Editorial
Condom use is the solution
More people are testing positive for HIV
Dear Editor,
I saw an opinion piece recently on ‘myjoyonline.com’ titled: “Is condom the solution?” The article, among many things, suggested that access to condom use encourages promiscuity, contributes to decay in societal values.
According to “Papa Osofo”, “to give condoms on campuses and many other social functions is to programme our men to grow to become ‘playboys’, and women to become “desperate housewives” or “desperate emotionally broken corporate/working class women” who are “mad.”
While I appreciate the opinions stated in the article as the writer’s own, it is important to note that opinions such as these are dangerous and detrimental to Ghana’s effort to battle and end the HIV/AIDs pandemic, especially at a time when the country had recorded an increase in new infections.
According to current reports, the country had recorded over 23,000 new infections within six months! Research shows that consistent users of condoms are 10 to 20 times less likely to become infected when exposed to the virus than inconsistent or non-users.
Other studies indicate that current levels of HIV would be five times higher without condom use and that an increase in condom use averts about 117 million HIV infections.
I, therefore, believe discouraging the use of condoms can trigger new infections that could potentially lead to a public health crisis our current health system might not have the capacity to contain.
I am not, in any way, asking people to go on a sexual spree, but it is important to call a spade a spade not a shovel! Sex is a biological need like hunger or thirst for a lot of people, regardless of their religious beliefs.
Whether we like it or not, people will continue to engage in it. While teaching abstinence is good, it does not prevent HIV as people rarely practise abstinence, especially young people.
Ghana must intensify its sexual and reproductive health interventions including public education on condom use, safe sex practices, single partnership, regular HIV/AIDs testing, and abstinence to reduce new infections. It is no longer prudent to look on unconcerned as an avalanche of new infections loom.
Joana Addey,
Teshie-Nungua Estate,
Accra.
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
