing on the government to provide them with a dedicated working space and a local thread factory.

Their requests come as they face challenges with high cost of imported threads, threatening the sustainability of their craft.

They believe the factory would ease their cost burden of production and increase employment opportunities in the sector.

“We cannot continue to rely on expensive imported threads. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to sustain our craft. A local thread factory would not only make thread more affordable but also create employment opportunities for our people,” voiced a kente weaver in Bonwire.

Bonwire stands as a vibrant and historical community, renowned for its Kente weaving tradition.

The town with its cultural heritage and skilled artisans holds a special place in Ghana’s history.

The town is celebrated as the birthplace of kente cloth and the history of kente weaving is believed to have originated from two brothers, Kuragu and Ameyaw, from the Bonwire community.

The duo learnt the art of weaving from a spider spinning its web and introduced the art to their people, marking the beginning of kente weaving.

Today, Bonwire remains a center for kente weaving, attracting visitors from far and near to purchase kente and also witness the artistic work of artisans.

Kente is produced in Bonwire as a symbol of Ghanaian heritage and pride where each color holds significance with some designs reserved for special occasions like funerals, royal ceremonies and traditional marriages in Ghana.

However, the weavers are struggling with increasing production costs, which make it hard for them to compete in the market.

“We deserve a space that respects and honours our craft. A dedicated facility would enhance creativity and productivity,” Nana Osei, a Kente weaver in Bonwire, emphasized.

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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There are secrets of desire hidden in the everyday aspects of your personality. A bit of mystery to raise intrigue with a knowing smile is often enough to inspire their desire.

Here are 7 tiny secrets of the world’s most desirable women, according to YourTango experts:

1. They rouse curiosity.

Some individuals intrigue us by keeping certain aspects of their lives secret, inspiring our curiosity further.

Take celebrities such as Megan Fox and Julia Roberts, each hailed as ‘World’s Most Beautiful Woman’ respectively, despite never having posed unclothed. Perhaps, one secret of desirability is modesty.

— Ann Papayoti, Relationship Coach

2. They wear confidence well.

The most desirable women wear confidence as their favorite outfit. They are comfortable in their skin, whether they rock high heels or sneakers, making them glow with an inner beauty that’s hard to ignore.

3. Independence is their middle name.

They have their interests, careers, and loves. This independence makes them not just partners but equals, adding depth to any relationship.

4. Empathy is their superpower.

They understand and share the feelings of others, making those around them feel seen and valued. Empathy is their superpower, creating connections that are both deep and long-lasting.

— Erika Jordan, Love Coach, NLP Practitioner

5. They communicate openly.

I love communicating with people through cooking, talking, smiling, laughing, and sharing a bowl of matcha. Let’s cook, talk together, and have a bowl of tea, then listen to our hearts without any judgment. Cooking is loving yourself and loving your loved one.

— Michiko Tomioka, MBA, RD, Dietitian

6. They project a bit of mystery.

It’s that old Mona Lisa smile as if you are pleased but also have a secret. It projects a little mystery and inner depth and conveys a sense of humor and well-being, a combination people find alluring in women.

7. They’re insatiably interested.

It’s fun talking with others, but the moment the conversation dies because no one has anything else to say, you start getting bored of that person.

Don’t be that person — the one anxiously looking away while racking your brain for a good topic.

If you want to save yourself from that situation, you have to make people curious about you, and the only way is if you’re curious yourself.

Learn how things work. Ask yourself why people behave the way they do. Read about what’s happening in the world right now.

Because when you have a dozen more things to say, people automatically think you’re a smart and fascinating companion.

— Tiffany Sun, Author and Life Coach

A little mystery behind a knowing smile keeps them curious as you hand over a favorite snack to tempt their taste buds. Independently confident as your personality fills the room with an authentic concern for others. You are the most desirable one. The one who reflects all of our best back to us.

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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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.

Just like saying ‘calm down’, other harmful words can turn a productive discussion into a fight.

When arguing, saying “calm down” often has the opposite effect, making the other person even angrier.

Here are other five phrases you should avoid saying during an argument:

1. “You always’ or “you never”

Saying ‘always’ or ‘never’ is often an exaggerated statement, which can be misleading and potentially lead to defensiveness during a fight.

Instead of saying, “You never listen to me!” you could say, “I feel like I wasn’t heard when I was talking about [topic].” or “It bothers me when you interrupt me before I’m finished speaking.” This approach allows for a more productive conversation where you can communicate your needs and work towards a solution, rather than getting stuck in a cycle of blame and defensiveness.

2. “Why are you making such a big deal over nothing?”

Saying “you are making a big deal over nothing” is dismissive and invalidates the other person’s feelings. Instead, show understanding and ask for clarification. It demonstrates that you care about their perspective and want to hear them out.

3. My ex, mother, or sister don’t behave like that

Never compare your partner to another person, whether romantically or platonically. When you make sure statements, she reads them to mean you don’t like who she is and you would prefer the people you maintain. In other words, no one likes being compared to other people, so don’t do that.

4. “It is over!”

Instead of saying, “It is over!”, try saying, “I’m feeling overwhelmed right now. Can we take a break and come back to this later, when we’ve both calmed down?“. Saying, “We’re done!” is hurtful and threatening, especially if you don’t mean it. Instead, take a temporary break, this allows you to cool down and approach the conversation with a clearer mind. Also, offer a timeline for revisiting the issue. This demonstrates maturity and respect for the other person’s feelings.

5. “You’re such a @#$%&!”

Avoid insults, name-calling, and derogatory language. They are never productive and only serve to escalate the situation. Instead, say, “That behaviour is disrespectful and hurtful. I need you to” Focus on the behaviour instead of attacking the person; address the specific behaviour that is bothering you. Then, communicate your needs and clearly state what you expect and need from the other person to move forward in a respectful and constructive manner.

Fighting is stressful, but sometimes it just helps you understand your partner better. Avoiding, cutting off arguments and using negative language can escalate the situation and make it worse.

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.”

Genevieve is brimming with excitement, revelling in the joy of becoming a first-time mother. However, her delight at embracing motherhood is tempered by the anticipation of celebrating her daughter’s birthday only every four years.

