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Be serious with serious things; don’t be an average person
Perhaps it is an opportune time to pay our respects again to the fallacy of figures. We are sometimes inclined to look with considerable satisfaction upon columns of assorted figures which seem to indicate that all is well with the average. But statistical columns seldom take all of the facts into account, and this elusive individual known as “the average” is rarely found. The fallacy of averages appears when we begin to look at what lies above and below the average.
The fact that the average man isn’t starving doesn’t tell us anything about the man who is starving. The fact that the average man may try to meet his honest obligations doesn’t prove anything about the people who don’t make much effort to meet their obligations. The fact that the average rainfall is adequate doesn’t give much comfort to a farmer who has to face floods at one time and burning drought at another. The fact that the average temperature in a certain city is twenty degrees doesn’t take into account that it may be unbearably cold in the rainy season and unbearably hot in the dry season.
The Savior of the world once preached a sermon on the fallacy of averages. You won’t find these very words in holy writ. But you will remember the parable of the ninety and nine sheep who were safe, and of the one who was lost. If the Good Shepherd had been deceived by the fallacy of averages, he would perhaps have failed to go forth to find the one who was lost. Averages may not mean much when we are speaking of your children or of mine, or of ourselves or even of other men. “You may prove anything by figures, ” wrote Thomas Carlyle. But every man, woman, and child who walks the earth is an individual with his own immortal identity, and the personal problems of people are not frequently solved by figures or by fixed formulas from far places. We must look at people and their problems individually and with open eyes. Figures can be made to fool us if we will let them.
Sometimes because we think averagely we bear someone shoulder shrugging off a puzzling or disappointing situation with the comment, “What will it matter a hundred years from now?” This may be just a casual way of by-passing facts that we don’t want to face, but it’s a good question if we will ask it seriously: “What will it matter a hundred years from now or fifty, or ten, or tomorrow?” In many ways our lives would be very different if we would stop thinking in average terms and ask this question before we do some of the things we do, before we say some of the things we say, and before we pursue some of the objectives we pursue.
We are disposed to devote much time and energy to things that won’t matter much next year, or even tomorrow, to say nothing of a hundred years from now. We are often given to driving ourselves toward goals that aren’t worth arriving at when we get there. We are given to eating our hearts out for things our neighbors have, or that we think they have, which we pay a high price to acquire, and which, with the passing of many days, often count for little. Perhaps it is a good time to ask the question: “Where shall we be a hundred years from now?” Specifically, no man knows; but inasmuch as men are immortal, we shall still be ourselves, and we shall still think our own thoughts. And it isn’t likely that it will be any easier to run away from ourselves than it is now. But the passing of time will put its own appraisal on the record of the past. And the trivial things for which we have given much, the small talk in which we overindulge, and some of the things some have sold themselves for, will all be known, for their worthlessness.
Some things we thought were important, we shall know were exceedingly unimportant, and some of’ the things to which we didn’t give much attention, we shall come to learn mattered muchand our neglect will accuse us. But many of the things which clutter our lives and confuse bur thoughts now, won’t forever stand in our way so long as we keep faith and honestly do the best we can.
If we can learn to live a day at a time and keep moving in the right direction, the future will find that time will have sifted out much of the chaff and disposed of many problems, healed many wounds, quieted many sorrows, and dissolved many of our little fears; and time will have written the real values on many things on which we have now fixed false price tags.
By Samuel Enos Eghan
A Professor at the University of Ghana Medical School, Prof. Vincent Boima, has called for a major shift in the treatment and prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Ghana and across Africa, warning that the continent cannot rely on dialysis alone to manage the growing health burden.
Delivering his inaugural lecture at the university’s Great Hall on Thursday, Prof. Boima stated that chronic kidney disease was more common in Africa than in many high income countries, with most patients seeking treatment only when the disease had reached advanced stages.
Speaking on the theme, “From Genes to Mind: Holistic Pathways to Precision Kidney Care for Africa,” he explained that hypertension and diabetes remained the leading causes of kidney disease in Ghana, where many younger and economically active people were being affected.
According to him, the high cost of dialysis, limited transplant facilities and unequal access to treatment raised concerns about whether many cases of kidney failure could have been prevented through earlier interventions.
