Features
Ghanaians have poor health behaviour – Dr Stella Gyamfi
Though issues pertaining to health are essential and should not be compromised, Ghanaians have been described as people with poor health behaviour.
A Public Health Specialist In- Charge of the Kaneshie Polyclinic, Dr Stella Gyamfi who made the disclosure said “people do not report at the hospital as the first option, but resort to seeking the opinion of relatives and friends to treat perceived ailments.”
“Others visit pharmacies where investigations are carried into their problems and medications are given while the underlying causes of the ailments are not identified,” she said..
She advised that patients should visit the hospital for proper diagnoses to be carried out on them to identify the disease for the appropriate medicine to be administered to them.
She explained that this was contrary to what pertained in advanced countries, where mandatory medical checkup were in place.
Dr Gyamfi said since health workers were worse offenders, the Ministry of Health had instituted a mandatory Peer Review Screening for its staff with a Medical Doctor In-Charge, after which the performance of the staff would be assessed based on the screening result.
Breast cancer awareness
She said the main reason for breast cancer awareness campaign in October was to educate women about the disease and the need to sensitise them for early detection for prompt treatment to be carried out on the patient.
She lamented that a friend of her’s who had her screening 20 years ago and became an advocate of early detection, had passed on this year.
Dr Gyamfi advised women to examine their breasts after they had completed their menses, adding that they should watch out for signs of lumps or swelling in the breast, discharges and changes in the nipples, changes in the colour of the breast, among others.
She commended women groups for the advocacy roles they had played over the years.
She said though women who had attained 50 years and above, those who had their menopause after 55 years, those who work in an environment where radiation takes place, those obese, and ladies who had commenced their menses as early as 12 years, were at a risk of contracting the disease, recent research had indicated that even ladies as young as 25 years had also contracted the disease.
Youth
She has called on the youth to believe in Jesus as their personal Saviour and he would direct them through life.
“As a child of God, find out God’s plan for you in life, pursue it and you will succeed. Success should be looked at from God’s perspective.”
The youth should be mindful of many destructions in life, pursue academic excellence, access God diligently and things would fall in place.
Career and family life
Dr Stella Gyamfi has three children, one is a medical Doctor, another is a Clinical Psychologist and the third is a PhD student of Actuarial Science.
Born in Kumasi to Mr Paul Brandford Gyamfi Senior and Mrs Grace Gyamfi, both Presbyterians, Dr Stella Gyamfi, started Class One when she was five years old at the State Experimental Primary School in Kumasi.
She passed the Common Entrance Examination at the age of 11 and enrolled at Aburi Senior High School and attended from Form One to Upper Sixth.
Eager to atone for the inability of her mother to become a Medical Doctor but settled for a Midwife, Dr Gyamfi, due to misinformation, chose and read Pharmacy at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology for one academic year.
Fortunately, since the determination was there and backed with ability, she assessed Soviet Union Scholarship in 1983 and enrolled to read language for one year, continued to study medicine in Ukraine and successfully completed in 1990.
Dr Gyamfi described the scholarship as very beneficial since many students could not have afforded to study medicine without support from foreign governments.
Poised to broaden her knowledge, she has obtained the following; Certificate in Theology at the Theological Seminary, Legon, 1997-98, Bachelor in Divinity, 1998-2001, Masters in Public Health at the University of Ghana, 200-2001, Masters of Theology, Princeton Theological Seminary, 2004-2005 and PhD in Theology , with Specialty in Theological Ethics, 2013-2018.
Dr Stella Gyaamfi who is an adjunct lecturer has intimated that when she eventually lays down her medical tolls for good, she would prefer to go into full time lecturing.
By Raymond Kyekye
I experienced something on Monday, June 15, that really frustrated me. I had to go to the ministries but I could not get up early that day so I decided to pick a taxi and get to the Tuba Junction.
When I got there I realised that Traffic had built up from the Toll Booth towards Accra. After a while I got a Taxi and it was when we got to a certain spot on the road, that I realised why there was a traffic jam.
There is a short stretch of the road where each time it rains heavily, loose material run down the hill onto the road, blocking one side of the road. Vehicles from Kasoa to Accra are then forced to move into one of the lanes of those going towards Kasoa from Accra.
