Features
The poisons in the pot
EI! Ei!! Ei!!! Umofians, hear this! They say when the chicken comes home to roost, it is not just about feathers, it is the whole farm that trembles! And when the drum beats, the elders have no choice but to gather. Ah! The drums have sounded and the elders have indeed gathered.
Umofians, the winds whisper tales of a certain maiden causing chaos in our land, and the people are at an unrest. Hmmmm! As the elders say, “The thief who steals in the night forgets that the sun will rise.” So, too, will the truth rise, exposing all who hide in the dark.
Ah, how can a servant of Umofia be pocketing GH¢84,000 just for clothes, when the very soil cries out under the weight of Umofians suffering? Ahhh! Even the goddesses of the fashion realm are shaking their heads in disbelief. And GH¢7,000 for entertainment? Ah, what sorcery is this?
Eii, our forefathers are rolling in their graves, scratching their heads, wondering if this is the same Umofia they fought, shed blood and tears for. Ah! Indeed, wonders shall never end.
Is it not in this very Umofia that children, with the perseverance of seasoned marathoners, are trekking barefoot to school, their classrooms nothing more than the shade of a tree?
Is it not in this same land that young lads and maidens lie in rusted beds under a decaying and leaking roof at Umuofia’s so-called “premier” hospital, suffering in silence without hope? Ahh! Yet a few privileged ones feast on the spoils meant for the whole community, while the rest of Umofians are left to endure the rust, the leaks, and the empty promises.
Is it not in the same Umofia that Nurses, Doctors, Teachers, Kayayei, Masons, and Police officers are working tirelessly to keep the community running, while barely scraping by? Ahh! Such are the tales of the indigenes of Umofia.
And yet, a certain maiden in this land negotiated a deal with no conscience, probably strutting around like a peacock, all while singing hymns in church on Sunday. How wickedly can one be to lose their own conscience? Ah, Afia Mansah, my heart bleeds ooo, and even the gods are weeping at the state of our land!
You see, our elders say, “He who dines with the king must not forget the village.” But all I see and hear of are the many who are chasing the stool of the Kingdom not to serve, but to fill their pots like greedy goats that feast on a farmer’s crops, leaving nothing for the rest. They come with mouths full of promises but leave with hands full of riches!
Ohhh! How I long to see the day when many of the King’s men would stay if they were paid as much as the village drummer who pounds the rhythm for the King’s dance.
I wonder how many would remain when their pockets are as empty as dried gourds. Even better, I long for the day when the kings’ men will be paid based on the true progress of the work they do. Umofians, you will watch how quickly their promises turn to dust and their feets move faster than a rabbit evading the hunter!
May the ancestors in their infinite wisdom deal with every one of the rotten heads of Umofia, without mercy, until their fifth generation. For they say, “When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to its branches.”
Goodnight, Umofia, may the stars shine bright upon us, and may the dawn bring hope and change.
With Eyram, the Tale Bearer
Features
The Palestinian martyr-Little Hind Rajab
THE wickedness of some people in our world is gradually getting out of bounds. From local arena to international arena, reports of wicked acts that defies logic, is on the rise.
Russia has attacked Ukraine and as a result, the economies of many countries have been negatively impacted. Residential apartments which have no military purpose. Just sheer wickedness and cruelty.
After this came the Brutal attack on Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces. Hospitals were bombed, buildings were razed down and civilians were deliberately targeted which is a war crime according to the Geneva Convention.
The IDF will release pamphlets in the skies informing them to move to certain specified areas. They move there with their families only to be bombed again without warning.
It was one of such movement from one place to another that, the family of a 5 year Palestinian girl called Hind Rajab and her family, travelling in a vehicle, were shot at by an IDF Tank.
This wounded girl managed to call emergency services to come and save them.
The sad thing is that while this brave little girl kept talking to the emergency response person on the phone, telling them that they should come quickly and that she was afraid.
