Health Essentials
One Man, One Toilet & other stories
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A few decades ago when I walked the corridors of “The Grey City of The Outlaws Hill….where.. we are brothers and our mother is the School” and long before One Village One Dam, One District One Factory and One Man One Wife became common parlance in “Sikaman”, a classmate of mine had coined the phrase “One Man, One Rice”. This was to do with Dining Hall matters. For now we will refer to him as MM.
As we marked World Toilet Day on 19th November 2022 an amazing Akora Ing Harold Esseku politely reminded me of this important day and the words of MM some 39 years ago kept ringing in my ears. Could we not have “One Man, One Toilet” as well especially in this era of “one something, to one something”. I know that is an exaggeration but definitely asking for “One Household, One Toilet” is a MUST and should even have priority over most if not all the one this, one that projects. How we manage our toilet and sanitation on the whole is a reflection on every society, community and country. Unfortunately in this land of gold, we are currently doing a poor job. We slug it out with the lowest of the low and war ravaged countries when open defaecation comes up. We build houses and make no provision for toilets. Is that pure greed just to make space for more rooms at what expense?
The absence of toilet is directly linked with many diseases, a number of which end up with diarrhoea and the cycle continues as those who are affected still have to defaecate inappropriately. The impact on school and work attendance and the strain on productivity alone is heart-breaking. Dear lives may even be lost especially in the under five-year olds or frail elderly people. What a waste!!! Oh and the money spent on treating the diseases is another burden especially as we struggle with finances. Whenever I think of open defaecation and poor or no toilet, I think of groundwater and how we may eventually drink it. Some people may not have the benefit of water treatment by the Ghana Water Company, while in some cases the groundwater could leak into a pipe after the water has been treated. Then my thoughts go back to my years in Medical School when one of our Professors drummed into our ears that “whenever someone has diarrhoea it is VERY LIKELY that he/she has directly or indirectly eaten someone’s shit.” Do excuse my choice of words but it gives a vivid picture. Kindly read that again and let it sink in so that the next time you have diarrhoea or someone else has, your guess will most often be correct.
“World Toilet Day is an official United Nations international observance day on 19th November to inspire action to tackle the global sanitation crisis. Worldwide 4.2billion people live without safely managed sanitation and around 673million people practise open defaecation.” We in Sikaman are definitely in the negative statistics and it is much easier to correct and have more impact on a community than building a dam or factory. That is my candid opinion. Big things first.
This year the theme for World Toilet Day is “MAKING THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE,” which focuses on the impact of poor sanitation on groundwater, and how inadequate sanitation systems spread human waste into rivers, lakes and soil, polluting underground water resources.
I believe the picture is clear and we all have a role to play. If a teenager MM boldly proclaimed that “One Man, One Rice” he may easily have added that after the meal One Man will need One Toilet to “download”. In 2022 it will be too much to ask for One Man , One Toilet but it is a human right to insist that at the very least “One Household, One Proper Toilet” and in my opinion this should be a priority ahead of the many more capital intensive activities and projects.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Mobissel
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week –“We are seriously OFF track to ensure safe toilets for ALL by 2030. That is the promise of Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 with only eight years left, the world needs to work four times faster to meet this target.”
References:
- Unravelling the Essentials of Health & Wealth; Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
- Prompting and Inspiration by Ing Harold Esseku, a World Authority on sanitation and many more.
- Credit MM another akora.
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
These last few months of 2026, I am embarking on a new journey. Over the past several months I have tried out some aspects of my “new way of life” but not in the manner I am doing now and I am sure you are doing same too. Draft your own points based on what is important to you and let us begin the journey together. It is never too late.
Many of the things I am working on now are guided by years of interaction with different people, what may be my purpose in my opinion, great family and friends and the type of wisdom that comes only with years.
- Self-Care
Quite often we try to take care of everything and everyone without ensuring we are appropriately “charged”. There is nothing to give out if you are empty. Self-care is NOT a luxury and it has taken me years to appreciate this;
- I will add a new hobby I have been toying with.
- Surrounding myself with like-minded people who energise me, make me laugh and be the best version of myself. Building Social capital pays.
