Features
On a ‘trotro’ bus
The most interesting place on the planet, in my view, is on a ‘trotro’ bus in Ghana. A cross section of the society can always be found on a trotro, from the office worker in his tie, the market woman, the lady taking her child to the clinic, the last but not the least, the driver’s mate who oozes some new, new, scent which makes you wonder the last time he had a proper bath or washed his clothes.
Depending on the hour of the day and the luck following you that day, you can find yourself sitting beside someone who apparently had been sweating but had not used a deodorant and the scent from the armpit comes to add to the chaos already on the bus and you can really testify that indeed, God is King ‘Onyame ye odo’ as someone will translate it.
We should not forget the usual drug peddler whose medicine heals almost every ailment and also the occasional preacher who ensures that he motivates you to give an offering to support God’s work, at the end of his preaching.
It is a place where one gets to know which party is going to win the elections and which one is going to lose. In fact, the political parties should not waste money on opinion polls.
All they need to do is get some of their members to get on trotros and just listen to the conversations or initiate conversations about which party is poised to win impending elections and their job will be done.
The reasons why a particular party will be winning the elections will be expertly laid out in such a manner that you will be amazed. Passengers speak their mind freely, not giving a hoot about what other passengers may think about what they say. That is the real opinion polls and not the ones conducted by pollsters most of which never turn out to be true.
I recall a conversation I once overhead on a trotro between the driver and a passenger and was shocked by the details. The conversation started with the behaviour of some women these days regarding infidelity.
The passenger sitting at the front, farthest from the driver, was talking to the driver about a friend of his, who was having an affair with a married woman.
He went on about how the lady in question when she is going to her boyfriend, deceives the husband that she was going to visit her mother and goes to spend time with the boyfriend, leaving her young son with his father, her husband.
The amount of sensitive information that can be gathered on a trotro, will amaze you. That is trotro for you.
On the funny side, story is told of a drug peddler on a trotro who was trying hard to convince passengers to buy his drug. He went on to espouse the efficacy of the drug and then he proclaimed that if your spinal cord is paining you, severely” while pointing to his forehead, “this drug will heal you and stop the pain instantly”.
A teenager on the trotro who was a student, stopped the drug peddler and said, “Uncle, our spinal chord is at our back and not on our forehead”. The peddler shouted at the teen and said “Naughty boy, don’t come and spoil my job”.
A very interesting place to be, I can assure. Another thing I have observed is the narrow spaces between adjacent rows of seats. If you are vey ‘tall’ like a former big man I know, then you do not have an issue.
However, if you are a bit tall, then you are going to be very uncomfortable if you are travelling to a far point and therefore you will spend much time on the bus. How to adjust your knee becomes a big issue. I will end and continue the conversation on trotro, another time.
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
The Palestinian martyr-Little Hind Rajab
THE wickedness of some people in our world is gradually getting out of bounds. From local arena to international arena, reports of wicked acts that defies logic, is on the rise.
Russia has attacked Ukraine and as a result, the economies of many countries have been negatively impacted. Residential apartments which have no military purpose. Just sheer wickedness and cruelty.
After this came the Brutal attack on Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces. Hospitals were bombed, buildings were razed down and civilians were deliberately targeted which is a war crime according to the Geneva Convention.
The IDF will release pamphlets in the skies informing them to move to certain specified areas. They move there with their families only to be bombed again without warning.
It was one of such movement from one place to another that, the family of a 5 year Palestinian girl called Hind Rajab and her family, travelling in a vehicle, were shot at by an IDF Tank.
This wounded girl managed to call emergency services to come and save them.
The sad thing is that while this brave little girl kept talking to the emergency response person on the phone, telling them that they should come quickly and that she was afraid.
She further told the response team on phone that any time she tries to speak, blood comes into her mouth and it soils her dress and she dies not want her mum to scold her so they should come quickly.
The response team rushed as usual to her location but they were also shot and killed, the driver and his assistant, in a vehicle clearly marked as an ambulance. Ten days later when they got to her location, Hind Rajab and her family were dead and their vehicle was riddled with 335 bullets.
The wickedness with which the IDF waged the war against Hamas, the administrative authority in Gaza, was unbelievable, given the damage to civilians both collateral and in most cases deliberate.
There are reports of some Doctors from the US and other countries, who have described how children they attended to, who were brought in dead, had evidence of sniper bullets.
A report by one of the media platforms, indicated that one of the IDF snipers who died recently, had bragged about shooting children in the abdomen so they will suffer before dying.
What baffles me in all these atrocities, is why Jews who have been saved by a collective action of the world, from Hitler and his Nazis from destruction, infamously known as the Holocaust, is now visiting mayhem on others, namely the Palestinians.
One begins to wonder if Hitler was right after all and that he saw something that the rest of the world did not notice about the Jews. I must admit that it is not all Jews that are racist. It is the Zionist who are the problem with their Talmud which teaches that Jesus is burning in hot feaces.
They deliberately teach their children to hate other people who are not Jews especially the Palestinians. They do not consider the Palestinians as humans and therefore they believe they have the God given right to treat them anyway anyhow.
Hind Rajab’s death has pricked the conscience of the world and countries which used to blindly support Israel, are now putting pressure on them to observe a ceasefire as part of a peace negotiation.
Let the world through the UN show that it does not support barbarism and that the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel, must come to an end.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
Angioplasty: A comprehensive overview of the procedure and its applications
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to widen narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. The procedure involves the insertion of a catheter, a small tube, into the affected artery, followed by the inflation of a balloon to widen the artery. In some cases, a stent, a small mesh tube, may be placed to keep the artery open.
Indications for Angioplasty
Angioplasty is often used to treat conditions such as:
1. Coronary artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.
2. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs or arms.
3. Atherosclerosis: Buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to narrowing or blockage.
The Angioplasty Procedure
The angioplasty procedure typically involves the following steps:
1. Preparation: The patient is given local anesthesia and may be sedated to help them relax.
2. Insertion of the catheter: A small incision is made in the skin, and a catheter is inserted into the affected artery.
3. Guidance: The catheter is guided to the affected area using imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy or angiography.
4. Inflation of the balloon: The balloon on the catheter is inflated to widen the artery.
5. Stent placement: A stent may be placed to keep the artery open.
6. Removal of the catheter: The catheter is removed, and the incision site is closed.
Benefits of Angioplasty
Angioplasty offers several benefits, including:
1. Improved blood flow: Angioplasty can help improve blood flow to the affected area, reducing symptoms such as chest pain or leg pain.
2. Minimally invasive: Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, which means that it requires only a small incision and can reduce recovery time.
3. Reduced risk of complications: Angioplasty can reduce the risk of complications associated with more invasive surgical procedures.
Potential Risks and Complications
While angioplasty is generally a safe procedure, there are potential risks and complications, including:
1. Bleeding or hematoma: Bleeding or bruising at the incision site.
2. Artery damage: Damage to the artery during the procedure.
3. Restenosis: Narrowing or blockage of the artery again after the procedure.
Conclusion
Angioplasty is a highly effective procedure for treating narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. While it carries some risks and complications, the benefits of improved blood flow and reduced symptoms make it a valuable treatment option for many patients.
References:
1. American Heart Association. (2020). Angioplasty and Stenting.
2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2020). Angioplasty and Stent Placement.
3. Mayo Clinic. (2020). Angioplasty: What You Need to Know.
4. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (2019). Angioplasty and Stenting in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of angioplasty, including its indications, procedure, benefits, and potential risks and complications.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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