Editorial
Good personal hygiene is important
Personal hygiene is a health issue that cannot be taken for granted so all people, adults and children included, must keep to pleasant personal care.
When the body is kept clean, we are able to prevent diseases from coming our way. This means that we need to take our bath regularly in the morning and evening.
If this is not done, sickness will set in and the result will be going to the hospital for medical care. When this happens, precious time will be spent on avoidable activities such as hospital attendance.
In addition, some money will also be spent on medicine and this goes to show that we need to be careful with our personal hygiene.
Personal hygiene is not just regular bathing, both morning and evening. It also includes regular washing and ironing of clothes before wearing them.
Again, various parts of the body ought to be kept clean. When people carry bad odour on their bodies, they drive away their friends and neighbours. Apart from that, people may find it difficult to come close to such people.
In the case of married couples, one of the partners may be driven away because of unpleasant scent. This can bring problems in the marriage.
One of such problems may be unfaithfulness on the part of one of the partners. The partner who is not happy may go out to seek companionship with another person outside the marriage.
Similarly, all people, both young and old or married and unmarried should ensure that they brush their teeth regularly both morning and evening to ensure good breath. These are little things that are often overlooked but very important in ensuring quality friendship and relationships.
It is for this reason that personal hygiene must be considered very important by all people, whether young or old. If every person keeps to this attitude and behaviour, it will help us develop good relationship as well as quality friendship with people around us.
Editorial
Promote welfare of African children
The African Union hosts the annual International Day of the African Child on June 16 to increase awareness of the rights and ongoing struggles of African children.
Additionally, the day offers a forum for talking about and addressing topics including healthcare, education, and safety from exploitation and abuse.
It began in 1976 when students in Soweto, South Africa, were killed for demonstrating against inequality and injustice in education.
Since children have rights that must be upheld, the African Day celebration is appropriate because it serves as a poignant reminder to our communities to put children’s needs first, ensuring that they develop and realise their full potential.
Most importantly, it pushes people, governments, and communities to address pressing issues like child labour, inadequate education, and to ensure safe, healthy environments.
This year’s theme, “Planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010,” is no exception to the efforts done thus far by governments, individuals, parents, and others to advance the welfare of children.
In addition to their rights to nutritious food, medical care, secure housing, and high-quality education, children also require emotional support, safety, and protection from danger in order to flourish.
Children’s physical, mental, and social development depends on these necessities, yet far too many continue to be denied their rights and go without food, housing, water, or health care.
While eating, sleeping, playing, and learning are all important aspects of a child’s growth, some children do not find these activities enjoyable. Such children work independently to make ends meet although their parents are responsible for that role,
Many people and organisations have put a lot of effort into making sure that children’s rights are outlined, upheld, and safeguarded; thus, everyone must keep fighting for children’s rights.
The Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC) was created in 1989 as a result of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which served as the foundation for all legal norms pertaining to children’s rights. This is the first international agreement with legal force that covers all human rights.
Therefore, a multifaceted strategy encompassing legal frameworks, education, community involvement, and tackling systemic challenges is needed to assure the preservation of children’s rights.
Laws that safeguard children from abuse must be put into place and upheld, public awareness of children’s rights and protection must be increased, and safe spaces must be established in institutions and communities.
Let us all work together to defend the rights of African children.
Editorial
Employ pros at local government level to address sanitation issues
Dear Editor,
In a car on my way to work on Tuesday, I listened to an interview on sanitation on a radio station which a local government expert said that most of the people that handled waste management issues at the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, were not waste management professionals but health professionals.
According to the speaker, this has contributed to the failure to address the sanitation problems, especially at the local level.
These health professionals who have been tasked to oversee waste management are only occupied with the health related dangers but have no clue on the issues at hand.
I felt very sad and found it disturbing as to why people without professional training in waste management is given responsibilities in a field alien to him.
Waste management involves a lot of processes, including segmentation of waste products as well as recycling.
Employers must know that waste management professionals at the local level was important as it helps making decisions ton how to combat it.
This is not a problem at the local government level alone. It is something across the various sectors.
Maybe this is the time for us as a country to start recruiting qualified professionals to occupy their respective fields to bring their competence to the table to solve whatever problem persist.
It is clearly a case of putting ‘square pegs in round holes.’ I believe it is about time we change that narrative and employ professionals who are qualified to find solutions to our waste management conundrum.
Baba Hafiz, Kasoa
