Editorial
Avoid exposing young children to screens
According to experts, a child’s first year of life is crucial for their development, and during this time they should not be exposed to any screens at all as this can lead to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in young children.
A child with autism is unable to interact socially with peers in a typical way due to a neurological deficiency in brain functioning. It makes it difficult to engage and speak with other people.
In fact, there is rise in children’s screen time exposure in this technological age. While there are unquestionable advantages to electronic gadgets, too much screen time can be harmful to a child’s brain development.
Communication problems, strange social interactions, delayed cognitive and learning capacities, and improper emotional responses are a few of these.
Apart from watching TV, young children are given iPads, tablets, phones, and other electronic gadgets to use for extended periods of time without parental supervision. This puts the children in danger.
Studies have shown that children who spend more time in front of screens are more likely to acquire ASD, even though other studies have found that children who play video games do better academically and in terms of intellectual functioning.
Still, not enough information has been gathered to validate this association.
Additionally, compared to children exposed later or never exposed to screens at all throughout their early years of life, children who are exposed to screens earlier in life have a higher chance of having ASD.
Over the past few years, autism has become more common in Ghana, where many young children have reported to medical facilities showing symptoms of the illness.
It is often believed that people with autism typically have less fulfilling lives than those without the condition because of their social isolation and low self-esteem, which can create anxiety and sadness.
Parental stress and family stress are common when a child has autism. Taking care of the child’s requests requires patience because it takes a lot of time and can quickly lead to tension, agitation, and exhaustion in a mother.
Furthermore, it can be challenging for a woman to raise an autistic child and take care of the rest of the family if she is experiencing mental, emotional, or financial difficulties.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that children under the age of two should not use screens at all, while children over the age of three should only use screens for one hour each day.
So, prior to the age of two, parents should refrain from allowing their children to use screens unsupervised. If you notice any indications of a disorder in your child, get assistance as soon as possible to help treat the condition.
Have face-to-face conversations with your children and make sure they are exposed to outdoor play and toys rather than letting them use phones and iPads.
Dear Editor,
The recent shooting to death of Javits Frimpong, a 15 year old Ghanaian student in Bronx, USA, is a heartbreaking reminder that bullying should never be dismissed as a normal part of growing up.
Reports indicate that the teenager had allegedly been subjected to bullying at school before he was fatally shot on his way to class.
While investigations continue and the exact motive yet to be officially established, the circumstances surrounding this tragedy have raised serious concerns about the impact of not checking bullying.
What makes this loss even more painful is that Javits Frimpong, had moved from Ghana to the United States with hopes of a brighter future through education. Instead, his life was cut short at an age when he should have been pursuing his dreams and preparing for adulthood.
Bullying is often viewed as harmless teasing, but its effects can be severe and long-lasting. Victims may suffer emotional trauma, anxiety, depression, poor academic performance, and, in extreme cases, become entangled in violence.
This incident should serve as a wake-up call to schools everywhere. Complaints of bullying must be taken seriously, investigated promptly, and addressed decisively before situations escalate.
Parents, teachers, school authorities, and community leaders all share a responsibility to create safe environments for young people.
Open communication, counselling services, anti-bullying education, and effective disciplinary measures can help protect vulnerable students.
Equally important is teaching young people respect, empathy, and peaceful conflict resolution.
As we mourn the loss of Javits Frimpong, let us also commit ourselves to ensuring that no other child loses their life because warning signs were ignored. The fight against bullying is not merely a school issue; it is a societal responsibility.
Yours faithfully,
Dansoman
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The recent report that 294 teenage girls in the Ayawaso West Municipality failed to receive their Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination is a depressing reminder of the gap between medical progress and public trust.
In a focused campaign with 997 girls the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal Health Directorate reached a 70 percent coverage rate. Our public health professionals deserve praise for reaching 703 girls, but the remaining 30 percent pose a serious threat.
This shortfall is not due to a lack of institutional effort, logistics, or resources. The directorate had sufficient logistics, as highlighted by Public Health Nurse Patience Adoli Kporxah. Rather, the barrier was completely human: a lack of parental approval.
In Ghana, one of the top causes of cancer-related mortality for women is still cervical cancer. Ironically, it is also one of the most avoidable. The HPV vaccine is widely acknowledged as a safe, highly effective barrier that, when given early, can prevent up to 90 percent of cervical cancers.
Parents are unknowingly leaving their daughters vulnerable to a virus that they will probably come into contact with in the future by withholding approval.
This initiative was not initiated in secret by the health directorate. They coordinated with churches, mosques, and media outlets, spoke at Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, and sent letters to schools as part of their broad public outreach efforts. However, around 300 parents continued to withhold their signatures in spite of these multi-dimensional approaches.
Why is this resistance still present? Fear, cultural taboos, and false information about vaccines and reproductive health on the internet are the main causes of vaccine hesitation rather than an intent to hurt a child. When a vaccination is administered to young teenagers in schools, it may cause unjustified concerns about fertility and sexuality.
Our public health initiatives need to change in order to close this gap before the November and December phases.
Letters and the mass media are important, but they are unable to provide precise, worried answers. During PTA meetings, health staff could think about holding direct question and answer sessions so parents may express their worries without fear of being judged.
In order to normalise the vaccine, community elders, religious leaders, and reputable local physicians must do more than simply impart knowledge; they must openly support it.
We must present the HPV vaccine as a standard, life-saving cancer prevention tool that is now completely incorporated into Ghana’s regular immunisation programme.
The entrance is still open, according to public health officials. Daughters who did not participate in the school-based activity can still get the vaccination at no cost by taking them to any government health institution.
We must work together to prevent cervical cancer in the future generation. The infrastructure, education, and dosages have been supplied by public health teams. The trust must now be provided by the parents of Ayawaso West and Ghana as a whole.
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