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.
Dear Editor,
Over the past few months, the ages of some drivers of commercial vehicles continue to baffle me.
This is common during weekends when one boards any of the commercial vehicles – be it trotros and okada.
I remember, I boarded a taxi from the Accra Central area towards the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area. When I sat in the vehicle, I realised the driver was a young boy. Specifically, he said he was 18.
I know our laws do not permit youth under the age of 21 to be driving; that is clearly against Ghana’s Road Traffic laws for operating commercial vehicles.
Some commuters have even had confrontations with station masters over the issue and have refused to board vehicles driven by underage individuals, despite the risk of arriving late for work.
This situation is deeply disturbing because it puts the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
No matter how skilled such drivers may be, allowing underage persons to operate commercial vehicles is wrong and unlawful. Laws governing road safety are meant to protect lives, and ignoring them only increases the chances of accidents and loss of lives.
I therefore urge the relevant authorities, especially the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, to strictly enforce the age requirements for commercial driving in the country.
Baba
Labadi
The advantages of focusing on girls have been evident over the years. However, current research indicates that the statistics pertaining to boys are still declining.
Approximately 69 percent of boys and 73 percent of girls finish primary school. While Senior High School (SHS) enrollment trends have lately changed, with females significantly outnumbering males (about 110 girls to every 100 boys), Junior High School (JHS) gender parity remains stable, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) remaining between 1.00 and 1.03.
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) indicates parity between girls and boys.
Although encouraging education for girls is essential for Ghana’s development, the strong emphasis has unintentionally led to inequalities for boys.
Many stakeholders worry that affirmative action and unequal resource distribution put males at risk, which can occasionally lead to increased dropout rates and behavioural issues in specific neighbourhoods.
There has been a lot of discussion among Ghanaian sociologists and educators about the disproportionate support given to girls and how it affects boys.
They claim that the majority of scholarships and special facilities are frequently disproportionately given to girls, which boy child advocates contend makes young men feel ignored or disadvantaged.
Due to these differences, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, has voiced serious concerns and is pushing for a deliberate discussion about the education and development of boys in order to build stronger families and societies.
The statement was made by Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua during a seminar hosted by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry in Accra on May 16, which is International Day of the Boy Child.
It was organised in association with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the theme “Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.”
Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua revealed that many young males are vulnerable due to inadequate mentoring, a decline in schooling, negative social media influences, and emotional neglect.
Additionally, he stated that the boy child faced numerous difficulties, including aggression, substance addiction, academic decline, emotional neglect, and the lack of strong role models, as a result of the focus shifting to the girl child.
He worries that since boys are essential to the development of the country, they should not be overlooked in discussions about leadership, education, family stability, and national reform.
The Spectator agrees with Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua and believes that while it is important to train girls, neglecting boys can impede social advancement by causing differences in behaviour and education between young men and women.
“If we don’t make an effort social media will train our children for us. We’re not saying they shouldn’t use social media, but we should help them get the information they need to succeed in life,” he said.
The Spectator believes that the GES would adopt gender-responsive education in order to guarantee that classroom instruction meets the requirements of both boys and girls equally.
Let’s continue to be dedicated to making sure that no child is left behind.
