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NGO holds summit for over 800 female students in Bia West
The GIMAT Volunteer Network, non-governmental organisation (NGO), in partnership with the Western North Regional National Youth Authority (NYA), has organised a day’s summit for over 800 female students in the Bia West District.
Dubbed: “Biology of the Girl Child Summit”, the summit was held under the theme: “Educate, Empower, Elevate: A summit for the modern Ghanaian Girl.”
It was aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge and skills for informed decision-making on reproductive rights and health and empower them to assertively take charge of their future by avoiding negative relationships and promoting mental health wellbeing.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) after the event, Madam Fortune Morkporkpor Adalevo, Summit Lead and International Coordinator for GIMAT Volunteer Network, said they realised that most young girls had low confidence levels and inadequate knowledge on matters relating to their sexual and reproductive health rights.
According to her, a survey conducted by the organisation suggested that not only boys abused drugs, but also girls, hence the idea of bringing together experts to educate them on the effects of these behaviours.
She noted that the NGO had collaborated with the Essam Government Hospital to establish a unit at the hospital to attend to participants’ health needs.
She advised young girls to be firm in their decision-making, saying; “Their no should be no, and always concentrate on their studies.”
Mr Alhassan Mohammed Adama, Western North Regional Director of the NYA, lauded the GIMAT for the summit, noting that it would empower young girls to be able to make informed choices about their lives, health, and wellbeing.
He indicated that the Authority had been working tirelessly to promote girls’ education by providing mentorship, scholarship, and skills training programmes to support their development.
The Regional Director urged the participants to take charge of their lives and asked them to mentor other girls from their various communities who could not attend the summit.
He also called on stakeholders to make efforts to educate, empower, and elevate young girls to become confident, resilient, and successful women who would shape the future of the country.
Mr Adama pledged that his office would continue to collaborate with GIMAT Volunteer Network to help empower young girls in the area.
Some of the participants in an interview with the GNA lauded the initiative and said it would boost their confidence level and expose them to making the right choices on their sexual and reproductive health rights. -GNA
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A medical expert has cautioned that while misuse of herbal medicines can contribute to kidney damage, they are not the leading cause of kidney disease.
Dr Prince Mawutor, a researcher at the Centre for Plant Medicine Research, told the Ghana News Agency that the leading causes of kidney disease remained high blood pressure, diabetes, exposure to toxic substances, arteriosclerosis and genetic factors.
He said both herbal and orthodox medicines could be beneficial when used appropriately but harmful when abused.
“Any medication can become toxic if taken in excess. Once it accumulates in the body beyond safe levels, it can damage vital organs, including the kidneys,” he stated.
Dr Mawutor cautioned that improper use of herbal medicines, particularly unregulated or unapproved ones, increased the risk of kidney damage.
He stressed the importance of purchasing only approved herbal products, noting that regulatory bodies ensured such medicines underwent safety and toxicity testing before reaching the market.
Dr Mawutor advised the public to check for proper labelling when buying herbal products, including product name, list of ingredients, usage instructions and traceable contact information.
Dr Mawutor urged individuals to consult qualified health professionals or certified medical herbalists before using any herbal medicine, especially when combining them with orthodox treatments.
He warned that self-medication and purchasing herbal products from roadside vendors posed serious health risks.
“If you are unwell, it is always best to visit a hospital and follow the proper medical process. A qualified medical herbalist can guide you on safe herbal options and how to integrate them with conventional treatment,” he said.
Dr Mawutor noted that the Food and Drugs Authority did not approve products sold in informal settings, such as from vehicles or on the streets, as they were unlikely to have undergone proper clinical trials.
He highlighted the role of regulatory institutions, including the Traditional Medicine Practice Council and the Ghana Association of Medical Herbalists, in ensuring safe production and use of herbal medicines.
Dr Mawutor acknowledged that although some patients with kidney complications had reported improvements after using herbal remedies, not all herbal medicines could cure every disease. –GNA
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A coalition of health and civil society organisations has called for the urgent introduction of a Front-of-Pack Warning Labelling (FOPWL) policy to curb the rising burden of kidney disease and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The FOPWL policy places clear symbols on ultra-processed products that exceed defined threshold for salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, non-sugar sweeteners, and other nutrients of public health concern.
The labels provide immediate and visible information that allows consumers to identify unhealthy products quickly and make better choices.
At a press briefing in Accra last Thursday, the coalition comprising SEND Ghana, the Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development described the situation as a “quiet but dangerous public health crisis” already affecting millions of Ghanaians.
Project Lead at SEND Ghana, Levlyn Konadu Asiedu, addressing the media, cited recent figures presented in Parliament indicating that more than four million people in Ghana are living with chronic kidney disease, with about 400 new end-stage cases recorded annually.
“These are not just numbers; they reflect a growing health crisis driven by preventable risk factors within our environment,” she stated.
According to her, chronic kidney disease often progresses silently, with many individuals unaware of their condition until it reaches advanced stages where treatment becomes expensive and difficult to access.
She noted that dialysis and kidney transplantation remain beyond the reach of many Ghanaians, placing both families and the healthcare system under significant strain.
Ms Asiedu said the coalition identified the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods as a major contributing factor.
Products such as sugary drinks, energy drinks, instant noodles, biscuits, and highly processed snacks, they said, are increasingly becoming part of daily diets due to their affordability and convenience.
However, these foods are typically high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, increasing the risk of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, all of which place added pressure on the kidneys.
Citing the World Health Organization, she noted that non-communicable diseases account for about 45 per cent of deaths in Ghana, underscoring the urgency of preventive interventions.
A key challenge, she said was the lack of clear and accessible nutrition information on many food products, leaving consumers unaware of the health implications of their choices.
She explained that unlike back-of-pack labels, which are often technical and difficult to read, front-of-pack warnings are simple, visible, and easy to understand, and allowing consumers to make informed decisions at a glance.
The coalition also highlighted the economic toll of the rising disease burden, noting that government continues to spend heavily on treatment. Commending ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Health to develop the policy, the group urged the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to champion its swift passage and implementation.
They further called on the media, policymakers, and the public to support the initiative, stressing that empowering consumers with the right information is key to reversing current health trends.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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