Editorial
Arrest fake dentists to discourage others
The influx of fake dentists in the country should be a concern to many because if left unchecked it would have disastrous effects on the health of those with gum disease and other dental conditions.
The Ghana Dental Association (GDA) claims that these quack dentists work in barbershops and hair salons. This development is concerning since these false medical professionals endanger the lives and health of numerous innocent people.
This concern was brought to light at the 33rd annual general conference of the GDA, on the theme “Strengthening the GDA: An All Inclusive Membership for Tommorrow’s Success,” in Kumasi, in the Ashanti region.
It is clear that these quack doctors prey on innocent people under the pretense of treating dental conditions in order to further their evil goals of getting enormous sums of money.
It comes as no surprise that the GDA is concerned about the trend and is urging the association and security forces to work together to apprehend these quack dentists.
The Spectator is urging those who indulge in these practices to stop since they are damaging the honourable profession of dentistry and putting many people’s health at risk.
It also seems odd to us that individuals would go to the length of using the services of these quack dentists who operate in barbershops and hair salons rather than visiting licensed medical professionals for treatment.
The problem is worrying and we should all exercise caution while using the services of these quack doctors who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of helpless victims.
According to statistics, approximately 70 to 80 percent of dentists are concentrated in the southern region of the country, primarily in Accra and Kumasi, with the remaining 20 percent being dispersed throughout the northern sector.
The Spectator is surprised that the majority of specialist services are concentrated in urban areas. For this reason, we support the request of Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, Minister of Health, that teaching hospitals work with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to enable consultants or specialists at the hospitals to occasionally provide their services to other parts of the country where they lack expertise.
That, we believe, will go a long way to stop people from patronising the services of these quack doctors as some times the signs are clearly written on the walls but people have no other option than to seek medical attention from unregulated practices.
In our view more doctors should be encouraged to enter the field of dentistry to cater for the dental needs of the public as currently, reports say that “As of 2022 there were a total of 570 dentists for a population of 31 million people – a ratio of one to 58,400 people which falls below the World Health Organisations (WHOs) recommendation of a dentist for every 7,500 people.
Meanwhile, we urge the public to seek dental care regularly from qualified dentists not only when they have teeth ailments but to do it as a regular practice to avoid serious conditions in the future.
We also urge the public to try as much as possible to maintain good oral hygiene by heeding to these preventive measures which include, brushing teeth twice a day, using the right brushing technique, flossing regularly, eating healthy food and avoiding sugary drinks.
Editorial
Let’s respect the dead
Dear Editor,
Growing up as a young man, I watched how families of deceased persons paid respect to their beloved ones.
Right from the mortuary to the funeral grounds, the mortal remains of the deceased are always handled with respect to honour them.
Most of the time, individuals who visit the mortuary to bring the body of the deceased home were required to wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
A traditional belief holds that seeing or coming into contact with dead bodies portends a bad omen and may require spiritual cleansing.
However, in recent times, I have seen a number of videos on social media where corpses are handled without care.
In some of these videos, one could see the body of the corpse carried on the shoulders of friends or being made to stand while friends and families touch and take pictures with it.
I find that weird and at the same time disturbing and thinks a lot about the health implications.
According to some health experts, such an act poses a threat to public health as one may not know the cause of the death of the deceased.
Some have predicted that Ghana could face health crisis such as disease transmission as a result of the pathogens present in decomposing bodies, if care was not taken.
As a concerned individual, I share in the view of the health experts.
I believe that if care is not taken, the actions of the youth in handling dead bodies could lead to the spread of diseases.
I, therefore urge the Ghana Health Service to take the issue seriously and address it to avoid any possible future health crisis.
Atom,
Korle-bu
Editorial
Prevent Keta Township from being engulfed by sea
Have you ever dreamed about waking up to discover that everything you own—including your mattress, roof, and all of your memories – has been lost to the sea?
Since the sea has consumed a sizable portion of Keta in the Volta region, the town’s citizens are in a pitiful position. The sooner action is taken to save the town, the better off everyone will be.
The destruction of the Keta by the sea needs to be addressed immediately, or else the township would eventually be submerged under the water.
Our reporter’s visit showed that this once-thriving seaside resort is gradually disappearing. Keta was once a thriving town known for its business, but now some areas are in ruins, with some of the locals looking on in wonder at the destruction caused by the water.
For the residents of Keta, the Atlantic Ocean is no longer a far-off blue horizon. These days, it relentlessly and without invitation circles around their doorsteps, tearing down walls and other structures, erasing memories, and endangering lives.
Many locals have been forced to live with family or friends after the sea destroyed their homes years ago, and other residents find it hard to comprehend that their once-livable habitat is now in ruins.
The problem is that, apart from residences, Keta’s cultural identity being anchored by monuments are gradually disappearing. One remnant of the transatlantic slave trade, the once-imposing Fort Prinzenstein, is now more of a ruin than a monument.
Once more, the ancient cinema where generations of children used to laugh at flickering black-and-white pictures is no longer there, as is the Bremen factory from the colonial era.
Among other things, the original police station has vanished, and Queen Street, which was once the town’s busy backbone, is now a flooded hallway clogged with rubble. There is still more work to be done despite previous attempts to address the issue since the town is fighting while the sea is winning.
Although water is life, in this instance, it is ruining people’s homes. The situation is serious since the water is destroying the town’s past as quickly as it is claiming its future, despite nature taking its course.
But as humans, our Creator has endowed us with the intelligence to solve problems. The historic town of Keta is now shrouded in uncertainty as the remains of a once-inhabited township are submerged and engulfed by the approaching seas along its coast.
Therefore, it is more efficient to have everyone working together to find a long-term solution to this terrible issue