In an interview with JoyPrime’s Lois Shoila Adeyimi, after giving birth on February 29 at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Genevieve shared, “The day I realised I was pregnant, I was so happy, even my mom. We wanted a baby and he came.”

She continued, “I didn’t want to give birth on the 29th because it’s actually a leap year, which comes every four years. God has reasons for everything, that’s what I think, because everybody is celebrating the birthday on a normal day, then you alone, you celebrate every four years, it’s weird.”

However, the same sentiment does not hold true for Abigail, who longs for the joy of motherhood. Although she was initially due to deliver on February 28, that did not happen.

The 29-year-old is eager to welcome her little one on any day except the elusive February 29.

She stated, “I would love to celebrate every year. A memorable year of the pain I went through during this childbearing and everything. I want to experience it all over again every year. And look at the fact that I have to do that every four years, I wouldn’t feel that. I need to feel it each and every year.”

As for Sharifa, she cared less about the date. The moment she held her baby, all the pain seemed insignificant. Birthdays, leap years—everything became background noise to the new mother.

What matters to her is the little one in her arms. She remarked, “I was not expecting it, but it happened and I’m happy with it.”

A midwife at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital emphasised that mothers should view giving birth on February 29 as a special day, recognising it as such and being happy about delivering on that unique day.

She added, “And for the kids, you have to accept it and also be happy that you have been delivered on that day because it happens every four years and it’s a special day.”

Renowned Ghanaian actress and presenter, Nana Ama McBrown, added another feather to her cap with the grand opening of her Kid’s Lounge and 5th birthday party for her daughter at East Legon.

Among the esteemed guests who graced the event was the illustrious 10-year-old Ghanaian model, Mylah Gyimah, who boasts affiliations with globally recognized fashion brands like Zara and Gucci.

Mylah Gyimah stole the spotlight at the event, exuding elegance and sophistication as she interacted with attendees, including Nana Ama McBrown herself.

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A post shared by Emmanuel S Owusu (@getinfomedia)

Accompanied by her proud parents, Mylah captivated the audience with her poise and charm, making a lasting impression on both media personalities and guests at the event.

The occasion marked not only a celebration of Nana Ama McBrown’s daughter’s birthday but also the unveiling of the newly established kid’s lounge, a testament to McBrown’s commitment to providing a fun and safe environment for children to enjoy.

In an exciting development, Mylah Gyimah took the opportunity to announce the upcoming launch of her skincare brand, Shyv Beauty in Ghana this year.

With plans to make her products available at McBrowns Kid’s Lounge, Mylah aims to impart valuable lessons on self-care and the modelling industry to young enthusiasts, further solidifying her status as a role model for aspiring talents.

As Mylah Gyimah continues to make waves on the global stage, her presence at Nana Ama McBrown’s Kid’s Lounge opening added an extra touch of glamour and sophistication, leaving attendees inspired and eager to witness the exciting developments yet to come.

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A post shared by Mylah Gyimah (@mylah_shyv)

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A post shared by Mylah Gyimah (@mylah_shyv)

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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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Texting is a key part of dating — and not just when you’re on the apps.

Part of building and maintaining relationships is knowing how to text in a way that creates and maintains a connection and builds attraction.

However, having to build a connection through a screen, knowing you have to captivate someone’s attention, can feel like a challenge. And sending mundane text messages can really sabotage your chances for a reply.

But that’s about to change, because once you truly understand how to text a guy to keep him interested, you won’t ever have to question how he feels.

Here’s how to keep a man interested over text with 5 simple tips

1. Use his language

It’s imperative to use their choice of words or slang when sending a text message to tap into their world. By using their words and vocabulary, it shows you’re relating to them to create a cohesive vibe.

It naturally makes them feel like you “get” them because you’re speaking their language. And relationships are all about relating to a partner. This little text trick will do wonders when you want to receive a keen reply.

Here’s an example (the words emphasized are the ones to pay attention to):

Text message from him: “I really enjoyed our dinner date over the weekend. Trying that new spot really satisfied my pizza craving.”

Your reply text: “I agree, the pizza was spot on! So happy they opened a location in the states. Maybe we can grab dinner next weekend too?”

Text message from him: “Next weekend sounds great! You pick the spot!”

“Spot” was the keyword the man used to describe the restaurant. By using his keywords, this creates a mutual alignment in understanding and relating to each other. It opens the door to further conversation about similar interests.

Other common examples to include in your text exchange are the use of emojis, photos, memes, or current social phrases.

2. Take interest in his lifestyle

Everyone loves to talk about themselves, but showing genuine interest in his interests and life, in general, show that there’s potential for a deeper connection.

Asking him about his family, experiences, or ambitions allows you to establish rapport and build a foundation for a connection based on common interests you may share.

Organically, people are more likely to give you specific details when you show curiosity in who they are. And while the dating world is full of subpar first dates that never go anywhere past shallow, surface-level discussions, when you want to keep a man interested over text, it’s essential to find out who he is.

Photo: Andrea Piacquadio / Pexels

Taking a personal interest in the things that bring value to his life lets you gather an inside peek with who he really is inside. You can learn a lot about what he likes or dislikes, which makes it easier when planning dates and potentially taking the relationship further.

Not only are you gaining knowledge about him, but you’re learning about yourself along the way. This gives you impactful insight into finding a powerful alignment with each other.

3. Give him compliments

Who doesn’t love a genuine compliment? It’s probably one of the most essential tips on how to keep a man interested over text. A compliment can go a long way when you show a person you’re interested in that you genuinely value certain aspects of who they are.

So, be sure to deliver plenty of authentic compliments when you text him. A few examples include:

• “I really like the blue shirt you wore last night. It’s a great color for you.”
• “Thank you for dinner. You’re a great cook!”
• “You’re pretty funny. You sure know how to make me laugh.”

When you speak with honest admiration, you’ll make him feel like a superstar. Not only will he like you more, but it will create instant oxytocin, which will keep him coming back to you. Who wouldn’t want to hear feel-good compliments?

Just remember that these compliments must be real and from a place of kindness. Don’t even think about faking it. Schmoozing is easy to read right through and often has an ulterior motive. So, keep it straight when you text with the guy you’re interested in.

