Health Essentials
Turning our roads into battlefields
Potholes on the road
I am so optimistic about Ghana making major positive gains by making small changes that people have often misinterpreted my passion for our dear country.
I have been excited by the War Against Indiscipline (#WAI) initiated by CitiFM; without a doubt by favourite media house. It is a tedious process and it’s not surprising that my folks are on a short “break”.
As part of my contribution to the “struggle” I am re-producing an article I wrote about a decade ago after an ambulance ride with a client from Aburi to a hospital in Accra.
It is often said that “all is fair in love and war” but have you not heard of people who have been tried and punished for war crimes? Love birds who have allowed jealousy to rule them have had to exchange their beds at home with that of a cell. After an ambulance ride across Accra I have concluded that “all is fair on our roads.”
Our roads are competing with war zones for honours. Which one kills more? Which one maims more? The list of atrocities is endless. Ghana loses over $230million every year to road traffic accidents and 60 percent of these accidents are caused by over-speeding and drunk driving.
Some of our roads may have potholes or pits and in a few areas we have huge crevices with roads in between them but after all is said and done our attitude is probably our greatest setback.
During my ambulance ride with a patient I realised that from the ‘trotro’ driver who found himself behind the wheels of a vehicle through a miraculous act, the apparently well-educated middle-aged young lady driving an SUV who felt it was her right to keep driving despite the obviously blaring siren of the ambulance, to the policeman who kept directing traffic totally oblivious of his surroundings and of course the cyclist who felt it was okay to cross an ambulance, we all need to get back to the basics of road use
Using the road can be likened to a stint on the battlefield. There is chaos! Drivers stop, turn and move at will without signaling and if you should complain you will be greeted with a barrage of insults. I pity anyone who lives more than four miles from their place of work.
You will often arrive at work drained by the stress and you return home cursing. That mood is certainly not good for innocent family members.
We will not be able to control road traffic accidents and its effects only by wearing seatbelts, making sure our vehicles are road worthy and our streets well lit. We need to take a close look at changing our attitude and we will look at a few areas.
1. THE POLICE
a. I like the police, they protect us and I have many friends in the unit but I worry a lot when I see an “arrest” being made of a car with a DVLA plate or some other trivial reason right in the middle of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Please keep the traffic moving and let other colleagues at vantage points deal with such issues. Of course there may be instances when the crime is so unpardonable that you will need to stop them even if it requires creating traffic by getting someone to move all the way out of the inner lane. I hope the police have a means of communicating with their colleagues.
2. ROAD SIGNS
a. The George Bush Highway is beautiful but certainly incomplete. Road markings and directional signs are rare. Quite often the turning you need to use will just creep up on you. The busy drivers who think waiting is a crime will not think twice before crossing three lanes of fast moving cars to get to the turning. I think we should have several directional signs starting at least two miles from each turning to help us choose the appropriate lane. I guess those in-charge expect us to learn over time but that is disastrous.
3. KNOWLEDGE OF REGULATIONS
a. I do not think even 50 percent of our road users have a clue about regulations and ethics on the road. Most of us are limited. I see trucks moving at snail pace in the inner lanes all the time. Why can’t we have signs that read “inner lane only for overtaking?”
b. The folks driving the bullion vans are real bullies. Why do they think they have the right to switch their hazard lights on and drive facing oncoming traffic? It is so scary.
I think there is a law that prevents them from doing that. I think they rather draw attention to themselves. Really! Do they always have money in there?
c. These days anyone riding a beautiful luxury car thinks he should not stay in traffic. They often behave just like the bullion van drivers. If you need to engage in any antics on the road, please keep us safe and request for police escort.
4. ROAD CONSTRUCTION (POT HOLES AND PITS)
a. I always cringe when I have to use a road at night especially when I have not used it in over 24 hours. There are huge pits at several junctions and you definitely will need to visit the mechanic when you accidentally fall into one. You will be lucky if your car does not need bodyworks after such an encounter. Yes we will always leave such pits uncovered and with no warning signs.
b. Why don’t we maintain our roads? We only do some work when there is a problem or one of the amenity providers decides to lay a cable right across the road. Certainly we cannot spare time to cover up this mess properly.
c. We dodge speed ramps (or hills), potholes etc. with total disregard for oncoming vehicles. It does not matter to us that we are moving into their lanes and need to wait till the time is right. How can you, with an impatient taxi driver hooting his horn behind you.
5. SPEED LIMITS
a. We speed unnecessarily in residential areas, in congested urban slums and in places you can never imagine. What is the hurry? Can we have signs with speed limits please!
b. I have seen vehicles (including myself) stopped for over-speeding on a quiet but good highway but not once in a residential area.
6. RIDERS
a. I thought all road users; and this includes pedestrians and riders (cyclists, bikers) had to obey traffic regulations. The riders will flout the law and ride boldly through a red light even in the full glare of uniformed men. Pardon me but not once have I (emphasis on I) seen one of such riders being arrested. Not only do they put their own lives at risk but they also cause accidents when oncoming vehicles have to brake suddenly to avoid hitting them.
