News
Malaria pill trialed to prevent COVID-19
A trial to see whether two anti-malarial drugs could prevent COVID-19 has begun in Brighton and Oxford.
Chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine or a placebo will be given to more than 40,000 healthcare workers from Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.
All the participants are staff who are in contact with COVID-19 patients.
US President Donald Trump was criticised this week after he said he had been taking hydroxychloroquine, despite warnings it might be unsafe.
The first UK participants in the global trial were enrolled yesterday at the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals and the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
They will be given either hydroxychloroquine or a placebo for three months. At sites in Asia, participants will be given chloroquine or a placebo.
These are the first of a planned 25 UK sites, with results expected by the end of the year.
The trial is open to anyone delivering direct care to coronavirus patients in the UK, as long as they have not been diagnosed with COVID-19.
It will test whether the drugs can prevent healthcare workers exposed to the virus from contracting it.
One of the study’s leaders, Prof Nicholas White at the University of Oxford said: “We really do not know if chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine are beneficial or harmful against COVID-19.”
But, he said, a randomised controlled trial such as this one, where neither the participant nor the researchers know who has been given the drug or a placebo, was the best way to find out.
“A widely available, safe and effective vaccine may be a long way off,” said Prof Martin Llewelyn from Brighton and Sussex Medical School, who is also leading the study.
“If drugs as well-tolerated as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine could reduce the chances of catching COVID-19, this would be incredibly valuable.”
The drugs can reduce fever and inflammation and are used as both a prevention and a treatment for malaria.
Hydroxychloroquine regulates the body’s immune response and is also used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus – an inflammatory disease caused by an overactive immune system.
Lupus charities in the UK and US have raised concerns that demand for the drug associated with coronavirus could threaten the supply for patients who already rely on it. -BBC
News
KNUST mourns death of 3 students
The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) is grappling with the devastating loss of two students, Akosuah Owusuaa and Bertha Kookale Hammond, who passed away in separate incidents on March 9, 2025.
The university community is still reeling in shock as details of the incidents are scarce, leaving many to read meanings into the loss of these young lives.
Akosuah, a third-year Forest Resource Technology student, was said to have fallen ill before her passing.
Bertha, a final-year English student, also passed away on the same day, with the cause of her death still unknown.
The Association of Students of English, KNUST, released a statement announcing Bertha’s passing, describing her as a “dedicated and talented student” who will be deeply missed.
“It is with great sorrow that we write to you regarding the devastating loss of one of our very own, Bertha Kookale Hammond, a final-year student of English who has passed away, leaving behind a gaping void that cannot be filled.”
“We extend our deepest condolences to Bertha’s family, her friends, and loved ones during this agonising moment. May we find comfort in the memories of her bright smile and sheer enthusiasm.”
These recent deaths come on the heels of a similar incident involving a final-year Biological Sciences student, Joana Deladem Yabani, whose lifeless body was found near the KNUST Disability and Rehabilitation Centre on February 27, 2025.
The cause of death is still under investigation, with initial police examination revealing marks of violence on her body.
CCTV footage analysis led to the arrest of a suspect, Daniel Tuffuor, a 21-year-old fellow student, and reportedly Joana’s boyfriend, the same day.
Tuffuor was remanded and is set to appear in court again on March 17, 2025.
The KNUST community is mourning the loss of these young lives, and the university is working closely with the authorities to ensure that justice was served.
From Kingsley E.Hope,
Kumasi
News
Centre for Nat’l Culture, Antoa SHS launch Ashanti Region Ghana Month celebration
In a vibrant display of cultural pride, students of Antoa Senior High School (SHS) joined forces with the Centre for National Culture, Ashanti Region, to launch the 2025 Ghana Month celebration.
The event was a mixture of traditional cloth demonstrations, dance lessons, poetry recitals, and proverbs competitions.
Students and staff donned colourful traditional attires, showcasing their cultural heritage with infectious enthusiasm.
For most of the students, the event was an emotional reminder of their roots. “I never knew how rich our Ghanaian culture was until today. I’m proud to be Ghanaian!” One of them exclaimed.
The programme’s interactive presentation, partnered with the Ghana Education Service (GES), aimed to educate students on Ghanaian cultural values and norms, promoting national pride and identity.
According to Mr Peter Kofi Marfo, Ag. Regional Director of the Centre for National Culture, “We want to revive the cultural spirit among our youth. By sharing Ghana’s rich heritage, we’re empowering them to become ambassadors of our culture.”
The Ghana Month celebration would continue in 18 schools across the Ashanti Region, ending on March 27, 2025.
According to Mr Marfo, the grand finale would feature a traditional cuisine festival among sister organisations and associations at the Kumasi Centre for National Culture.
“Let’s Wear Ghana, Eat Ghana, See Ghana, Speak Ghana, Hear and Dance Ghana – together, we’ll keep our cultural flame burning bright!”Mr Marfo intoned.
The Centre, he said, remained committed to promoting Ghanaian culture and heritage, preserving the country’s rich cultural traditions for future generations.
‘‘It’s also an opportunity to strengthen cultural ties and ensure that younger generations appreciate and continue,’’ he said.
“We believe that this programme will be an enriching experience for the students and staff, and we are excited about the opportunity to share Ghana’s rich cultural heritage with them,” said the Ag. Regional Director.
The Ghana Month celebration is an annual event held in March to commemorate Ghana’s independence and rich cultural heritage.
The event is celebrated across the country, with various activities and programmes aimed at promoting Ghanaian culture and national pride.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