4. Ask open-ended questions

Asking open-ended questions lets the connection grow between you two, because it shows you’re taking the initiative to get to know more about him. Open-ended questions encourage people to really open up by adding more facts and emotions to their responses. They don’t just give the gist; they tell you the whole story.

If you find yourself asking closed-ended questions, he will only have to reply with one-word answers. And that doesn’t give much room for the conversation to continue to flow and grow. It’s almost like you’re pulling teeth to have a conversation, which is the last thing you want to happen.

So steer clear of close-ended questions and instead ask open-ended ones.

Open-ended questions include:

• “Where are you from? What was it like growing up there?”
• “What did you do over the weekend?”
• “What are you up to tonight?”

Close-ended questions include:

• “What’s your favorite food?”
• “Do you like comedy shows?”
• “Have you ever been skydiving?”

It’s very easy to hide behind a screen and not convey the real you, especially if you still aren’t quite sure how to text a guy to keep him interested. Unfortunately, hiding your true self won’t get you too far in building a deeper connection once it comes time to meet in real life.

Being your most authentic self is the only way to build a bond that will last and attract authentic people into your life. Trying to be someone you’re not will actually push him in the opposite direction or attract guys you don’t want to keep around.

Most people love a partner who isn’t afraid to express their honest opinions or show their emotions. It’s attractive to expose your personality when first getting to know someone, flaws and all. This is the best approach to bringing a guy closer, as you are your biggest advantage to success.

When it comes to keeping a man interested over text, you can only receive what you’re willing to give.

If you’re craving more romance, being congruent with your words and actions are crucial to attracting guys who are boyfriend material. And that requires integrity.

Integrity is all about sending the right message that is harmonious to your needs and interests.

By having clear intentions, it leaves less room for texting errors. So, make sure your vibe is beaming with positivity to receive the attraction and love you crave!

You will begin attracting exactly what you want without feeling lost on how to get your needs met.

As parents, we say “I love you” to our kids a lot. But you know what — talk is cheap. Our words echo hollow when our actions don’t back them up.

Declaring your love verbally is critical, but it isn’t the only thing our kids need, not by a long shot! Love looks different to each of us and how we give love and experience depends on our background and temperament. In other words, love is a subjective experience, even in childhood.

Raising successful children is not an easy road, and doing it well takes practice and courage. We ALL make tons of mistakes along the way. I was a teen parent and a single parent, so I made more mistakes than I can count.

My kids, now grown, still love to remind and chide me about mistakes I made when they were small people.

At this point, we can laugh about it, and thankfully, we communicate with each other honestly and with mutual respect. Clear, honest communication with your children is the starting point, and then all other things flow much easier.

Here are 6 things that mean way more to your kids than hearing ‘I love you:’

1. When you open up communication (and keep it open)

Listen to your kids, ask questions, and show them that you understand. Authentic listening is a lost art that needs to be revived, and there’s no better way than teaching children how to listen and be listened to. Say what you mean, mean what you say, make no idle threats or promises, be true to your word, no baby talk or talking down, no false voices — essentially, be clear and real. 

How you talk about hard things is the real issue, so words need to match experience, and difficult subjects should not be avoided. If you are crystal clear about your intentions and why you are discussing a particular topic, then you can choose your words carefully and wisely. Speak clearly and calmly, ask questions, and listen carefully. You will teach your children powerful communication skills.

2. When you make it okay to learn from mistakes

Demonstrate through your own mistakes how to learn, change, and grow. If you show your children how to recover from mistakes and make better choices, they will be more likely to talk with you honestly about themselves. You will also be letting them know that you will not reject them for making a mistake. Not only is learning from mistakes possible, but it makes us better people!

3. When you help them do their best

Teach your children to always do their best and be true to their ideas by putting your best effort into parenting them. Help them explore their ideas and thoughts even if those ideas aren’t popular or interesting to others. Sometimes this one is really painful and hard because we so badly want our children to fit in and feel included.

However, often the best lesson is learning to be different in the world and still feel good about yourself. Embrace a “give a good try” mindset in your family. Teach your kids to love learning and curiosity. It will help them to do their best always.

4. When you make sure everyone in the family is treated with respect

Be kind and considerate of others because manners will take you very far in this life. Good manners are keys that open doors. Parents need to model respect as well as expect it. As you would also treat the planet with respect by not littering, this encourages the building of empathy and teaches kids (and us) to be present to the wonder around us.

5. When you share your feelings (and let them share theirs)

Feelings come and go, whether we like the feelings or not. Allowing our children to experience emotions is important. If we teach kids to acknowledge their feelings in childhood, to discuss them as needed, and not to run away from painful emotions; we further their abilities to be emotionally healthy adults. It’s also okay to be human (albeit, age-appropriate) about sharing your own emotions. 

6. When you accept your kids for who they really

Accepting kids for who they are is more important than telling them they can be whatever they want to be. Let your kids be themselves while you love and accept them because our kids are not mini replicas of us, but unique people with their gifts and interests.

Help them to find their strengths. When we let our children discover their talents and love, then they become well-rounded people and have better coping mechanisms throughout life.

If you incorporate these 6 behaviors into your family’s daily life, you will have marvelous children, guaranteed! The key to remember is that you have to practice them, not only with your children but also with yourself. Eventually, many of us come to realize upon growing up that we need to learn to parent ourselves because we did not receive the parenting we needed as children.

There’s a poem I remember from my childhood, it used to be a poster on people’s walls, and it said, “Children Learn What They Live.”

 I remember, wishing that my parents would follow the advice of that poem, but using the advice with my children while hoping they do the same as we go onward, doing our best every step of the way, failing, succeeding, and learning to show our love the best we can

Did you know that 80% of the human brain develops before the age of three? According to attachment therapist Eli Harwood, our babies undergo rapid development during these earlier years.

So, what steps can we take to ensure they develop secure attachments as they grow older? Harwood offers three tips that every parent should consider.

3 Things All Babies Need To Form Secure Attachments As Adults

1. Close proximity to their caregivers

According to Harwood, babies need to be held and coddled during this development stage. She says, “When we prioritize physical touch we assure our babies that they’re safe and secure.”