She further told the response team on phone that any time she tries to speak, blood comes into her mouth and it soils her dress and she dies not want her mum to scold her so they should come quickly.
The response team rushed as usual to her location but they were also shot and killed, the driver and his assistant, in a vehicle clearly marked as an ambulance. Ten days later when they got to her location, Hind Rajab and her family were dead and their vehicle was riddled with 335 bullets.
The wickedness with which the IDF waged the war against Hamas, the administrative authority in Gaza, was unbelievable, given the damage to civilians both collateral and in most cases deliberate.
There are reports of some Doctors from the US and other countries, who have described how children they attended to, who were brought in dead, had evidence of sniper bullets.
A report by one of the media platforms, indicated that one of the IDF snipers who died recently, had bragged about shooting children in the abdomen so they will suffer before dying.
What baffles me in all these atrocities, is why Jews who have been saved by a collective action of the world, from Hitler and his Nazis from destruction, infamously known as the Holocaust, is now visiting mayhem on others, namely the Palestinians.
One begins to wonder if Hitler was right after all and that he saw something that the rest of the world did not notice about the Jews. I must admit that it is not all Jews that are racist. It is the Zionist who are the problem with their Talmud which teaches that Jesus is burning in hot feaces.
They deliberately teach their children to hate other people who are not Jews especially the Palestinians. They do not consider the Palestinians as humans and therefore they believe they have the God given right to treat them anyway anyhow.
Hind Rajab’s death has pricked the conscience of the world and countries which used to blindly support Israel, are now putting pressure on them to observe a ceasefire as part of a peace negotiation.
Let the world through the UN show that it does not support barbarism and that the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel, must come to an end.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
Angioplasty: A comprehensive overview of the procedure and its applications
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to widen narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. The procedure involves the insertion of a catheter, a small tube, into the affected artery, followed by the inflation of a balloon to widen the artery. In some cases, a stent, a small mesh tube, may be placed to keep the artery open.
Indications for Angioplasty
Angioplasty is often used to treat conditions such as:
1. Coronary artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.
2. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs or arms.
3. Atherosclerosis: Buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to narrowing or blockage.
The Angioplasty Procedure
The angioplasty procedure typically involves the following steps:
1. Preparation: The patient is given local anesthesia and may be sedated to help them relax.
2. Insertion of the catheter: A small incision is made in the skin, and a catheter is inserted into the affected artery.
3. Guidance: The catheter is guided to the affected area using imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy or angiography.
4. Inflation of the balloon: The balloon on the catheter is inflated to widen the artery.
5. Stent placement: A stent may be placed to keep the artery open.
6. Removal of the catheter: The catheter is removed, and the incision site is closed.
Benefits of Angioplasty
Angioplasty offers several benefits, including:
1. Improved blood flow: Angioplasty can help improve blood flow to the affected area, reducing symptoms such as chest pain or leg pain.
2. Minimally invasive: Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, which means that it requires only a small incision and can reduce recovery time.
3. Reduced risk of complications: Angioplasty can reduce the risk of complications associated with more invasive surgical procedures.
Potential Risks and Complications
While angioplasty is generally a safe procedure, there are potential risks and complications, including:
1. Bleeding or hematoma: Bleeding or bruising at the incision site.
2. Artery damage: Damage to the artery during the procedure.
3. Restenosis: Narrowing or blockage of the artery again after the procedure.
Conclusion
Angioplasty is a highly effective procedure for treating narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. While it carries some risks and complications, the benefits of improved blood flow and reduced symptoms make it a valuable treatment option for many patients.
References:
1. American Heart Association. (2020). Angioplasty and Stenting.
2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2020). Angioplasty and Stent Placement.
3. Mayo Clinic. (2020). Angioplasty: What You Need to Know.
4. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (2019). Angioplasty and Stenting in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of angioplasty, including its indications, procedure, benefits, and potential risks and complications.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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