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,
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