Photo: Trendsetter Images / Shutterstock

When your baby feels safe they can better focus on their developmental stages as opposed to their basic survival instincts.

Developmental and behavioral pediatrician Dr. Mary Beth Steinfeld adds to this conversation, writing,” Babies who are held and comforted when they need it during the first six months of life tend to be more secure and confident as toddlers and older children.”

And it’s not just mothers who need to hold their babies — fathers and siblings do too. So, nuzzle your baby and let them know that they’re safe and protected.

2. Movement

Do you ever get the urge to rock your baby? Harwood explains that this urge is engrained to help our baby’s development.

Rocking our baby helps develop their vestibular sense. “This can impact both their balance and spatial orientation,” says Harwood. Movement also helps simulate the womb, which can be calming for a crying newborn.

According to the Raising Children Network, the movement also helps strengthen the neck and upper body. So, if you have a newborn try incorporating tummy time into their routine.

They write, “Tummy time is time your baby spends on their stomach while they’re awake.” Incorporating tummy time helps develop their rolling, crawling, and walking skills. However, it’s important to note that your baby may have a hard time adapting.

The Raising Children Network explains that tummy time can be stressful as your baby can’t see your face. They also warn parents that throwing up is normal when starting tummy time. So, what can we do?

Try placing the baby on your chest for tummy time. If not then get on the floor with your baby, preferably on a carpet. Do tummy time for 1-2 minutes then slowly increase to 10-15 minutes when they adjust.

“Do this several times a day to help with their development,” writes the Raising Children Network.

3. Mirroring

Mirroring is crucial for child development. According to Harwood, mirroring is when you reflect your child’s emotions back to them. But why is this important?

Mirroring shows children to not discount their body’s sensations. To pay attention and allow their emotions to run their course.

Clinical Social Worker Danielle Maxon adds by writing, “It encourages self-reflection, it helps kids feel understood and accepted, and it promotes the full and healthy expression of emotions.”

As new parents, you may struggle with mirroring. If you have a baby who cannot talk try mirroring through facial expression. If your baby is crying try using a sad facial expression with a softer tone.

“On the flip side if they’re happy then use a happy face with a happier tone,” says Harwood.

If your child is a toddler, use your words to mirror their feelings. Before speaking make sure you’re in a calm state of mind, says Maxon. Remind yourself it’s about them and not you. When calm re-approach your child and get down to their level.

Repeat what they’ve said to you. Say, “What I hear is that you don’t want to eat dinner now. You don’t like what’s being served and you think it’s unfair.”

When you’re finished ask if you got it right. Once they’ve confirmed, ask if there’s anything else they want to add.

Maxon advises that by doing this, you can ensure your child feels heard and understood, fostering greater trust between you two.

By actively participating in your child’s development, you’re helping them to form secure attachments as they mature.

A growing number of people over fifty are single, and many are looking for love.

While outdated statistics and media hype claim the chances of getting married go down significantly with every decade you have lived, the reality is most people after 50 will experience the best love of their lives. So don’t believe the hype.

People in their 50s, 60s, 70s, and, yes, even 80s are dating more than ever. They are falling in love and creating strong and intimate relationships. They put their children’s and grandchildren’s generations to shame. And this is why.

Here are 4 reasons why being 50+ is the best time for dating

1. Enough life experience to understand what is truly important from what is not.

They know who they are and know what works for them and what does not. No more games. They understand the value of relationships and appreciate their significant others more.

2. Learned from past relationships.

They have either lived through a divorce or the death of a spouse and can reflect on what went right and wrong and why. The ability to gain insight and lose ego is at its best. This is what enables you to create more intimacy and less drama.

3. More freedom from which to enjoy life.

At this juncture, chances are children have left the nest, and careers are firmly established. Some people have already transitioned careers into leisure time and are open to new adventures and life experiences.

Remember, 50 is the new 30; 60 is the new 40; 70 is the new 50. There is a lot of life yet to live and a lot of love yet to give.

4. The desire and capacity to enjoy intimacy to its fullest.

No more concern about pregnancy. No more concern about performance (thank you, medical advances). No more concern about self-consciousness, you’ve probably seen it all by now.

 The mature adult is comfortable with their identity and has the confidence to express themselves freely. Confidence, know-how, and attitude far outweigh the allure of a younger body — at least in the long run.

Get out and meet people. Enjoy new experiences. Get on an Internet dating site. Take a risk. Love after 50 is your best love yet. You have the maturity, wisdom, and confidence that like-minded people want and desire.

You are in the time of your life when you have the time, resources, and energy to try new things and meet new people. Take advantage of all the other fabulous single people out there who are waiting to meet you!

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.

Nigeria’s Minister for Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, has advised women to always keep quiet whenever an argument comes up with their husbands at home.

Kennedy-Ohaneye made this appeal at a Conference of Commissioners of State Ministries of Women Affairs in Nigeria in Abuja on Wednesday. 

The minister said avoiding trading words would prevent physical assault that may lead to injury or death.

She said, “I am equally begging my women not to look for trouble, not even at home. Maintain peace in your home because if a home is peaceful, the woman has 80 percent to contribute to that. If you need peace, you can equally achieve it.

“Keep your mouth shut. Talking back does not yield fruit, rather it leads to death and destruction, it leads to bringing up bad children for society.

“Keep your mouth shut, it does not make you a fool but a wise person. When the man is shouting and saying all sorts of things, act like a fool and keep your mouth shut.

“After a while, watch him. If he is a good man, he will come back to apologise. If he is not a good one, ignore him. Have what you want to do in your mind, but when we show who we are and we fight back, most times, it leads to hitting; you could be injured.

“The same man that injures you will come back to say I am sorry. What will you do? Will you kill him? Even if we come out to fight for you and you lose one eye, are we going to replace the eye? So prevention is better than cure.”

The minister called for the signing of a law that would provide a mobile court to try gender and sexual based offences.

She promised to lead a protest to the office of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation to sign the law.

Kennedy-Ohaneye added that the minister would also launch an integrity group to monitor all funds donated to uplift women in the country, saying this was necessary as the country’s current situation did not suggest donor funds for women’s empowerment were used for the right cause.

