Editorial
Pay attention to herbal medication but be careful with it
When individuals are sick, they go to hospitals for treatment in line with medical care and practices acceptable to our national and international standards so that they will always remain healthy.
Good health depends on preventive steps that are taken to overcome diseases. However, in case the inevitable happens, and we fall sick, we will need to go for medication, whether orthodox or herbal, to deal with the problems we are facing.
Orthodox medicine has advanced over the years, but in spite of this, it is unable to solve all problems. For this reason, many other people believe that we need to pay attention to herbal medicine to overcome our health problems.
While this is true, we need to be very careful so as not to go for the wrong herbal medication in a manner that can jeopardise our health condition.
Both orthodox medicine and herbal medicinal care can prove dangerous if not properly administered to the sick.
The advantage of orthodox medicine is that it goes by certain scientific principles that ensure that diagnosis and tests are carried out properly before a prescription is made. Herbal medication has also seen tremendous improvement over the years, and doctors also carry out certain tests before prescriptions are made. In times past, proper tests were not carried out before the administration of herbal medication.
This problem has been overcome. The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology trains people in herbal medicine and encourages them to go by accepted principles of diagnosis and procedures, tests, and ultimately, medication.
As a result of this, we have seen tremendous improvement in herbal medication. There are still, however, problems with herbal medication.
The rapid nature with which many of these herbal practitioners go on television to advertise their herbal products leaves much to be desired. In the case of orthodox medicine practice, the Medical and Dental Council comes out to readily engage the practice.
We do not see the same regulatory behaviour when it comes to herbal medication. Herbal medication is complementary to orthodox medicine.
In fact, herbal medication is rooted in African tradition, which is why many Ghanaians or Africans believe in it.
It is good to show interest in herbal medicine since it plays a useful role in Ghanaian society. In addition to orthodox medicine, the Chinese, Japanese, and some people in other parts of the world have advanced this form of practice to improve their healthcare systems.
Thus, if Ghanaians are also doing the same, then it is in order and must be encouraged. However, people must go out for only the herbal medicines that have been approved by the Food and Drugs Authority and are also seen not to be marketed for profit motives. If all people can be seen to be careful in this way, there will be checks and balances in the medications we take so that our health can be cared for and protected as expected.
In addition to the severe flooding that Accra is already experiencing a major sanitation crisis is imminent as the Kpone dump approaches closure.
Currently, there are now just two significant disposal sites in the area: the Adepa dumpsite in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, which is close to Amasaman, and the Kpone Waste Landfill.
Inquiries so far, revealed that the Kpone site is almost at capacity and will likely close in the next six months. As a result, waste is accumulating at local markets and municipal collection points throughout the capital.
The situation has been made worse by the recent terrible floods, and immediate action is required to prevent the impending crisis.
The fundamental issue is that accumulating uncollected waste during rainy seasons poses significant threats to public health, including the possibility of cholera, typhoid, and malaria outbreaks.
Subsequent investigations showed that the Kpone plant, which was initially built to manage 500 tonnes of waste per day, has been handling almost twice that much, shortening its lifespan.
Many towns’ waste collection operations have been badly impacted by this looming shutdown, and the fact that Accra has few disposal choices is even more disturbing.
Now, waste collection vehicles face abnormally long queues at the Kpone site, and residents complain that most of the tricycles, referred to as “Aboboyaa,” leave rubbish uncollected in residential and commercial areas.
Although the Zoompak waste transfer station was authorised by the government to reopen in order to help manage daily waste volumes, it is still unable to handle the enormous volumes of waste generated every day.
According to Dr. Peter Kwesi Dagadu, Managing Director of the Landfills Company Limited, managing the capital’s expanding waste burden has become extremely difficult due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, especially in light of the city’s fast population increase and rising waste production.
As a result, the situation has put a great deal of strain on the infrastructure already in place and jeopardizes attempts to keep Accra’s waste management system sustainable and effective.
The Spectator agrees with him that new infrastructure for disposing of waste is desperately needed, as a change to a more environmentally friendly waste management techniques.
It is admirable that he suggests Ghana adopt recycling and garbage recovery as a long-term solution to the nation’s sanitation problems.
We therefore, implore the government to support this recycling objective by enacting strict laws, regulations, investments, and enforcement measures to enhance waste management nationwide.
In order to address the waste problem as quickly as possible, everyone must be involved, including private waste management companies, individuals, and households.
Dear Editor,
I wish to express concern over the allegations that some officials of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) demanded money from players before they are selected for national teams.
If these allegations are true, then, they threaten fairness and integrity in Ghana football.
Just as is done in other countries, selection into any national team should be based solely on merit -talent, discipline, hard work and performance, not on a player’s ability to pay money.
Such practices, if allowed to continue, will discourage many talented but less privileged players from pursuing their dreams. It will also damage the reputation of the GFA and reduce public confidence in the country’s football administration.
Those reports are quite unfortunate but some of us want to believe in the response issued by the FA but would also advise the GFA to conduct some investigation, because like it is often said, there is no smoke without fire.
If it means an individual is going about making such demands on the blind side of the FA, such an investigation can expose the person.
I therefore urge the GFA to investigate these allegations thoroughly and transparently. Any official found guilty should face the appropriate sanctions. At the same time, individuals making the allegations should provide credible evidence so the truth can be established.
Ghanaian football belongs to all of us, and we must protect its integrity by ensuring that merit, transparency and accountability guide player selection.
From John Boateng,
Mamprobi
