Editorial
Preterm babies, mothers need support
World Prematurity Day, is observed annually on November 17 to raise global awareness of the challenges associated with preterm birth, and celebrates the lives of preterm infants.
A baby is deemed preterm or too early if it is born before 37 weeks of pregnancy.
The theme of this year’s celebration was “Small Actions, BIG IMPACT: Immediate Skin-to-Skin Care for Every Baby, Everywhere,” also referred to as “Kangaroo Mother Care.”
Experts say that premature birth can result in serious complications and long-term health issues for the baby.
Preterm birth is projected to be the largest cause of death for children under five worldwide, accounting for one in ten births, or 15 million premature newborns born annually.
According to experts, preterm babies may have long-term intellectual and developmental impairments. They may result in difficulties or delays in a person’s physical growth.
Compared to children who were delivered at term, preterm infants are more likely to have lower cognitive quotients, academic success scores, more difficulty in school, and a larger need for educational support.
Conditions like eating issues and asthma are more likely to arise or persist.
In order to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by preterm babies and their families, The Spectator applauds the efforts of NICU Soldiers, an advocacy blog on Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), and Ghandour Cosmetics, who celebrated World Prematurity Day (WPD) at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
According to Dr. Kojo Ahor-Essel, Senior Specialist Pediatrician at the KBTH NICU, keeping warm, eating, and fending off infections were challenges for babies born before term.
He stated that “small actions taken by health workers and mothers, like providing adequate nutrition, warmth, and care, can have a big impact on the survival and development of the babies.”
He urged the public to put an end to the stigma and discrimination against preterm babies and praised NICU Soldiers and Ghandour Cosmetics for supporting this year’s WPD at the KBTH.
“I implore the public to be compassionate toward and supportive of preterm baby families, as well as to join them in celebrating their accomplishments,” he added.
The Spectator also calls on corporate institutions, individuals, Non-Governmental Organisations (ngos), government, and the media to work together to increase public awareness of preterm births in order to spur action that will ultimately save the lives of babies.
This, we believe, will prevent preterm births, enhance healthcare systems, and improve governmental policies.
It is important to help mothers whose babies are admitted to the NICU in order to lessen their stress levels.
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