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When it comes to relationships, deciphering the signs of true love can be as tricky as understanding calculus.

It’s often said that certain requests or demands from a partner could be red flags indicating a lack of genuine affection.

But is it myth or truth? Let’s explore four commonly cited requests that some believe could mean she doesn’t love you.

1. Constant financial support

If the relationship feels more like a financial transaction than a romantic partnership, take a step back.

It’s one thing to support each other during tough times, but it’s another if she’s always asking for money or extravagant gifts without showing appreciation or reciprocation.

Love should be about mutual support, not one-sided benefits.

2. Changing your personality or appearance

Love means accepting each other for who you are, quirks and all. If she’s asking you to change fundamental aspects of yourself – be it your looks, interests, or values – it might not be love driving those requests.

A partner who loves you will encourage growth, not insist on altering your identity.

3. Isolating you from loved ones

Requests to cut off ties with friends or family should raise alarm bells. A loving relationship will integrate into your existing life, not demand exclusivity at the expense of your other relationships. Isolation is a control tactic, not a sign of affection.

4. Demanding transport money before visiting

When she insists on receiving transport money every time she plans to visit, it might indicate that her interest lies more in the convenience you offer than in spending quality time together.

While it’s understandable to share expenses, consistently treating visits as transactions can reflect a lack of genuine commitment and affection.

Myth or truth?

So, are these requests definitive signs she doesn’t love you? Not necessarily. Context is key. It’s important to communicate openly about concerns and understand each other’s perspectives.

Sometimes, what seems like a red flag could be a misunderstanding or a sign of underlying issues that can be resolved through honest conversation and mutual effort.

In love, actions speak louder than words (or requests). True affection is demonstrated through respect, understanding, and kindness.

It’s about building each other up, not making demands that serve one’s interests at the expense of the other’s well-being. Love is a two-way street, paved with compromise, support, and genuine care.

Remember, deciphering the language of love requires more than just listening to what is asked of you; it’s about understanding why it’s being asked and how it affects your bond.

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.

For many years, I was silent about what had happened to me. I felt shame as if something was wrong with me because of what was done to me. 

I hid in the shadows, disconnected from life and myself. Instead of asking for help, I would lash out in anger, pushing away anyone who tried to get to know me. I was carrying a huge secret and the weight of it was crushing me.

I was molested for four years of my childhood. While it was going on, the intimidation and threats from the abuser kept me silent. 

I was afraid that if I asked for help, the people I cared about would get hurt. So I stayed silent. I continued to be silent for many years after it finally stopped. 

The burden of carrying this secret weighed heavily on my heart and soul for years.  

I was in my early 20s when it all came rushing back to me, flooding my mind with the memories. I was reliving it all over again, and again, and again, often waking up in the middle of the night in a panic with a scream caught in my throat that would only come out as air.

Until I finally broke the silence. I shared with those closest to me what had happened during my childhood. I didn’t know how they would react. Would they blame me? Would they pity me? Would they still love me? Thankfully, they supported me and continued to love me.

My healing journey was just getting started — my journey to rediscover who I was and to heal the trauma. The more I tapped back into who I am, the stronger my voice became.  

I no longer felt I had to keep the secret. I discovered that I had nothing to feel shame for. After all, I was not the one who did these awful things. After carrying the secret for so long, it felt good to release it and no longer feel like it was going to negatively impact the rest of my life. 

The more I opened up about the trauma from my past, the freer I felt. Free to speak my truth. Free to be me. I stopped blaming myself and instead, focused on rebuilding my self-esteem. I surrounded myself with supportive, understanding people who helped me see my strength and resilience.

Reclaiming my voice after abuse was more than just sharing my story. It was taking back control of my life and my sense of self.  When I was being abused, I felt utterly powerless. The abuser had stripped away my right to consent, my childhood innocence, and my ability to speak up. Through finding my voice, I regained what had been taken from me. I began to show up as the real me.  

Finding my voice helped me set boundaries (and stick to them), share my thoughts and opinions, and stop blaming myself for what happened. I was able to break down the limiting beliefs and dismantle old narratives that told me I was worthless, had to stay silent, and deserving of mistreatment.

I got to rewrite my story on my terms, shedding light on dark secrets and shame. My voice was the key to releasing old wounds, healing trauma, and embracing resilience.

Speaking out also connected me to others who had been through a similar experience. I built strong connections. 

The more women I connected with, the more I realized I was not alone. My voice offers a glimmer of hope and inspiration to others who have been through something similar, helping them feel seen and heard. I also get to shed light on the impacts of abuse and reducing stigma. 

I want those who are suffering in silence to know that it is possible to reclaim your voice. It starts with a single word, then a sentence, until you are speaking your whole story with conviction. 

You get to choose if you share just with those closest to you or if you choose to share publicly. Do not allow anyone else to dictate what you can and cannot say, or how you say it. Your experiences, thoughts, and feelings matter. You deserve to be heard. 

I will continue speaking out so that one day, no child has to endure what I did. We all have a voice that is meant to be heard. Together we are obliterating the cycle of abuse. It ends with us and goes no further.

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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The amount of banku one can eat is not one egg size. The evidence does not support this assertion.

In the case of banku, the Ghana Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) specifies one (1) large hen egg size for a serving and 3.5 large hen egg sizes (about 1 medium orange size) as the portion size for a healthy adult while indicating that, portions can either increase or decrease depending on individual nutritional needs or health goals.

The Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (GAND) is the country’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, which promote a supportive environment through education to achieve optimal nutrition for all Ghanaians.

The Academy has observed with great worry the social media uproar in the past few days about an inaccurate poster on how much banku an average Ghanaian can consume. The poster purports that “the size of banku shouldn’t be bigger than the size of an egg”.

The Academy’s main aim in this communique is to enlighten Ghanaians on portions and serving sizes concerning optimal health and wellbeing and reassure the public of GAND’s commitment to providing the most credible source of nutrition and food information as applies to health and disease in Ghana.

Over the past decades, a generalized increase in food portion sizes has possibly contributed to the growing global obesity epidemic. According to FBDG, the diets of Ghanaians are changing rapidly. There is increased consumption of dietary calories from energy-dense foods, high salt and fat foods, and sugar-sweetened beverages.

