Editorial
Let’s pay attention to sanitation
Globally, poor sanitation is not healthy for the socio-economic development of any community, and for this reason, we would have to do all we can to prevent such unfortunate situation.
Indeed, poor sanitation brings about ill health and it is in view of this that no effort should be spared to ensure that we pay due attention to it.
We do not need to remind anyone that poor sanitary conditions are detrimental to the future survival of our community as we spend huge sums of money going to health centres for treatment; aside squandering precious time that could have been used to encourage productivity within the community.
In addition, when people fall sick, they feel very uncomfortable. The discomfort they go through hugely affect their rate of work and draw back the level of productivity within the community.
In light of all this, there is the need for society to pay attention to sanitation and prevent poor sanitary conditions that weigh us down as people who thirst for rapid socio-economic development.
The Clean Your Frontage campaign launched by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Henry Quartey, in Accra is a move that should be supported by all and sundry. If for nothing at all, it is said “cleanliness is next to godliness”, so keeping our environment clean should be encouraged at all times.
It is good that some officers have been trained to go round the various communities to ensure that the exercise of cleanliness is carried out to the letter and obeyed in all parts of the Greater Accra Region – and Ghana as a whole.
The Spectator supports this programme that is why it is devoting another editorial to support the sensitisation of keeping the environment clean in the national capital, Accra.
Officers of the Response Team should keep their nose to the grindstone and live up to expectation by ensuring that those who go contrary to the by-laws are made to face the consequences in terms of penalty.
If this is done, diseases can be brought under control and choked gutters would also be free from filth to enable the gutters remain as clean as possible. Upshot of this is that, the free flow of water in the gutters will make it impossible for mosquitoes to lay eggs and cause havoc in form of Malaria to the people.
It has been pointed out already, it is incumbent upon everybody in the country to support the Operation Clean Your Frontage campaign for good quality health and socio-economic development.
Editorial
Ensure provision of adequate first aid at schools
Dear Editor,
First aid is defined as the immediate care given to an injured or suddenly ill person, aiming to preserve life, prevent further harm, and promote recovery until professional medical help arrives.
It is also considered as an essential element at every organisation and institution during emergency situations. In Ghana, first aid is also considered a legal requirement, emphasising the need for adequate supplies and trained personnel to handle emergencies.
Additionally, schools in Ghana are expected to have first aid boxes and individuals trained in first aid to address injuries and illness that may occur.
However, there have been a number of reported cases of lack of first aid kits, including first aid boxes, in some educational institutions in the country.
As a concerned citizen, I find such reports very disturbing because the lack of first aid kits at our education institutions could lead to loss of lives.
At schools, especially at the basic level, it is easy for injuries to be recorded due to the playful nature of pupils, where they are often seen running up and down and engaging in some physical activities.
It is for this reason that education institutions in the country need to take the provision of first aid kits and facilities seriously.
The various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service, need to put in measures to ensure that education institutions adhere to this directive.
Fred, Dansoman
Editorial
Introduce comprehensive sex education in schools
Dear Editor
I write to express concern about the alarming rise in cases of teenage pregnancy in our communities and to advocate an urgent introduction of comprehensive sex education in our schools.
It is no longer enough to ask our children to abstain from sex without equipping them with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
In a world where information is readily available often unfiltered and misleading, young people must be guided with factual, age-appropriate, and culturally sensitive education on reproductive health.
Many teenagers become victims of early pregnancy not out of rebellion, but due to ignorance. They are unaware of how their bodies work, how to protect themselves, or even the consequences of unprotected sex.
This lack of knowledge often leads to school dropouts, unsafe abortions, and a cycle of poverty especially among girls.
Comprehensive sex education does not encourage promiscuity, as some fear, rather, it empowers children to make responsible choices.
It helps them understand consent, personal boundaries, and the importance of self-respect.
Parents, teachers, religious leaders, and policymakers must all come together to ensure that our youth are protected not only through moral instruction but with practical knowledge that safeguards their futures.
If we are serious about ending teenage pregnancy, then let us be bold enough to teach our children the truth early and consistently.
Emmanuel Mensah, Cape Coast
