Editorial
Vaccinate boys, girls against cervical cancer
In the battle against cervical cancer, resident public health physician Dr. Victoria Partey-Newman has pushed for immunisation of both boys and girls.
It is the best approach, in her opinion, to stop the sickness from spreading. She asked that the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine be made a part of the nation’s educational programme and given to both boys and girls starting at age nine in schools.
She claimed that doing so could help eradicate HPV and successfully lower the risk of infection in boys, as well as decrease transmission, boost immunity, and lessen problems linked to HPV.
According to her, among Ghanaian women aged 15 to 44, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer. She said that statistics indicate that 2,797 women receive a cervical cancer diagnosis annually, with 1,699 of those cases ending in death.
The numbers are concerning, but even more worrisome is the fact that males can catch HPV from infected women through sexual contact.
Male partners may also increase their female partners’ risk of developing cervical cancer, therefore this is serious.
The theme of this year’s World Cervical Cancer Awareness Month was “learn, prevent, screen,” and it was observed worldwide, including in Ghana.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) designates January, annually to promote immunisation against HPV, the primary cause of cervical cancer, and to increase public awareness of the illness.
It is fitting that the WHO emphasises during this year’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Month the significance of expanding access to HPV vaccinations, routine screening, and cutting-edge treatment for cervical cancer in its early stages.
Although previously the most frequent type of HPV-related cancer has been cervical cancer in women, data indicate that approximately 40 percent of cases of HPV-induced cancer also occur in men.
The Spectator concurs with the Resident Public Health Physician that boys and girls starting at age nine should receive the immunisation in schools.
Even though HPV-related cancers can typically be successfully treated, it is always preferable to avoid cancer than to treat it, which is why the HPV vaccine is such an effective tool in the fight against cancer.
When women have vaginal bleeding after sex, bleeding after menopause, bleeding between periods, pain during sex, or watery, odourous, and occasionally bloody vaginal discharges, we strongly advise them to follow medical advice and attend the hospital.
In addition, women need to undergo yearly screenings, abstain from smoking, limit the number of sexual partners they have, maintain a balanced diet, and engage in regular exercise.
Reducing the incidence of cervical cancer by 2030 and ending the disease as a public health issue by 2120 require a common goal.
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.