These changing diets and lifestyles are closely linked with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease and cancers. Indeed, about 65% of deaths in Ghana are associated with these chronic diseases, with heart diseases and diabetes taking the lead.

One of the major risk factors of these diseases that can be modified is unhealthy diets and consumption of large portion sizes of meals which lead to overweight and obesity. Several interventional studies acknowledge the important role appropriate portion sizes could contribute to reversing and addressing obesity and chronic disease management.

A healthy diet consists of the amount and type of food that is consumed, that provides nutrients that help to protect against malnutrition in all its forms, as well as chronic diseases.

A key part of a healthier lifestyle is to integrate a variety of foods in the right amounts into your daily regimen. When it comes to deciding how much to eat, serving sizes and portion sizes are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing. A serving size is a standardized amount of food, used to quantify recommended amounts, or represent quantities that people typically consume on a Nutrition Facts label. While Portion size is the amount of food you choose to eat at any one time which may be more or less than a serving.

Thus, eating too much or not enough of any type of food can increase your risk of health problems. Portion sizes are individualized, tailored to meet your nutritional needs, and not a one -sized fits all. The recommended portion size depends on your age, sex, body size, health, and activity level.

The Academy assures Ghanaians of the continuous commitment of members to provide expert guidance on food and nutrition to promote health, prevent and manage conditions through individualized counselling, education, and evidence-based interventions. Always contact your dietitian or nutritionist whenever in doubt.

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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• Ghana Meteo sends weather warning

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.

I learnt that life wasn’t fair from a very young age and in the worst way possible. My stepfather used to abuse me sexually and when I finally got the courage to report him, he only got three months counselling as punishment and was allowed to live with me again.

My mother took him back because of financial reasons but she kept us separate. They slept in the downstairs part of the house and we slept in the upstairs part. Still, I was traumatized and lived in fear. As if I hadn’t been through enough trauma, I was introduced to a man who I thought loved me but he sex trafficked me.

When I was around 14 years old, one of my neighbours came over to my house and invited me to a pool party.

“It’s going to be fun.” She said.

“Sure. I’d love to.”

I didn’t have many friends so it felt nice to be included in something for once. I grabbed my swimsuit and followed the girl. Before we got to the location, we ran into a small crowd of teenagers. There was one guy who stood out in the crowd. He had everyone’s attention and everyone wanted to talk to him. My friend started walking towards them and I followed her.

“Hi Greg, I want you to meet my friend Wendy. Wendy, this is Greg.” She said to the guy.

Greg turned to me, smiled and stretched his hand out to me then said, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

At that moment, I felt weak in my knees. My heart started racing and I couldn’t stop smiling.

“Can I get your number?” He asked.

“Sure,” I said then gave it to him.

I didn’t think that he would call me but later that night, he did and we talked for hours. That was the beginning of a relationship that led me to being sex trafficked.

All I wanted was to be loved and Greg knew how to make me feel loved. It didn’t take long for us to be intimate and I became pregnant shortly after. I was still under my mother’s care since I was 17 years old when I had my child. Greg insisted that I should move out of my mother’s house for us to make the relationship work.

“How am I going to do that?” I asked.

“I have a plan. You can move to a shelter where they’ll consider you emancipated from your parents, then you can get welfare checks and we can get an apartment and live happily ever after.” He explained.

At the time, it sounded like a fairytale and I was all in. I ran away from home and Greg dropped me and my daughter at a shelter. However, life at the shelter wasn’t as easy as Greg made it seem.

It took a while for me to get my first welfare check and I was running out of baby products. So, I called Greg to let him know that I needed money to take care of our child.

“Don’t worry, I have a job for us to do.” He said.

I assumed he meant cleaning people’s houses since that was what he told me he did for money. So, I picked up my daughter and went to meet him.

“What are we going to do?” I asked Greg.

“Well, you’re going to walk up this street, wait on that corner for a man to pick you up and you’ll have sex with that man in his car and he’ll pay you.” He explained without any emotion.

I was confused and hesitant but he kept bringing up my daughter and telling me that if I loved her, I would do it. I felt like I didn’t have a choice. My legs and hands were shaking as I walked to the spot he had told me to stand. As soon as I got there, a car stopped in front of me and the man asked me to get in. That is how I started being sex trafficked by my husband.

“I know a place we can go in the woods.” He said.

I didn’t say anything. When we got to the woods, we both got out and went to a secluded area where he started taking off his clothes. I took off mine and we had sex then he gave me the money and drove me back to where he had picked me.

When I got out, I went to Greg who was still standing on the same spot and handed him all the money.

“I love you. I knew I made the right choice in picking you as my wife.” He said.

We went to buy diapers and formula for the baby and even had a little leftover. However, a week later, we were out of diapers again. 

That time, he told me to do two or three clients since I could make more money to be able to come out of the shelter.

“Do you want your daughter to live in a shelter for the rest of her life?” He asked.

From that point, he began building one of the largest prostitution rings in the region. It consisted of 4 to 10 girls in different states. For 13 years and still married to him, he sex trafficked me. It went from once a week to every other day depending on how much money he was getting from the other girls. I worked as a street girl, escort and home calls. Not to mention, I had two more children with him.

People always asked me why I chose to stay with him for all those years but no matter what I said, they couldn’t understand what I went through. Greg got us addicted to drugs and would physically abuse us when we tried to leave. He would also make the other girls go find any girl who left and beat them until the girl came back. I felt connected with the other girls since we weren’t allowed to have outside connections. So, whenever I managed to escape, I would feel guilty and go back because I didn’t want them to get hurt.

After 13 years, I was finally free from Greg. I had just given birth and was in the kitchen preparing food for us when I saw police cars outside our house. The police stormed in, arrested Greg and took me in for questioning.

However, I refused to talk to them since I was scared that I would get a beating from Greg if he found out. Since I didn’t cooperate, they charged me with sex trafficking and I was sentenced to 23 months in prison. Greg was also charged with sex trafficking and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

My children were taken when I was in prison and since the judge in the custody case believed I was a sex trafficker, she vowed that I wouldn’t get custody of my children. When I got out, I went back to school and got an associate’s degree. I also went back to the same judge in my custody case to ask for my child’s custody. I went with my lawyers, counsellors and even the police officers who arrested me so we could explain my case to the judge. 