7. POLLUTION
a. Don’t we have any laws restricting the honking of horns? We need to stop this noise pollution. Some drivers think it is fun to toot their horns and they will even do this while they are parked or even in the vicinity of a hospital.
b. The exhaust fumes do not need any further introduction.
8. LITTERING OUR ROADS
a. Riding in a vehicle does not give you the mandate to throw rubbish onto the street. We need to keep our roads clean
b. To the drivers of trucks that transport our garbage. Why do you punish us for paying you to provide us with a service? Do these people intentionally drop garbage on the road so that they can create space to load more? I know those in charge are reading.
Our roads are sending us to our graves instead of making us more comfortable and we all need to work together to save lives that contribute meaningfully to nation building.
We can win this battle against Indiscipline on our roads and all others will be added!!
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/ Mobissel
(dressel@healthessentialsgh. com)
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Join me on Saturday
Teenage Hypertension: The silent threat to Ghana’s young generation
For many Ghanaian teenagers, high blood pressure may seem like a health problem for their parents and grandparents. But as unhealthy eating habits, excess weight and increasingly sedentary lifestyles become concerns for younger populations, protecting heart health during adolescence deserves greater attention.
The danger is that hypertension can develop without obvious symptoms. A teenager may feel perfectly healthy while elevated blood pressure goes undetected, potentially delaying medical assessment and appropriate care.
Although not every teenager with unhealthy habits will develop hypertension, early awareness, healthy lifestyle choices and appropriate blood pressure checks can help reduce future cardiovascular risks.
A growing concern
Hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, is a major public health concern worldwide. The World Health Organisation identifies it as an important contributor to premature death, largely because it increases the risk of serious cardiovascular complications.
While the condition is often associated with adulthood, the factors that contribute to its development can begin much earlier in life.
Frequent consumption of foods high in salt, poor dietary habits, excess body weight and insufficient physical activity can undermine cardiovascular health. Family history and certain underlying medical conditions may also increase an individual’s risk.
For teenagers, therefore, the conversation about hypertension should extend beyond hospital visits and include the everyday habits that shape their health.
When lifestyle choices become a concern
Adolescence is a period when young people begin making more independent decisions about what they eat, how they spend their leisure time and how physically active they are.
Convenience foods, processed meals, salty snacks and sugary drinks may become regular features of their diets. At the same time, long hours spent on mobile phones, computers and other digital devices can leave less time for physical activity.
Academic demands and inadequate sleep may further affect their general well-being.
These habits do not automatically lead to hypertension. However, when unhealthy diets and physical inactivity contribute to excess weight, they can increase the risk of high blood pressure, particularly among people with other predisposing factors.
Recognising these risks early offers families, schools and health professionals an opportunity to encourage healthier choices before unhealthy patterns become established.
What Ghana’s cardiovascular health figures reveal
A cardiologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana Medical School, Professor Alfred Doku, in an interview highlighted the seriousness of cardiovascular disease in Ghana, citing figures indicating that it accounted for approximately 43 to 50 per cent of deaths in the country.
He also stated that about 30 per cent of Ghanaian adults had hypertension, with approximately 70 per cent of those affected unaware of their condition.
Although these figures concern adults and the wider population rather than teenagers specifically, they point to the importance of improving awareness, screening and early detection of high blood pressure.
Professor Doku urged people to know their blood pressure readings and monitor other important health indicators, including blood sugar, cholesterol levels and body weight.
His advice underscores the importance of understanding personal health risks rather than waiting for illness to become apparent before seeking medical attention.
For adolescents, any blood pressure reading that raises concern should be assessed by a qualified health professional. Because blood pressure varies with age, growth and other factors, its interpretation in children and teenagers requires appropriate clinical assessment.
The danger of a condition without obvious symptoms
The Head of the National Cardiothoracic Centre, Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, also stressed the importance of awareness and early detection in addressing cardiovascular disease.
He explained that hypertension could remain undetected for years because affected individuals might not experience noticeable symptoms.
Dr Entsua-Mensah noted that several factors, including diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption, could contribute to cardiovascular damage over time.
He called for greater public awareness of the importance of checking blood pressure and other health indicators before complications develop.
The challenge with hypertension is that the absence of symptoms can create a false sense of security. People may assume they are healthy simply because they feel well, overlooking the need for preventive health checks.
Dr Entsua-Mensah emphasised that addressing cardiovascular disease required cooperation among healthcare professionals, government institutions, schools, businesses, community organisations and the media.
Such collaboration is particularly important for young people, whose health habits are influenced by their homes, schools, peer groups and the wider environment.
Small habits, lasting benefits
Professor Doku said many cases of heart disease and stroke could be prevented or their risks reduced through appropriate lifestyle changes and effective management of contributing factors.
He encouraged young people to reduce their salt intake, eat balanced meals, exercise regularly and avoid smoking.
Describing hypertension as a silent threat, he warned that people should not wait for symptoms before taking their blood pressure seriously.
Hypertension, he stressed, could have serious consequences, including heart failure and stroke, when left undetected or inadequately managed.