Prof. Boima proposed what he described as the “Genes–Mind–Community” model, which combines genetics, mental health and community based healthcare approaches to improve kidney care in Africa.
He explained that the “Genes” pillar focused on understanding the role genetics played in kidney disease among Africans, particularly the APOL1 risk variants common in West Africa.
The professor noted that studies in Ghana and other West African countries had shown that many people carried high risk APOL1 genes, which increased the chances of developing non diabetic kidney disease when combined with factors such as infections, hypertension and environmental pollution.
However, he cautioned that genetic information should be used responsibly and ethically, stressing that it should improve treatment decisions without increasing stigma or inequality.
Prof. Boima therefore called for more African led research into kidney disease genetics, affordable testing methods for early detection and stronger health systems to prepare for future gene targeted treatments.
On mental health, he indicated that psychological wellbeing was an important part of kidney care because many patients with hypertension, chronic kidney disease and those on dialysis experienced depression, anxiety and emotional distress.
He explained that financial difficulties, irregular access to medication and weak follow up systems often worsened the mental health burden on patients, affecting their ability to continue treatment.
To address the problem, he proposed routine mental health screening in hypertension and kidney clinics, together with culturally sensitive counselling and support systems.
Prof. Boima stressed that psychological care should become part of chronic disease management rather than being treated as optional.
Touching on the “Community” pillar, he stated that prevention remained the most effective and affordable strategy for reducing kidney failure, stroke and heart disease in Africa.
He disclosed that community studies in Ghana had shown that large scale blood pressure screening programmes could identify many people living with undiagnosed hypertension.
Despite this, he pointed out that many patients struggled to continue treatment because of transport costs, long hospital waiting times, expensive medication and inadequate financial support.
Prof. Boima proposed decentralising healthcare through community based services and primary healthcare centres, while also empowering nurses, pharmacists and other non physician health workers to assist with prevention and treatment.
He further recommended the use of simple technologies such as text message reminders to help patients take medication, reduce salt intake, exercise regularly and attend medical appointments.
The nephrologist also encouraged the use of family and faith based support systems to improve treatment adherence and continuity of care.
Speaking on the state of kidney treatment in Ghana, Prof. Boima explained that dialysis remained the main form of kidney replacement therapy in the country, although treatment was expensive and available mainly in a few locations.
He observed that many patients paid for dialysis from their own pockets, creating serious financial hardship for families, while kidney transplantation services also remained limited.
According to him, these challenges highlighted the need for Ghana to focus more on prevention, primary healthcare and long term chronic disease management instead of depending heavily on dialysis centres.
He called for expanded National Health Insurance coverage for essential medicines and diagnostic services, improved data systems, stronger primary healthcare and policies to support mental health and ethical genetic care.
Prof. Boima concluded by urging African countries to lead a new era of “precision kidney care” that focused on people rather than only treating diseased organs.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, commended Prof. Boima for his work, stating that the lecture had reshaped thinking on kidney healthcare in Africa.
She noted that the presentation highlighted the hidden financial and social costs of kidney disease and reinforced the need for healthier lifestyles, including reducing salt intake, exercising regularly and taking blood pressure checks seriously.
Prof. Appiah Amfo added that Africa must not only participate in precision medicine but should also help shape its future direction.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that passport applications that remain incomplete for more than two months will be automatically cancelled.
According to a public notice issued on May 15, the new directive takes immediate effect and applies to all passport applications from the date they are first submitted.
The Ministry explained that incomplete applications include cases that require further vetting, missing supporting documents, incomplete biometric capture or applications awaiting biometric re capture.
It warned that applicants whose submissions are cancelled will lose the fees already paid because the payments are non refundable.
Affected persons will therefore be required to begin a fresh application process and pay the required fees again.
“The general public is therefore encouraged to complete applications on time to avert cancellations,” the notice stated.
The Ministry also urged applicants to respond quickly whenever they are asked to provide additional documents or update their biometric information to avoid delays.
Officials explained that the policy is aimed at reducing delays and clearing backlogs caused by abandoned and incomplete passport applications in the system.
The Ministry assured the public of its commitment to improving passport service delivery across the country.
Applicants seeking further information have been advised to contact the Ministry’s 24 hour call centre
By: Jacob Aggrey
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