- I am spending quality time with God daily
- Spending time in nature is key and I ensure that I take much needed breaks
- Spending a few minutes a day to meditate, exercise and spoil myself sometimes
- I will have some hours each day that will be blocked out as “no phone time”
- Keeping a Goal Diary
Many people have described ways of putting down your goals and seeing them happen. My coach taught me the power of VISUALISATION but over the years I went off that golden path. It’s time to get back. This is what I am doing now;
- In a diary I am writing everything I want to be or do as long as I have breath. No pressure.
- I am writing in the present tense; “I am spending an amazing week in a 7-Star resort with the people I love the most”
- I will look at this list everyday
- Start a Gratitude Bank
I listened to this recently and though it was not referred to as a Gratitude Bank, I believe that is exactly what it is
- I picked a diary to write in but others choose a transparent container to drop in written points. Choose what you are comfortable with.
- At the end of each week I will write something(s) I am grateful for and put in the container.
- Whenever I feel “ungrateful” I will read through them to remind myself how blessed I am and surely I will be holding the “evidence”
- On December 31, I will go through the list irrespective of my mood.
- Practice. Practice. Practice
This is exactly as it is – whatever you have written out in your diary to do from self-care through your goals etc. prioritise or focus on a few at a time. As you practice e.g. meditating, exercising, eating right and the many great things you want to do, these will all GROW. Whatever you practice GROWS.
- Make the world a better place
I believe that we can make a difference in our corner no matter the challenges.
- That smile will change someone’s life
- An act of kindness is contagious and the giver, receiver and all those observing benefit immensely. Let us spread kindness.
- The Blood Bank on my mind for this year and beyond.
What are you focusing on, what are you practicing?
Do share your list with me via email.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Medics Clinic
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week –“Never change your originality for the sake of others because no one can play your role better than you. So be yourself. You are the best.” – Unknown
References:
- Unravelling the Essentials of Health & Wealth; Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
When it comes to cancer risk factors; ALL RISK FACTORS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL. Someone may have several risk factors but remain perfectly fine while another may have only one or none yet end up with breast cancer or other cancers.
We cannot say with certainty that we can do all it takes to prevent cancer BUT we can do a lot to reduce our risk.
TEN (10) TIPS TO CANCER RISK REDUCTION
- Weight Control – being overweight or obese increases risk to SEVERAL cancers.
- Smoking – cigarette smoking predisposes one to several cancers including lung cancer. Other forms of air pollutants serve as risks too.
- Alcohol – limit intake or avoid. It has the power to expose one to several cancers as well especially when we can’t apply brakes to how much we consume.
- Healthy Eating
- Limit intake of processed food and sugar
- Limit intake of red meat
- Fruits and vegetables should be a mainstay of our diet.
- An antioxidant rich food like cocoa should be part of our food. The purer the cocoa, the better
- Fibre in your food is crucial.
- Exercise – on its own reduces risk for breast and colon cancers directly and many others through weight control.
- Also increases immunity.
- Cancer Screening – be regular so cancers can be detected early and managed aggressively.
- Vaccinations – take vaccines where needed e.g. Hep B vaccine or vaccine against HPV (human papilloma virus accounts for the majority of cervical cancers)
- Know your Family History
- Anyone in your family with a cancer? Necessary to be on your guard but also remember that you may be the first person in your family with a particular cancer.
- Start your family early and breast feed for as long as possible to reduce risk of breast cancer.
- Check exposure to Ultraviolet Light and other forms of radiation. Protect your skin.
- Practice SAFE SEX
- HPV infection leading to cervical cancer is commoner when one is exposed to sex early, directly or indirectly has multiple partners but NOT everyone follows this rule. As in many situations, outliers do exist.
- Conditions such as HIV/AIDS may suppress your immune system if not managed appropriately.
Do add two (2) others of your choice and send to me via email. Together we can protect ourselves.
Will treating H. Pylori infections be a game changer too?
ALWAYS remember that CANCER PREVENTION HAS NO QUICK FIX – we need to follow these points over and over.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Medics Clinic
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “WHERE YOU LIVE SHOULD NOT DETERMINE IF YOU LIVE.”- WHO
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
