News
‘Maintain clean environments while observing social distancing ‘
Mama Afiakumah II, Queen of the Tsowu-Afede Clan of Ve-Deme in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region, has said that the social distancing protocol in the wake of efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, is no justification to leave the surroundings dirty.
She insisted that communities must still be kept clean while observing the social distancing.
Mama Afiakumah described as highly unpatriotic the lazy attitude of some young people who hid under the social distancing protocol and refused to tidy up their communities in recent times.
She made the remarks while presenting 10 Veronica buckets, 10 buckets, consignments of liquid soap, hand sanitisers, paper towels and masks among other items, worth about GH₵4,000 to the Ve-Deme community to support the hand washing culture in the area.
Mama Afiakumah said that the pandemic should rather prompt the citizenry to renew their patriotic spirit and team up to fight the virus with great zeal and enthusiasm for life to return to normal in the country as soon as possible.
The queen also entreated parents to monitor their children around the clock while schools were shut, to ensure that they did not drift “off course in these trying times”.
She explained that, leaving children to be on their own all the time may cause them to indulge in vices inimical to their future.
“Our children can continue to learn even outside the classroom until the schools re-open,” Mama Afiakumah added.
She pointed out that the crusade against COVID-19 required all hands on deck, for which she called on all and sundry to support the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
The queen highlighted the need to maintain high standards of hygiene at all times, saying cleanliness was next to godliness.
She commended the Tsowu-Afede Clan for their strong communal spirit and unity, and urged them to maintain and utilise it to support the community’s set of development objectives.
She announced plans to grow trees along the one-kilometre road between the Ve-Deme junction and the community, with support from the Forestry Commission, saying that the project could be carried out vigorously by the youth in strict adherence to the social distancing protocol.
“There is a lot we can do for ourselves before looking up to the government for support for other projects,” Mama Afiakumah pointed out.
Receiving the items, Togbe Sodzi VI thanked Mama Afiakumah for the unfading concern for the welfare of Ve-Deme and described her as a jewel of the soil.
He gave the assurance that the Ve-Deme community would remain united and focused in its unflinching resolve to support the fight against COVID-19.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ve-Deme
News
Know sickle cell status before marriage
Marriage decisions can be the key to reducing Ghana’s alarming sickle cell disease rates, according to Professor Alex Osei Akoto, Principal Investigator of the Patient-centred Approaches to Care and Treatment of Sickle Cell Disease (PACTS) in sub-Saharan Africa.
He has, therefore, urged the youth to strive to know their sickle cell status before getting married, given the fact that 2 per cent of all newborns in Ghana are diagnosed with sickle cell disease.
“When two individuals with the sickle cell trait (AS) marry, they face a 25 per cent chance of having a child with the full disease (SS) with each pregnancy. When people are aware of their status, they can make informed decisions about their partners. This isn’t about restricting people’s choices but empowering them with knowledge that can affect generations to come,” Prof. Akoto explained.
He spoke to The Spectator during a stakeholder meeting to discuss a study conducted across six hospitals in the Kumasi metropolitan area on how best to treat and manage the disease.
Prof. Akoto noted that people in sub-Saharan Africa were the largest carriers of the disease as “the gene emanates from black Africa.”
But early detection, he stressed, was key for interventions and reiterated the call for all to know their status.
Prof. Akoto urged clinicians to stick to protocols in the treatment of the disease, stressing the importance “to adhere strictly to established guidelines to ensure optimal care for sickle cell patients.”
The study conducted at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), KNUST, Manhyia, Asokwa, Kumasi South, and Kumasi Metro Hospitals, found that some clinicians were not following standard care protocol.
Dr Lawrence Osei-Tutu, a pediatrician and specialist in sickle cell treatment associated with the project, highlighted their innovative approach.
“We are using a unique approach of harnessing the involvement of both patients, families, community, and clinicians to look at how best to treat and manage the disease,” said Dr Osei-Tutu.
He further indicated that one of the most promising developments during the study involved pharmaceutical adaptations for younger patients/children.
Dr Osei-Tutu also emphasised that the interventions depended critically on early detection. Without timely diagnosis, even the most innovative treatments lose much of their efficacy.
“We’re trying to improve the lives of patients by improving what we do at the hospitals. This improvement extends beyond medical procedures to encompass family support systems, community awareness, and patient education,” explained Dr Osei-Tutu.
The project recently brought together key stakeholders from across the healthcare spectrum to deliberate on optimising treatment protocols.
This collaborative approach represents a shift in how genetic diseases are managed in Ghana, moving from a purely medical model to a more integrated social-medical framework.
Despite these promising developments, significant challenges remain in Ghana’s fight against sickle cell disease.
Limited resources, geographical barriers to healthcare access, stigmatisation, and low awareness continue to hamper efforts to reduce the disease burden.
As Ghana continues to address the high prevalence of sickle cell disease, experts emphasised that knowledge remains the most powerful tool in this fight.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
News
Ghanaian nurse Naomi Oti vies for global nursing prize to support health delivery
An oncology nurse specialist and Head of Nursing at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, has been named one of the top 10 finalists in the prestigious ‘Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award’ out of over 100,000 entries worldwide.
Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, is one of only two Africans to make the final shortlist, and now needs public votes to bring home a historic win for Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement copied to The Spectator in Accra on Tuesday.
According to the statement, currently, the oncology nurse specialist is vying for a cash prize of $250,000 together with other competitors across the world to enable her expand her work in cancer education, mentorship, and care across Africa.
At the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Center, the statement said, she has championed equity in cancer outcomes, pioneered specialist nurse training, and transformed patient care.
“Under her leadership, over 70 oncology and breast care nurses have been trained,” it added.
It mentioned that, Naomi has worked with leading global institutions including the Cross Cancer Institute (Canada) to bring high-quality oncology education to Ghanaian nurses.
According to the statement, she had played a key role in developing the country’s postgraduate oncology nursing curriculum and has mentored more than 48 nurses across Africa.
“Her commitment to building capacity is helping to raise a new generation of empowered African oncology nurse leaders’’.
“Her influence reaches the international stage through her work with the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC), and ASCO’s global faculty’’.
The statement said Ms Oti co-leads research initiatives and policy development efforts that integrate African perspectives into global oncology practices.
It further mentioned that the Nurse Specialist’s groundbreaking research on breast cancer risks among African women has reshaped early detection strategies adding that “her contributions to clinical trial protocols have enhanced patient engagement and data integrity across multiple international studies.”
Ms Oti has received numerous national accolades, including the Ghana Ministry of Health Excellence Award and the Dr Dorcia Kisseh International Award from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association.
Ghanaians have been urged to vote for Ms Oti through https://apply.asterguardians.com/voting
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
