Health Essentials
WHO Country Representative speaks on breast cancer, other matters
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Dr. Francis Chisaka Kasolo
As the awareness campaigns against breast cancer wind down, the Country Representative of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr.Francis Chisaka Kasolo, has encouraged individuals to make their health needs a priority as the government and its partners continue working to attain universal health coverage.
He says the government can do its part but the onus is on the citizenry to make a conscious effort to regularly monitor their health status relative to breast cancer and other diseases.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator, he noted that efforts to reduce breast cancer deaths may be undermined if individuals did not turn up or report early at health facilities to be screened or treated for breast cancer cases.
“The work of government is to provide the services but as an individual, you need to sit and tell yourself that nobody is going to tell me to keep healthy but myself.
“We must be aware of our health needs and invest in promoting our personal health. For instance, you need to tell yourself that I am going to examine my breast to ensure that I do not have a lump developing which may herald the beginning of breast cancer,” he said.
Dr Kasolo, therefore, urged the public not to downplay the essence of regular examination as there were effective treatment for breast cancer when it was detected early enough.
Breast cancer awareness
The Country Director, who was responding to questions in line with breast cancer awareness campaigns held locally, agreed that public education on the disease should be an all-year-round activity instead of solely dedicating the month of October to public sensitisation to the disease which continued to claim many lives.
He admitted that the campaigns in Ghana and most parts of Africa tended to taper off after the month of October but there must be “a more comprehensive approach” and adequate resources made available for a year-long campaign while other sectors supported the efforts put in by the health sector.
“It will not cause a dime for the radio stations to talk about breast cancer from January to December, after all they talked about COVID from January to December.
“It has to be comprehensive rather than picking one disease and creating awareness on that, if we are going to create awareness for Tuberculosis or Malaria, there has to be an opportunity to talk about other diseases and conditions such as breast cancer,” he stated.
On whether there was an end in sight to the fight against the disease, Dr Kasola maintained that the number of deaths occurring as a result of breast cancer could be reduced if people show up at health facilities for the treatment of breast cancer early.
Impact
While encouraging campaigns against cancers in general, he further stressed the importance of establishing well-equipped cancer treatment centres that were manned by well-trained human resources across the country and not just in one region.
“If we can do these, then we can safely say that we are on the road to ensuring that breast cancer becomes a lesser of a problem than it is now, we can safely say that the end is in sight for breast cancer not only in Ghana but globally ” he noted.
Dr Kasolo again emphasised the need to measure the impact of the awareness campaigns and compile comprehensive data that would inform decision makers on areas to direct resources.
He said the WHO was on course with its Global Breast Cancer Initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer by 2.5 per cent per year, which over a 20 year period would save 2.5 million lives.
The strategies being employed to achieve this objective, he added, included health promotion and early detection, timely diagnosis and comprehensive breast cancer management.
Highlighting other initiatives WHO had been embarking on since he took office in February 2021, the Country Representative explained that there was collaboration with the Government of Ghana at improving health governance, health financing and security while other programmes targeted at detecting and managing non-communicable diseases were being implemented.
He said as the country continued to invest in the health sector, the government must ensure that “a significant number of human resources are retained to serve the nation and help attain universal health coverage by year 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (Goal Three).”
Background
Dr.Francis Chisaka Kasolo is an Infectious Disease Physician with specialisation in Clinical Virology. He has worked with WHO in various capacities for the past 18 years.
Prior to his new appointment, he was a Director in the office of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, responsible for advising the Regional Director on policy and strategic issues pertaining to the work of the organisations.
Dr. Kasolo served as Director for Ebola Preparedness with the United Nations Mission on Emergency Ebola Response (UNMEER) in Accra in 2014.
Asked what his legacy would be as Country Representative in Ghana, he said he wants to be “remembered as the person who provided opportunities for Ghana to move forward in achieving universal health coverage.”
“I want to be remembered as the person who advocated rural population to receive a greater share of support not just from the government but from all the partners that are supporting health in Ghana,” he noted.
He again wants to ensure that “Ghanaians working as National Professional Officers are given the same opportunity to become international staff in other countries.”
By Ernest Nutsugah
There are thousands of diet plans and some people change them almost as often as they change their underwear. We have fallen in love with pills and injections all in a bid to fast-track the wellness dream. The plastic surgeon’s blade and even prayers have all been called upon to perform miraculous acts. Is there a single path to achieving Wellness or has man found that wonder pill yet?
Is the result of an annual medical examination all that is needed to determine how well one is? Can you have great reviews in the clinic yet feel tired and unhappy? Does wellness obey the all or none law or is it a whole spectrum where majority of us fall within?
Wellness involves at least six (6) areas or pillars that we need to balance since they all work together to make us the best versions of ourselves.
When we fall short in any one of them, it may have consequences in other areas but we don’t need to be perfect in any area; balance is all that is needed. The era of lockdown for instance brought to the fore the importance of Social Wellness; many of us felt isolated when we had to avoid our work colleagues for weeks on end. Even the output of some of us dipped. Oh, you surely are not alone. Even people you detested meeting in the office you now longed to spend time with. Breathe a sigh of relief; that feeling is normal, nothing untoward is happening to you. The majority of us humans are social beings and we blossom when surrounded by family and friends and hugs and handshakes are the norm.
The Six Pillars of Wellness.
- Physical
- Mental
- Social
- Financial
- Digital
- Spiritual
Physical Wellness
Are you taking proper care of your body? Do you exercise, eat right and get your regular medical examinations?
Avoid awkward postures like sitting slouched forwards or bending at the waist to pick an object. Surely you are washing your hands regularly with soap and water. Have you noticed the loud silence from cholera when handwashing was fashionable during the pandemic?
