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‘Lack of balanced diet poses threat to prisoners’
The Medical Director and Superintendent at Nsawam Prisons Clinic, Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) Dr Lawrence Kofi Acheampong, says lack of balanced diet poses risk to prison inmates across the country, thereby making them susceptible to COVID-19.
He said the current amount of GH₵1.80 was not enough to provide balanced diets for inmates, stressing that “there is the need for the government to increase the daily GH₵1.80 feeding rate per inmate.
DSP Dr Acheampong made the observations here yesterday when he interacted with officers and inmates of the Kumasi Central Prison, to look at implications and management of COVID-19 in prisons.
The event was facilitated by Protector of Sentiments (PoS) Foundation, as part of its campaign to educate prison inmates on the dangers of COVID-19.
DSP Dr Acheampong noted that people with low immune system were vulnerable to the virus, and so “it has become very important to improve on the diet of inmates in order to build their immune system, to avoid placing them at a lower risk in terms of contracting COVID-19”.
He said, “COVID-19 should never be under-estimated in prison facilities in the country, considering how congested the facilities were”.
The Executive Director of PoS, Jonathan Osei-Owusu, said that, the welfare of prison officers were equally important as that of the inmates, and called for proper care and incentives, like tax waivers to be given to the prison officers.
He lauded personnel of Ghana Prisons Service for their professionalism and selflessness in making sure that COVID-19 safety protocol was adhered to in the various prisons across the country, which prevented spread of the virus.
Mr Osei-Owusu appealed to the government to help set up a well equipped and standardised infectious disease centres in the northern and southern sectors of the country, for prison inmates.
The Ashanti Regional Commander of Prisons, Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP), Samuel Owusu-Amponsah, encouraged officers to continue to show professionalism and selflessness in the discharge of their duties.
DDP Owusu-Amponsah urged personnel to observe COVID-19 safety protocol in and outside the prison facility.
The Ghanaian Times observed that safety protocol including sanitising and disinfecting gifts from visitors before releasing to inmates, officers not allowed to attend public functions, were being observed at the Kumasi Central Prison.
FROM FAUSTINA KWABEA OSEI, KUMASI
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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