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Seek early medical care to increase chances of childbirth- Fertility Specialist
Women who desire to become mothers have been advised to seek early medical attention when they are experiencing a delay in child bearing as this could increase their chances of conception.
This advice follows an observation that some women often made the decision to get help from specialist when the situation was almost too late for any medical intervention thereby denying themselves the opportunity to have their own babies.
A Gynaecologist and In Vitro Fertilisation ( IVF ) Specialist, Dr. Wanjiru Ndengwa delivering a lecture on “Fertility Management Options – Messages for the Community ” at the Merck Foundation Health Media Training Programme said it was heartbreaking that some women wasted too much time moving from one place to the other due to misinformation and ignorance and only went to fertility centres as a last option.
The programme organised for journalists from various countries among others was aimed at building the capacity of media personnel for advocacy on infertile issues and stigmatisation.
She said issues of conception were but a serious subject which should not be taken for granted and so expert advice should be the first rather than last option explaining the basics of couple infertility treatment as “searching, finding and treating the causes”.
She said time was very critical in the life of women because child bearing age was time bound compared with men.
Dr. Ndengwa said women who had visited fertility centres on time had saved themselves unnecessary stress as talks, investigations, imaging investigations, ultra sound scan among others were done on time to fix their challenges unlike those who sought treatment late.
She mentioned infertility as infections, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), abortions, deliveries (example child birth complications), blocked tubes, fibroid and other pathologies of women as some of the major causes of infertility.
She said early treatment increased the chances of a woman to have more children explaining that for instance a woman in her twenties who consulted Specialists early could have about four children while a woman in her forties could not do same due to the age factor.
The Gynaecologist and IVF Specialist said it was important for everyone to get the right information to prevent unfortunate cases of denying themselves the opportunity to be mothers due to ignorance.
She said upon examination, it had been found out that some women needed a small intervention in lifestyle change such as losing weight, change in diet or exercise to get pregnant.
She said others also needed treatment of infection, hormonal treatments, antibiotics, fixing of tubal blockage among others.
She disclosed that it was important for men to also seek medical attention when a woman was not conceiving because male factors such as poor quality sperms (azoospermia) could be the reason and so the blame should not be laid solely at the door step of a woman.
Dr. Ndengwa appealed to the public to desist from stigmatising childless couples as it caused them stress which affected the results of efforts to get pregnant.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema.
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