She gave me my child back and I moved back home to live with my mum who, unfortunately, passed away later. Today, I feel safe and content, which is an amazing place to be. I’ve realized that there are people who are willing to help people who have been through the challenges that I’ve been through and if you’re going through something similar, you don’t have to suffer alone or in silence.

This story is based on Unfiltered Stories YouTube video.

A 32-year-old mother of five has accused her children’s father of not properly catering for them.

Adwoa cannot fathom why Frank, her ex-lover, cannot cater for the four children they have but will get money to marry another woman.

She is pained that their 7-year-old boy is yet to go to school because the father claims he has no money, yet secretly wedded another woman.

Adwoa who claims to be suffering from emotional abuse appeared on Nhyira Fm’s Obra Show to pour her frustration.

“I have been there for you all these years when you had nothing and now after destroying my life you went ahead and married another woman at my back. You told me you don’t have money to cater for our youngest child’s education and the boy has been disturbing me till now but you go ahead to wed another,” Adwoa spewed.

Frank however refuted the accusation.

“I sent them ¢30 each day because work is not booming of late. Adwoa has put me through a lot of problems and debt of which I warned her severally but she didn’t heed my warnings and that made me end our relationship 7 years ago before I got married. I can only send ¢30 for now and if she insists I will take my children and know how to cater for them,” he said.

But Adwoa, poised on getting compensation, would not agree to the dictates of Frank.

She insisted on the performance of Wangara traditional rites before she would give away the children.

The rites involve a ransom of three cattle which the man was not ready to deliver.

Show host, Mama Efe, is mediating on the way forward for the children to receive the best of care.

Seven years ago, Bawah met Zinabu on one of his trips to Mfensi, and realizing Zinabu to be of the same tribe, he declared his intention to marry her as the third wife.

But after living together for some years without the man paying the dowry, Zinabu decided to opt out of the relationship.

“He informed me one afternoon that he has the intention of going for a 4^th wife and wanted to know my take. But I strongly disagreed with him because for the past 7 years he has not paid my bride price yet wanted to marry another woman, I will not understand,” Zinabu narrated on Nhyira Fm’s Obra Show.

The quest of Bawah to marry another woman infuriated Zinabu, who demanded compensation from the man for her to go her way.

But Bawah will not agree to Zinabu’s proposition.

“I went to the North and performed all duties as custom demands when her father died. Afterwards I wanted to marry her at the North but she refused. Since then, any time there is little misunderstanding she will pack her belongings and go live in a container. I can count about 20 times of such. For the past six months now she has been living there. I want to marry her but she has been using one thing or the other as an excuse and if she is not interested to marry again, I have nothing to say but I will not compensate her,” said Bawah.

Zinabu however says she will rather go her separate way, even without the compensation, than to contend with a 4th wife.

When you are naked, or close to being in the nude, you are already in a vulnerable state. Then you throw someone else into it and it gets even worse. 

You just want everything to be perfect, your performance to be spectacular and you want to be as seamless as possible.

The reality of it is that there are plenty of mortifying things that happen that we just can’t control, and while you think you are the only one, you really aren’t.

1. Queefs and Farts

These are probably the most mortifying events that you will experience at one point. You’ll experience queefing if there is a lot of air getting up in your lady bits and being pushed because of the penis.

Same with farts if you are doing anal. Plus the bigger he or the sex toy is, the more likely it is to happen.

2. Not Being Able to Get Him Up

Sometimes guys just can’t get hard, much like girls can’t get wet. It’s nothing to do with you. He could be on medication, too drunk or just having a bad day. Don’t take it personally!

3. He Can’t Get it In

Guess what, sometimes he just can’t put his key in your ignition properly or stay in. Things happen and it falls out a lot. It’s totally normal.

4. Condom Fails

You should always have sex with a condom on. Always, always! But being safe also means having some uncomfortable moments with it either falling off, breaking or being stubborn. It’s happened to us all.

5. Gagging on the D

We have all had a moment where we choke and absolutely start gagging on his penis that’s forcefully down your throat. Don’t worry, guys tend to actually like it because it makes them feel like they have a big dick. No shame to be had giving him a confidence boost.

6. Leaving a Wet Spot

Guess what, it happens. Big deal! It just means that you were really into it and proves to him that he did a good job at getting you to feel good. Be proud of your pleasure puddle!

7. New Position Fails

You’d be lying to yourself if you haven’t tried to spice things up and try a new position and have it epically fail. We’ve all been there.

8. Getting Your Period/Bleeding

There is nothing more humiliating than having an unexpected three-way with aunt Flow or having some unexpected bleeding. Sometimes it just happens. Bleeding is normal as a result of a tear but if it’s a rather large amount, I would consider that a more serious tear that should be looked at by a professional.

9. Finishing Too Fast

You might get frustrated because it was actually good for once, but I can assure you that you should be proud at getting him to the finish line quickly. It means you are just that good!

You might think you’re alone with these embarrassing stories and mishaps, but the truth is, all of us have experienced these at least once. 

No one said intimacy was perfect because it often results in a lot of laughs. And at the end of the day, guys just want to get it in.

They won’t judge you for the things that happen because they know it’s normal and have probably experienced them with other women too.

About 1.96 million Ghanaians are facing acute food and nutrition insecurity, the latest Food Security Update by the World Bank has revealed.

This represents 6.1% of the total population facing acute food insecurity in West and Central Africa.

Ghana is thus ranked 9^th in the region with the highest population facing acute food and nutrition insecurity

According to recent estimates by the Cadre Harmonisé, approximately 34.7 million people (7.8% of the total population) in West and Central Africa were facing acute food and nutrition insecurity as of November 2023.

The breakdown of the 10 most-affected countries according to share of population shows that Sierra Leone is first with 15.2% (1.17 million); Chad second with 12.1% (2.06 million) and Cameroon third with 10.6% (2.94 million).

Burkina Faso came 4^th with 9.9% (2.28 million), whilst Nigeria-8.9% (18.47 million), Niger-8.9% (2.3 million) Mauritania-6.3% (171,494) and Togo-6.2% (377,920) came 5^th, 6^th, 7^th and 8^th respectively.

