News
‘Equip polyclinic theatres to improve antenatal care’
A philanthropist and antenatal care (ANC) advocate, Mrs Safia Ayivor, has called on the government, private organisations and individuals to prioritise the provision of anaesthesia machines and surgical packs for polyclinic theatres to improve Antenatal Care (ANC) services across the country.
According to her, equipping polyclinics with such critical medical facilities would help save the lives of mothers and babies, particularly in emergency situations where timely surgical intervention would be required.
“If a polyclinic can safely perform a Cesarean section (C-section), it relieves massive pressure on teaching hospitals and saves precious time for the mother,” she stated.
Mrs Ayivor made the remarks after recently donating toiletries, diapers and other essential items worth thousands of Ghana cedis to new mothers and expectant women at the Ashaiman Municipal Hospital in the Greater Accra Region.
The donation, which formed part of activities marking her 40th birthday celebration, was aimed at supporting mothers, especially those from deprived backgrounds, in caring for their newborns.
Joined by family and friends, Mrs Ayivor and her team presented the items to about 50 mothers and pregnant women to support them during the early stages of childcare and motherhood.
She noted that improving maternal healthcare delivery in Ghana requires a shift from crisis management to building a resilient healthcare system capable of handling emergencies effectively.
“Donations act as a vital bandage, but equipping polyclinics to handle emergencies on-site is what will ultimately save lives,” she stressed.
Mrs Ayivor and her team also interacted with nurses and caregivers at the facility to explore additional ways of supporting the polyclinic in the future.
Highlighting some of the challenges confronting ANC units and maternity wards, she pointed to severe space constraints, explaining that many facilities were frequently overwhelmed by the high number of patients.
According to her, the limited space results in long waiting times for pregnant women, while overcrowded wards place enormous pressure on frontline midwives and nurses.
“This operational pressure stretches frontline midwives and nurses to their absolute limits,” she stated.
Mrs Ayivor further called on benevolent organisations and individuals to support healthcare facilities by investing in critical infrastructure rather than focusing solely on consumable items.
“Donations should not just be about consumables, individuals and organisations must also target critical infrastructure to improve healthcare delivery,” she added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
The Danish Children Fund (DCF), a Denmark-based NGO supporting children’s education, has encouraged students to prioritise their education and desist from misuse and abuse of drugs to enhance their holistic growth and development.
The call was made during a day’s sensitisation seminar on drug abused for students in Tamale to help them make informed life choices and stay away from abusing drug substances.
The event, held under an initiative dubbed: ‘Youths in Focus,’ brought together students, teachers and officials from the Ghana Police Service, Narcotics Control Commission and Ghana Education Service to educate young people on the dangers associated with drugs abused and their addiction trends.
Mr Benjamin Yin, Project Manager of DCF and Headmaster of Kalpohin SDA Basic School, speaking during the event, said the intervention was necessitated by increasing concerns over drugs abused among the youth in Tamale.
He said the organisation, which primarily focused on supporting needy children to remain in school, recognised the need to complement educational support with interventions that empowered young people to make responsible decisions.
Mr Yin highlighted some achievements of the DCF in the education sector in Tamale and said the organisation currently sponsored 55 vulnerable children to remain in school, most of whom were orphans.
He explained that out of the number, 23 beneficiaries were at Kalpohin SDA School, 18 at Tamale SDA School and 15 at Jakarayili School.
He said the support package included learning materials, food and other essential items to prevent school dropouts.
Beyond educational sponsorship, he said the organisation had invested in educational infrastructure to improve learning environments in beneficiary schools.
The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Mr Richard Akumi, Deputy Northern Regional Crime Officer, who addressed the students during the event, described the abuse of drugs among young people as a major challenge requiring collective action.
He said the Ghana Police Service had intensified efforts to tackle the abuse of drug in the region through law enforcement operations and community sensitisation programmes.
ASP Mr Akumi noted that the Northern Regional Police Command’s Special Operations Team had been carrying out operations across Tamale to dismantle drug hotspots and arrest suspects involved in drug-related activities. –GNA
