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Caution: Avoid recreational drugs for healthy life – Physician Specialist
● Dr Ken Amaniampong
Though Christmas is characterised by merrymaking, revellers, individuals and social groups have been warned against recreational drugs which have negative effect on human health.
Dr. Ken Amaniampong, a Family Physician Specialist with Jubail Specialist Hospital at Sakumono has admonished the public to refrain from drugs because their effect was very dangerous and could lead to various health complications including lung cancer.
According to the Specialist, “marijuana, an example of a recreational drug is causing more harm to the youth who are abusing it for fun or lifestyle”.
He added that, smoking of any form including shisha and e-cigarettes was detrimental to one’s health irrespective of the age because it only led to diseases that could place a toll on an individual’s life, even at a treatment stage.
Dr. Amaniampong said “Smoking only increases one’s risk of heart disease, stroke, and different types of cancer among others, and affects the fertility of the smoker and also delays conception”.
He highlighted that recreational drugs were ranged from analgesics, depressants, stimulants to hallucinogens.
Analgesics, he said, were narcotics including heroin, morphine, codeine which affected the central nervous system of the human.
Depressants, according to the Physician Specialist were drugs such as alcohol, nicotine, tranquillisers among others which slowed down the function of the central nervous system.
Hallucinogens, he stated, affected an individual’s senses and changed the way “one sees, hears, tastes, smells and feels things” and enumerated some of the drugs that caused these awful changes of one’s senses, as mescaline, ketamine, PCP among others.
Dr. Amaniampong admonished Ghanaians to have a regular check up to identify any shortcomings in their health and wellness at an early stage for treatment.
He cautioned the youth to avoid irrelevant lifestyles that would only put them at risk of contracting complications that would require huge amount of money for treatment.
“Whatever bad lifestyle you practise in the present, has an effect on your future, so eschew all forms of lifestyle that pose danger to your health”, he said.
He indicated that one could develop high blood pressure, rapid or irregular heartbeat kidney or liver damage, respiratory difficulties and cardiovascular diseases from abusing recreational drugs.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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Seek healthcare at facilities where nursing services are available – Ministry of Health
As a result of the ongoing strike action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and
Midwives Association (GRNMA), it has become imperative for the Ministry of
Health to implement additional measures to mitigate any inconvenience that has been caused.
According to the Ministry, in a statement, it has through all appropriate channels, led negotiations to ensure the smooth approval and implementation of the
new Conditions of Service.
Against this backdrop, the statement added that in line with the Ministry’s policy to ensure healthy population for national development, it has become necessary to make provisions to fill the gaps created as a result of the strike.
Consequently, the Ministry has urged the general public to continue seeking healthcare services at various health facilities, including those where nursing services remain available, to ensure their health needs are met.
They Ministry also attached a link of health facilities across the country in the statement.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Check the statement below
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MTN, Telecel & AT to increase value of data bundles effective Tuesday, July 1, 2025
The Minister for Communication and Digital Innovation, Sam George, has announced an increase in the value of data bundles by all telecommunication networks in the country.
Speaking at a Meet The Press held today, he said the new directive will take effect from July 1, 2025.
According to him, the implementation date of July 1, is to allow the telcos to recalibrate and reconfigure their systems to reflect the agreed-upon value increases.
He said The new directive will ensure that “AirtelTigo Ghana (AT Ghana): A 10% increase in all data bundles currently offered by the network, additionally, the GH₵400 bundle, which currently offers 195GB, will now offer 236GB.”
Touching on Telecel Ghana, he said, “A 10% increase in data bundles currently offered by the network, their GH₵400 bundle, which currently offers 90GB, will offer 250GB, effective from July 1.”
On MTN Ghana, the minister said, there would be “a 15% increase in all data bundles currently offered by the network and I am pleased to announce the restoration of GH₵399 bundle, which currently has been changed to GH₵350 that offers 92.88GB, will hence be reinstated to 214GB for GH₵399.”
Sam George has also urged the operators to invest in the quality of their network to ensure customers are better served.
He charged the regulator National Communication Authority (NCA) to strictly monitor the changes.
The minister expressed appreciation to the CEOs of the various companies for close collaboration over the last four months.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
