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Vaccinate boys, girls against cervical cancer
Dr Partey-Newman
Dr Victoria Partey-Newman, a Resident Public Health Physician, West African College of Surgeons (WACS), has advocated the vaccination of both boys and girls in the fight against cervical cancer.
In her view, it was the most effective way to prevent the disease from spreading.
Consequently, she expressed the view that it should be engrafted in the educational policy of the country for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to be administered in schools to boys and girls from the age of nine.
According to her, vaccinating both boys and girls could facilitate the eradication of the HPV and also protect boys from infection, reduce transmission, increase herd immunity and effectively reduce HPV associated diseases.
She explained that although men do not suffer from the cancer, they can still contract the HPV after having sex with an infected woman and transmit it.
Dr Partey-Newman said this in an interview with The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra as Ghana joined the world to commemorate the Cervical Cancer awareness month observed in January every year.
The theme for 2024 edition is ‘learn, prevent, screen.’
The month is set aside each year by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of the disease and vaccination against HPV, which is the main cause of cervical cancer.
According to WHO, this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month aims to highlight the importance of increasing access to HPV vaccines, regular screening, and state-of-the-art treatment for cervical cancer in its early stages.
It said, its shared objective was to dramatically reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer by 2030 and to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by 2120.
Dr Partey-Newman, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ladybits Health and Wellness Center said “due to our culture about sex, most young girls have not yet been vaccinated right from age nine in schools.”
She urged women to be proactive with their health by visiting the hospital when they experience vaginal bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, watery vaginal discharges with odour which sometimes contains blood.
She urged women to go for their regular screening each year and avoid smoking, having multiple sexual partners, eat a well-balanced diet and exercise regularly.
Dr Party-Newman mentioned that cervical cancer was primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk strains of human papillomavirus (HPV).
Currently, she said estimates show that every year 2,797 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, out of which 1,699 die from the disease.
She said the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) ranked cervical cancer as the second most frequent cancer among women in Ghana and the second most frequent cancer among women be
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has advised Ghanaians living in South Africa to remain vigilant and take precautionary measures ahead of planned protest activities expected on June 30.
In a public advisory issued on Monday, June 29, the Mission urged Ghanaian nationals to prioritise their safety following a deadline announced by a group known as “March and March” and its affiliated organisations, which could lead to demonstrations and disruptions in parts of the country.
The High Commission advised Ghanaians to stay indoors, especially in central business districts, transport hubs, informal trading areas and other locations where protests may occur.
It encouraged them to temporarily close their businesses where necessary and avoid unnecessary movement until the situation stabilises.
The Mission further urged members of the Ghanaian community to avoid confrontations or provocative discussions, including on social media, and to ensure that their passports, residence permits and other identification documents were readily available at all times.
According to the High Commission, emergency telephone lines have been activated to provide assistance and receive reports from Ghanaians who may require help during the period.
It encouraged Ghanaians to remain calm, obey the laws of South Africa and cooperate fully with local authorities.
The Mission advised them to rely only on information from credible official sources and avoid sharing unverified reports or rumours that could create unnecessary panic.
The Ghana High Commission assured the Ghanaian community that it would continue to monitor developments and provide updates when necessary, adding that it remained committed to protecting the welfare of all Ghanaian nationals in South Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has criticised the government’s handling of the flooding that hit parts of Accra and surrounding communities on Monday, urging it to move beyond what it described as public relations activities and take decisive action to address the country’s flood challenges.
In a press release issued on June 29, the party expressed sympathy to thousands of people affected by the floods but maintained that the government had failed to respond effectively to the recurring disaster.
The NPP noted that communities including the N1 Highway, Apenkwa, Achimota, Kaneshie, Weija, Spintex, Darkuman Junction and the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange were flooded after heavy rains.
According to the party, these communities have experienced flooding repeatedly over the years, making it necessary for government to adopt long term solutions.
The NPP argued that the current administration had created confusion by splitting responsibility for flood management between the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.
It claimed that the arrangement had resulted in poor coordination, with the two ministries competing over responsibilities instead of working together to address the problem.
The party questioned the decision to place Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe in charge of coordinating flood response efforts.
According to the NPP, he does not have the authority to direct ministers, making the current command structure ineffective.
The opposition party further alleged that some anti flood measures announced by the government had either not been implemented or had been poorly executed.
It claimed that delays in the release of funds for flood mitigation programmes had affected ongoing interventions.
The NPP rejected recent comments by President John Dramani Mahama that flooding was partly caused by poor environmental practices and indiscipline among some citizens.
It argued that while public cooperation was important, the government should take responsibility for designing and implementing effective flood management policies.
The party called on the President to place flood management under one ministry, appoint a single minister to lead the response, and provide a public account of the work and spending of the Anti Flood Task Force.
It also urged the government to work closely with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and technical experts to improve land use planning, sanitation management and drainage infrastructure.
The statement, signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, stressed that the party would continue to hold the government accountable while standing with families affected by the floods.
By: Jacob Aggrey
