Editorial
Let’s prevent cancer through regular education, screening
Cancer is a dangerous illness that might cause death, therefore receiving a cancer diagnosis makes a person anxious or afraid.
Regretfully, even in situations where symptoms are detected early enough to enable treatment, certain cancers cause symptoms that cannot be relieved by supportive care or medication.
This is because cancer cells are capable of overrunning healthy cells and causing potentially fatal consequences.
Numerous families have been saddened and overburdened when loved ones and breadwinners pass away from malignancies like breast, prostate, cervical, and throat cancer, among others.
Although efforts have been made to discover a cure, the alarmingly high rate of cancer in Ghana and many other nations has not yet produced the desired outcomes. In many nations, this is placing a tremendous strain on the healthcare systems.
Cancer is a disease that knows no bounds, but according to reports, the number of teachers being affected by the disease is rising. This has raised serious concerns for the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT).
GNAT authorities claim that the number of their members afflicted with cancer is rising. Data from the GNAT Cancer Foundation (GCF) shows that there are 2,666 GNAT cancer patients at the Sweden Ghana Medical Center, of whom 2,388 are active duty members and 278 are retirees.
According to GNAT officials, there has been a significant increase in cancer cases among teachers in the Volta Region, namely in the Ho District, Akatsi-North, and Hohoe Municipality.
This is cause for alarm for everyone. The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that, with an estimated 9.6 million fatalities, or 1 in 6 deaths, in 2018, cancer was the second most common cause of death worldwide.
The statistics are worrying, and regular screening is necessary for early identification and treatment of cancer due to its severe repercussions.
Cancer treatment places a great deal of physical, psychological, and financial burden on patients, families, communities, and health systems.
Advocacy is necessary to raise awareness about cancer and to enhance education about cancer prevention, treatment, and management strategies.
The Spectator believes that regular hospital screening is crucial to resolving the issue, since some patients neglect to check in and wait until their conditions worsen before seeking medical assistance.
To stop cancer from starting, people need to maintain a normal body weight, consume a balanced diet, exercise frequently, and abstain from tobacco use.
A good healthcare delivery system must also be prioritised by governments in order to aid in early detection and the survival of many people with cancer and other chronic diseases.
Dear Editor,
It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. However, this saying becomes worrying when the health of citizens is threatened by the conditions under which the food they consume daily is sold.
In Ghana, the conditions under which food is sold is quite disturbing. Over the years, I have observed that the environments where food is prepared and sold are often unhygienic.
In many cases, containers holding food such as rice and waakye are left uncovered or not properly covered, exposing them to contamination.
While many Ghanaians paid little attention in the past to the conditions under which food was sold, the narrative seems to be changing in recent years.
I recall an incident during my days in Senior High School (S.H.S.) when my friends and I went out to buy food. At one location, some of us chose not to buy because we assumed the food would be expensive due to how neat the place looked.
Unfortunately, we ended up purchasing food from a different place that was somewhat unhygienic. We overlooked the poor conditions because we believed the quantity offered was better than at the cleaner location.
However, I am certain that my friends and I would not repeat such a mistake today, as we now understand the health implications of that decision.
While public education is important in addressing this issue, I believe it is time for regulatory and law enforcement agencies, such as the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), to crack the whip on food sellers and vendors who operate in unhygienic environments and conditions.
As citizens, we must also be mindful of where we buy our food to protect ourselves and our families from diseases and illnesses. We should choose ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’ and prioritize our health.
From Syram
Oyarifa
Dear Editor,
I write to express concern and call for improved security measures before and after every football match.
The recent robbery attack that led to the tragic death of a player, on their return from a Match day 29 game against Samartex, is both shocking and heartbreaking.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 10:30 p.m., highlights the growing risks faced by players and team officials while traveling.
Football is meant to unite and entertain, not to expose lives to danger. It is therefore imperative that authorities, the Ghana Football Association, and security agencies put in place adequate protection for teams, especially during late-night travels.
I strongly urge all stakeholders to treat this matter with urgency to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring.
From Eugene Ampiaw
Accra