The report added that the food and nutrition insecurity situation is expected to worsen in the upcoming lean season (June–August 2024).

Cadre Harmonisé projections indicate that approximately 47 million people (10.5% of the total population) will experience acute food and nutrition insecurity (IPC Phase 3-5) over this period, including 26.5 million people in Nigeria, 3.2 million in Niger, 3.0 million in Burkina Faso, 2.9 million in Chad, 2.5 million in Cameroon, 2.2 million in Ghana, 1.5 million in Sierra Leone, 1.4 million in Mali, and 1.0 million in Côte d’Ivoire.

In the first week of February, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger publicly announced their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States.

The report added that although the consequences are unclear, the three countries’ exit from the economic bloc could affect intraregional trade and commerce.

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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In a classic tale of relationship woes and lottery luck, a man is accusing his ex-girlfriend of cheating him out of his share of £1 million in lottery winnings.

Michael Cartlidge, 39, claims that he and his former partner, Charlotte Cox, 37, bought the winning lottery scratchcard together at a shop in Spalding, Lincolnshire.

However, after their breakup, Ms Cox has been declared the sole winner by lottery officials.

While Michael acknowledges that Charlotte scratched the ticket, he argues that he was the one who suggested they make the purchase and even transferred her the cash for it while they were still in the shop.

Camelot, the previous owners of the lottery, conducted an investigation that involved reviewing CCTV footage from the shop.

They had initially indicated to Mr. Cartlidge that the winnings would be split. However, it is now understood that the new lottery owners, Allwyn, have ruled in favour of Ms Cox as the rightful claimant.

Mr. Cartlidge, a security engineer, maintains that he is entitled to half of the winnings and is contemplating legal action.

‘I am in shock. I can openly admit that we wouldn’t have got that ticket without Charlotte, but she wouldn’t have got it without me either. I know it was her bank account that paid for it, but it should go 50-50 morally’, he said.

Ms Cox responded to the claims, dismissing them as “rubbish.” According to a source close to her, her former partner has “no right” to the jackpot.

The couple had been together for three months before the lottery dispute arose. On the night of the win, Mr Cartlidge was staying at Ms Cox’s house, and they decided to go to their local Lidl to purchase duck pancakes for dinner. They then decided to visit the neighbouring Nisa store to buy a couple of £5 scratchcards.

According to Mr. Cartlidge, his ex-partner informed him that she didn’t have enough money to pay for the tickets, so he attempted to transfer funds using his bank app. He says the moment was captured on the shop’s CCTV footage.

To their astonishment, one of the scratchcards rewarded them with the £1 million jackpot. Forty minutes later, Mr. Cartlidge’s transfer went through.

The couple celebrated their win with a trip to the seaside and had various plans in the works, including buying a house together and purchasing a car.

Finding the perfect gift for the woman you’re into can feel overwhelming. That’s totally normal. You certainly don’t want to give a woman a gift that will make her feel anything but respected and desired.

So what kind of gifts say this without the risk of backfiring? As is true with anything, you can’t guarantee a positive reaction because everyone is different.

But I have some fabulous ideas for sexy gifts that I think will win you some big points with your dream lady.

Check out this guide to learn how to buy a sexy gift for your partner that strengthens your connection.

Do Your Research

When it comes to gift-giving, knowledge is power. Before you embark on your gift-shopping adventure, do your research to make sure you buy something she’ll actually use.

Like I said earlier, every woman is different. What one woman would die to be gifted could send another running for the hills.

It’s important that you and your recipient be on the same page, at least relatively. You don’t want to buy anal beads for a woman whose idea of fun may not be anal toys. Find out what kind of gift would make your woman feel loved and understood.

Take some time to get to know her particular interests. What does she crave in the bedroom? Has she ever mentioned a desire to dress up for you in sexy lingerie? Is she more reserved or a total thrill seeker in the sheets? When buying a gift for a woman, it’s important to prioritize her needs and desires, not yours.

With that in mind, here are some sexy gift ideas that’ll make her smile!

Vibrator

Women love vibrators. Period, end of story!

There are lots of different types, shapes, and sizes, and this really is a personal preference. Shop around for a vibe that has great reviews. When you take the time to find out what other women love, you’re usually on the right track to finding a toy that will do it for your honey.

In my opinion, nothing screams: I want you to experience sexual bliss like gifting a vibrator. This is always a good and generous place to start because it lets your partner know that their pleasure is important to you. It is a beautifully selfless gift that lets your significant other know you care about them.

Sex Card Games

Often, women prefer to be eased into sex. The buildup and the foreplay should be stretched out for as long as possible to ensure your partner feels like her needs are being met adequately.

It is the excitement of this mutual attraction that keeps a woman engaged. Rather than bulldozing into the act itself, prolong the foreplay!

There are tons of ways to make foreplay last longer, and this alone is a priceless gift to give her. Why not shop around for sexy card games to get her in the mood? Sex card games come in different themes and intensities. So again, make sure you’re on the same page with the kind of excitement you’re hoping to achieve. 

Surprising your lady with sensual card games can let her relish in the entire experience of intimacy. It tells her that you want to take your time to give her waves of pleasure.

Seductive Lingerie

Okay, this is where things can get really exciting. After you’ve done your research and discovered the likes and dislikes of your partner, you may find she is open to being gifted lingerie. Lucky you, this is great news.

Lingerie is an amazing sexy present to give someone. When all goes well, it tells your partner how much you dig their body and expresses intent for deeper intimacy.

Women love being adored. And if you’re not making her feel this way, you’re definitely doing it wrong. Gifting lingerie can make her feel sexy, special, and wanted. These are good emotions to conjure up!

Find seductive lingerie for your woman that matches her style. Think not only about what she would look hot in, which as far as you’re concerned is everything, but also about what will make her feel good. Lingerie can up intimacy tenfold, making it a gift that keeps on giving.

Elevate Your Love Story

Do your homework, and you will be sure to deliver an unforgettably thoughtful sexy gift to your woman! Good luck, and don’t forget the most important part of gift-giving⏤the recipient should be at the forefront of your mind.