For teenagers, protecting heart health does not necessarily require complicated routines. It begins with practical, everyday decisions: eating a balanced diet, choosing foods with less salt, participating in regular physical activity and getting adequate sleep.
Avoiding tobacco products and maintaining a healthy weight are also important steps towards reducing cardiovascular risks.
Young people who are diagnosed with hypertension should follow the advice of their healthcare providers and take prescribed medication as directed. Lifestyle changes can support treatment, but they should not replace medication when it is medically necessary.
Parents have an important role to play by encouraging healthy eating and physical activity at home. Schools can contribute by providing opportunities for exercise, promoting health education and making nutritious food choices more accessible to students.
Healthcare professionals, meanwhile, can help identify young people who may be at risk, assess abnormal readings and guide families on appropriate follow-up care.
Protecting the next generation
Addressing hypertension among young people requires more than individual effort. It calls for a coordinated response involving families, schools, healthcare providers, policymakers and the media.
Public education should challenge the perception that high blood pressure is exclusively an older person’s condition. Teenagers need accurate information about cardiovascular health, the factors that increase their risk and the importance of seeking professional advice when necessary.
Appropriate screening and follow-up care can also help identify elevated blood pressure and ensure that young people who need medical attention receive it.
However, the extent of hypertension among Ghanaian teenagers should not be inferred from statistics relating to adults. Reliable, age-specific national data are needed to establish the scale of the problem and guide targeted interventions.
That evidence gap makes it important to approach the subject with both urgency and accuracy: raising awareness of the risks without exaggerating what is known about their prevalence among adolescents.
For Ghana’s young generation, the message is clear. Feeling healthy does not always mean that blood pressure is normal, and good cardiovascular health should not be left until adulthood.
By encouraging healthier habits, improving access to appropriate health checks and making reliable information available to young people, Ghana can take meaningful steps towards protecting the heart health of its next generation.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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Don’t we all dream of a life that is filled with laughter? That may be a reason for chasing big bucks, which like the golden-fleece eludes the majority of us. Financial Wellness is extremely important but there are other factors that make us happy and healthy and eventually wealthy.
You definitely do not need to live in Finland to experience happiness even though many people agree that is the “headquarters” of happiness. The happiness in Finland for instance is based on the provision of basic infrastructure and services, minimal corruption and strong social support among others. These go a long way to minimise anxiety making room for one to enjoy the good things of life.
Then when you live in Sikaman and any of its other cohorts, it is challenging to have those in authority create the environment where you can be happy. That’s why you need to “happy yourself” and the happiness hacks below will help you do just that. Even if you live in Finland, you will gain much more by following these steps.
- Wake-Up Ritual
- Say to yourself that today will be a beautiful day or a great day
- Ask God what He has in store for you. Use me Lord (if not a Christian what you believe in will be useful as well.
- Remind yourself of your purpose in life and get out of bed
- Do not grab your phone as the first thing for the day.
- Pray
- Talking to God has a way of calming our nerves. It brings about unexplained peace and when we add praise and worship then the floodgates open. That is how to win battles against unhappiness.
- Smile
- Definitely floods your body with feel good hormones and insulates you from stress
- Smiling is infectious so the more you smile the better and you set off a smiling OR happiness domino effect.
- Meditate
- Extremely good for your brain and an easy way to start is to do deep-breathing and just focus on your “breath” excluding all others. That is what some will prefer to call mindfulness. Being in the moment has immense benefits. Things you never knew existed suddenly spring up.
- Exercise
- That wonder drug that trumps virtually all others. Like smiling it does pour out feel good hormones. Strength training even goes an extra mile causing our muscles to act as “pharmacies” that pour out life-changing signals every time they contract.
- Be kind to yourself & to others.
- We are often too harsh on ourselves. Give yourself a break. Self-care is the real deal!!
- Being harsh to others has no benefits.
- Spend some time doing nothing
- We need to re-set from time to time. Spend about 10 minutes a day doing absolutely nothing. There is happiness and innovation in “idling”. Do not abuse idling though
- Spend time with loved ones
- This is another powerful happiness “hack”. You have to make time and be intentional about this; talk on phone, send messages, arrange to meet for a drink or meal. Social Wellness ranks very high on the happiness index and it’s fairly easy to plug into it.
- While spending time together remember that your choice of food and drinks also impacts on how happy or sad or anxious you may feel.
- Indulge in a hobby
- Our bodies and brain love variety. Do you have a hobby? Get one
- Write in your gratitude diary
- That is all it takes – keep doing it regularly.
This list is not exhaustive but definitely a good start. Share your happiness hacks with me via email and together we can keep the world smiling and happy.
At the end of each day ask yourself if you did better than the previous day. That is all it takes. Doing better than the previous day for 365 days, for 5 years, 10 years… How amazing that will be!!!
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/Medics Clinic
(dressel@healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, He holds an MBA and is an ISSA Specialist in Exercise Therapy, Fitness Nutrition and Corrective Exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling The Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “There is no magic formula to being happy but making a conscious effort to be happy goes a long way.” – Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
By Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