Mental Wellness
The way you think, act or feel falls into this category but it is definitely not an island on its own. Your physical well-being and all the others impact on your mental health.
Time to relax, sleep, manage your time, enjoy nature and be kind to others. These together with deep breathing and laughter, go a long way to keep your mental health in great shape.
Social Wellness
The relationships we have and the way we interact with others. Your mental health, physical health all impact on your relationships. When you exude happiness, people give it right back to you. Build strong relationships; just a few trustworthy people who you can share your challenges with will go a long way to stabilise your mental health and pave the way for all others to flow. When you feel unduly stressed do you have anyone you can speak to before getting professional help? Do not be a loner.
Financial Wellness
How secured is your money? Are we prepared for emergencies in an uncertain future? We need baseline financial security to be able to get all the other pillars working seamlessly. How can you eat well or get medical examinations done with no financial backing? Finances tend to be one of the greatest stressors in life. Do not ignore the need for financial stability, you need it more than you can imagine. Speak to someone who can assist you plan your future TODAY.
Digital Wellness
What measures are you taking that aim at regulating and improving healthy use of technology? If you set virtual meetings, training programmes etc. all day because you are working from home, then when do you get to rest your mind, eyes and back from prolonged sitting among many others? One thing will lead to another. Many of us can hardly unplug. Our phones are on 24/7 and we think sleep is a luxury. NO! Inadequate sleep will open the floodgates to a tonne of health challenges including stress, overeating, alcohol abuse, fatigue and even accidents from fatigue.
Get sleep; it’s a lifeline!
Spiritual Wellness
Are you connected to a greater being who provides us with a sense of purpose, values, principles, morals and beliefs among many others?
If you asked for my opinion, I recommend God. Speak to him daily (prayer) and he will set you on the right path.
In all things do not specialise in one or a few of these pillars of wellness. We should all aim at getting a fair balance in each area and we can be the very best of ourselves. Now do not put unnecessary pressure on yourself; everyone has challenges but taking one step at a time and always remembering that we need different aspects to make life the best that it can 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
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a Medical Doctor with a keen interest in Lifestyle Medicine, 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 Essentisals of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “Defining health and wellbeing; The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’ (WHO, 1948).”
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It appears I am stuck in sleep mode; last week we discussed sleep hygiene and now it’s napping. Could it be my brain doing its best to make me understand it needs more sleep?
Many of us developed a love for afternoon naps while in school because it was mandatory to “sleep” after lunch. It may have been a luxury to get restful sleep in one’s junior years but our brains got the message: sleep after lunch to get a boost in energy to prepare you for the rest of the day.
As the years rolled by sleeping after lunch, for instance, has become a mirage but everyone loves a “power nap”. The French do a great job when it comes to their afternoon break.
If you enjoy your naps, you may have experienced that feeling of extending your sleep once you go beyond half an hour. It’s that feeling of no turning back. On the other hand, if you nap for just about 30 minutes you seem to have a new lease of energy.
I love naps whenever I get a chance to squeeze one in, but school had siestas that lasted about an hour so sometimes I love to revisit the days of old. A new research finding is, however, about to trample on that glorious time spent hitting on the snooze button and being at peace with the sheets, chair or even bench or floor in some instances.
We all appreciate that getting enough sleep is key to good health but this study suggests that long daytime naps may not be in your best interest.
The researchers found that long naps in excess of 40 minutes and excessive daytime sleepiness were associated with an increased risk for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol; collectively referred to as metabolic syndrome.
The research showed that people who napped for less than 40 minutes were not at increased risk for metabolic syndrome. In fact, those who napped less than 30 minutes had a slight decrease in risk.
The findings seem to point accusing fingers at those of us who nap for over 40 minutes; that is when the problems seem to begin. I am sure you can confidently guess what happens when people nap for over 90 minutes; the risk of developing metabolic syndrome increased by as much as 50%.
“The review also found that napping for more than an hour or being overly tired during the day were both linked with a 50 percent higher risk for type 2 diabetes.”
“However, the study only found an association between these factors, and did not prove that excessive sleepiness and long naps actually cause metabolic syndrome or diabetes.”
Is it possible that those of us who nap for long periods of time also avoid physical activity and probably over-indulge in comfort foods, hence increasing the risk for these lifestyle diseases?
One thing is certain, you cannot go wrong with a short nap; it can be extremely satisfying. So while the scientists continue to explain and maybe confirm these findings, let us limit our naps to 30 minutes. If you have extra time take a walk or get some work done.
This may be a reminder that too much of even a good thing may be harmful. Sleeping has great benefits including reducing our risks for developing heart and blood vessel diseases such as stroke, it improves our immunity and also enhances our performance in all spheres of life.
Just as sleeping in excess of 9 hours at a time has been linked with bad outcomes, excessive daytime napping is now getting its “day in court”. Moderation in all things must be key!!
A nap is essential for every individual
A 20-minute nap in the early afternoon may:
• Ease your stress
• Sharpen your memory
• Help you react faster
• Improve your job performance
• Boost your energy
• Lift your mood
• Make you more alert
How long did you nap today?
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERY DAY 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 Life Style Medicine, 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 – “Sleep is an important component of our healthy lifestyle, as well as diet and exercise,” says Dr. Tomohide Yamada. “Short naps might have a beneficial effect on our health, but we don’t yet know the strength of that effect or the mechanism by which it works.”
References:
- WebMD News from HealthDay by Robert Preidt
- Extract from “The Importance of Obtaining Adequate Sleep” by Dr. Obo Addy
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