The two lane road from Accra to Kasoa becomes a single carriage way. That was the reason for the traffic jam from the toll booth onwards.
This has been a perineal problem and yet, no permanent solution has been found till date. The area falls under Ga South and even though, a new MCE has taken over, the technocrats are still there and so the problem is not new to them.
There is therefore no excuse for the inability of the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly to resolving the problem on that stretch of the road. Apart from the Ga South Metropolitan Assembly, another institution that must be held accountable is the Ghana Highways Authority.
The Highways Authority cannot say they are unaware of this issue. The fact that the problem falls within the area of responsibility of the Ga South Assembly, does not relieve the Ghana Highways Authority, of their responsibility of ensuring that our highways are maintained in a motorable state at all times.
A collaboration between the Ghana Highways Authority and The Ga South Municipal Assembly is required for a permanent resolution of the problem.
There was another traffic jam at a place called Atala about 250 metres to the traffic light at Old Barrier as a result of an issue similar to the one close to the toll booth, that I talked about earlier.
When we got to Weija junction, we encountered another traffic jam. The cause of this jam was a bad condition of road about 80 metres from the traffic light at Ga South Hospital heading towards Accra.
Due to the bad nature at that section of the road, vehicles are compelled to slow down resulting in a traffic jam stretching all the way to Weija Junction.
I started wondering if that short stretch of road cannot be sorted on one Sunday when traffic is usually light. When we got to the traffic light at Odorkor, there was another issue.
When the traffic light shows green, there is a slow down because there is a big pothole or should I say manhole in the outer lane, right at the traffic light. Vehicles in the outer lane are compelled to swerve into the second lane thereby causing a traffic to slow down and resulting in a traffic jam.
It is very important to take into account the effect of traffic jam on the national economy. If we are able to assess the value of the loss to the economy of the nation, I believe the issue of traffic jam will be prioritised.
Imagine persons working at various Government Organisations like Registrar General’s Department, Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, CEPS etc. and lives at Kasoa and whose job is to collect revenue for the state and is held up in traffic.
Just imagine the effect their lateness to work will have on the economy if you consider the delays in say clearing of goods at the port and as a result traders cannot sell their goods for government to generate the required taxes.
Let us deal with the traffic jams on our streets to promote economic growth. God bless.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Mortality is an inherent aspect of life, a universal experience that has sparked philosophical, theological, and scientific inquiry throughout human history.
This article aims to provide a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of mortality, acknowledging the complexity of the topic and the diverse perspectives surrounding it.
The biological imperative
From a biological standpoint, death is a natural part of the life cycle. It serves as a mechanism for the evolution of species, allowing for the passing on of genetic material and the adaptation to environmental changes.
Evolutionary perspective: Death allows for the recycling of resources, promoting the survival and adaptation of species.
Life span and senescence: Cellular aging and the limitations of biological systems contribute to mortality.
Philosophical and existential perspectives
Existentialism: Emphasises individual freedom and responsibility in the face of mortality.
Meaning and purpose: The finite nature of life can prompt individuals to seek meaning and purpose.
The human condition: Mortality is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, shaping our perceptions and values.
Cultural and spiritual views
Afterlife and spirituality: Many cultures and religions believe in an afterlife or spiritual continuation.
Rituals and mourning: Cultural practices surrounding death reflect the significance of mortality in human experience.
Legacy and remembrance: The impact of one’s life can transcend mortality.
Ethical considerations
End-of-life care: Ethical debates surround issues like euthanasia, assisted dying, and palliative care.
Quality of life: Balancing the value of life with the quality of life is a complex ethical issue.
Resource allocation: Societal decisions about healthcare and resource distribution involve considerations of mortality.
Psychological impact
Grief and loss: The experience of mortality can evoke profound emotional responses.
Fear and anxiety: The awareness of mortality can lead to existential anxiety.
Appreciation and gratitude: Recognising mortality can foster appreciation for life.
Conclusion
Mortality is a multifaceted aspect of human existence, influencing how we live, relate, and find meaning. Understanding and acknowledging mortality can prompt deeper reflections on life and our place in the world.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
