News
Smoke from wood fuel harmful to pregnant women
A woman smoking fish the traditional way
The Sekyere South District Health Promotion Officer, Ashanti Region, Mr Joseph Asore, has warned that wood fuel smoke poses significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups like pregnant women.
He said prolonged exposure to smoke from charcoal and firewood could increase the risk of low birth weight and infant mortality.
It could also exacerbate underlying health conditions such as asthma and lead to respiratory tract infections, reduced lung function and even heart failure.
Speaking at the National Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) awareness and sensitisation campaign in Jamasi, Mr Asore said,” pregnant women are particularly at high risk, putting their lives and their unborn children at risk.”
”In most cases, it affects babies to the extent that it becomes visible in their weight. The normal weight of a newborn starts from 2.5kg, but due to these risks, some children are born weighing less, which has lasting implications for them from an early stage,“ he explained.
The national campaign, being executed in collaboration with the Oil Sustainability Programme (OSP), an initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Energy, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and Digicraft Advertising/Brand Management, includes market sensitisation, community durbar and town-hall meetings.
A community durbar was held at the Jamasi Community Centre, where participants were urged to support the initiative.
Speaking at the event, the Assistant Headmaster of Administration at Adu Gyamfi Senior High School and Chairman of the occasion, Mr Emmanuel Eshun, praised the NPA’s CRM, calling it a valuable opportunity.
“This initiative allows you to easily exchange your old cylinder for a new filled cylinder at an exchange point, making it a hassle-free process that benefits everyone.”
He said smoke from wood fuel was harmful to pregnant women, calling on all to use LPG.
The Twafohene of Jamasi, Nana Kofi, expressed his appreciation to the NPA and partners for bringing the awareness to Jamasi and its environs.
“We thank all of you for bringing this durbar to Jamasi. Our forests have been severely damaged by fires, and we welcome the introduction of gas as a safer alternative for cooking, which I believe will help protect our forests and environment,” he added.
In a presentation on CRM, a Supervisor from the Gas Directorate of the NPA, Johnson Gbagbo Jnr, gave comprehensive insights into CRM and shed more light on the policy.
Addressing the challenge of accessing gas refilling stations in Jamasi and why CRM was necessary, he said “since there’s no gas refilling station in Jamasi, people travel to Agona to refill their cylinders and incur transportation cost.
The NPA and, by extension, the government has introduced this scheme to bring gas closer to you all. Under this scheme, the exchange points will be at various strategic centres for you to have easy access to gas without spending much or no money at all on transport.”
A short drama was performed to highlight the health risks associated with continuous inhalation of smoke and the need for residents to take immediate action in embracing the CRM and adopting the safe use of LPG.
The Ghana National Fire Service conducted a demonstration on the appropriate actions to take in the event of an LPG-related incident.
The team concluded the regional campaign with a town-hall meeting in Bekwai and interacted with vendors, drivers, and residents in the Kumasi Metropolis, emphasising the importance of safe LPG use and the essence of the CRM.
Addressing consumers at a town-hall meeting in Bekwai, Head of Consumer Services at the NPA, Mrs Eunice Budu Nyarko, urged the public to regularly check the cylinder rubber seals (washers) around the valves and the connecting hoses to see if they were worn out or damaged.
The hoses serve as the gas distribution line between the cylinder and the cooker.
She encouraged consumers not to repair damaged hoses and rubber seals (washers) by themselves but rather take the cylinders to nearest LPG dealers for a safety check and replacement.
Additionally, hoses should be secured with proper hose clips.
Mrs Nyarko urged the public to keep liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders outside the kitchen to prevent explosion and resultant injury, death and property damage.
She said the cylinders should be placed on wooden platforms with roofs to prevent foot ring rusting or damaged from direct sunlight, rain and tampering. –GNA
Muslims across the country celebrated this year’s Eid-ul-Adha in a colourful and spiritually uplifting atmosphere under the theme, “A Season of Sacrifice, Solidarity and Spiritual Renewal.”
The celebration brought together Muslims from diverse backgrounds in a remarkable display of faith, unity and cultural heritage.
The occasion was marked by special Eid prayers at various designated grounds, the slaughtering of rams in homes for sharing among family members, friends and the less privileged, as well as musical concerts and recreational activities including horse riding.
Leading the celebration was the Chief Imam, Dr Sheikh Osman Sharubutu.
While the national celebration was held at the Black Star Square where President John Dramani Mahama was the Special Guest of Honour, similar gatherings took place at different centres across the capital and other regions of the country.
A visit by The Spectator to some celebration grounds revealed Muslims, both young and old, elegantly dressed in colourful jalabiya and other Islamic attire, reflecting the rich culture and traditions of the Muslim community.
The celebration also portrayed the spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the country, as a number of Christians joined their Muslim counterparts to mark the occasion.
Muslim leaders and government officials used the opportunity to call on the faithful to uphold the teachings of the Holy Quran, renew their spiritual commitment and refrain from acts capable of undermining the peace, unity and security of the nation.
They further urged Ghanaians to continue to live in harmony and support one another for national development.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
Dear Obaa Yaa,
During Eid-ul- Adha celebration, I decided to spend the weekend at my boyfriend’s place since we were planning towards our marriage.
To my surprise, what keeps me wide awake, restless and frustrated every single time is that he snores loudly like a generator running on full power, and I genuinely cannot get any rest
At a point, I thought it was just a normal thing, but I have realised it is something he does with ease and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.
When he steps out in the morning, I try to get enough sleep because I may not sleep in the evening.
The most annoying thing is that, he always wants to cuddle me. These two things are a no for me and a red flag.
We are about to get married, what should I do?
Enam, Keta.
Dear Enam,
The snoring and constant cuddling are frustrating, but you don’t have to choose between sleep and closeness.
Start with the snoring: check if it’s worse when he sleeps on his back, cut out alcohol before bed, try nasal strips or a humidifier, and see a doctor if he pauses while breathing.
For quick relief, foam earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones help a lot.
Separate blankets, a bigger bed, or sleeping apart on some nights often makes couples rest well and feel closer overall.
Bring this up before the wedding .Tell him you want to wake up next to him for years to come, but sleep deprivation makes you both miserable.
Test earplugs and side-sleeping this weekend, and if it’s still unbearable, bring in a doctor. Good sleep matters more for your marriage than staying glued together all night.
