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MFGh embarks on mental health education
A non-governmental Organisation (NGO) MindFreedom (MFGh) has embarked on an intensive public education on mental health and how to handle patients.
The educational forum, which was held at Akoefe-Gadza in the Ho Municipality, was attended by chiefs, teachers, parents, students and civil society groups.
Addressing the participants, the Executive Secretary of MFGh, Mr Dan Taylor said mental health should be regarded as a universal basic human rights, which needed to be given the maximum attention.
Mr Taylor said his outfit had started educating Ghanaians 19 years ago on mental health, and the importance of seeking early treatment at hospitals.
He announced that Open Society Africa (OSA) Organisation sponsored the outreach education programme, and commended it for the special interest shown in the promotion of mental health in the country.
According to him, lack of education on mental health over the years made some people believe that mental health was the work of the devil, and normally take patients to prayer centres and spiritualists for treatment.
Mr Taylor, therefore asked prayer camp leaders and spiritualists to refer mental health cases to health facilities and should stop chaining them, which worsen their conditions.
The Director of EmpoweringMinds Ghana, Mr Emmanuel Adadey said his Organisation was an NGO based in Ho and had partnered with MFGh to promote public education on mental health to reduce stigma and discrimination against mental health patients in the country.
Mr Adadey said it was important for Ghanaians to appreciate mental health as one of the diseases and avoid discrimination against patients, which most of the time worsens their conditions because the patients were more often isolated.
He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to show mental health patients love and care to facilitate the healing process.
The Chief of Akoefe-Gadza, Togbe Dikro IV commended the two organisations for Organising the programme, which gave the residents a better understanding of mental health.
FROM LAWRENCE MARKWEI , AKOEFE-GADZA
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NHIA set to boost its cybersecurity and IT Infrastructure
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), in partnership with a leading private cybersecurity solutions provider in Ghana, CyberHawk Limited, is advancing the Authority’s digital infrastructure to ensure seamless operations.
This is to safeguard the Authority’s digital technologies and maintain the trust of active members of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
In this context, the NHIA Management Information System (MIS) Directorate in the Head Office, on February 11, 2024, launched a three-day brainstorming session on the organization’s cybersecurity enhancement agenda.
The MIS Directorate Ag. Director, Mr. Daniel Blankson explained that the collaborative meeting aimed to scrutinize the NHIA’s Information Technology architecture, identifying potential risks and gapsto enhance its cybersecurity posture.
“By leveraging CyberHawk Limited’s expertise, the NHIA seeks to fortify its defenses against cyber threats, protecting sensitive information and maintaining the trust of its members.”
Mr. Blankson applauded the synergy between the two organizations and underscored the Authority’s commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to drive its mission forward.
The Head of Information Security and Standards Unit, in the MIS Directorate, Mr. Ebenezer Hooper, highlighted the Authority’s significant milestone on the digital transformation journey.
According to him, the NHIA is actively engaged in fully adopting and implementing modern digital systems to improve its operations.
He said, “The three-day brainstorming meeting will culminate in the development of a robust IT infrastructure, as well as strategic plans to translate security implementations into tangible IT cost savings for the organization.”
“There is the need to form a steering committee or IT advisory committee, operated under the Board, so that they can pay more attention in protecting the huge IT investment while ensuring cyber security-related policies are well protected,” he added.
The Project Manager of CyberHawk Limited, Mr. Chetan Narayana Murthy, lauded the collaboration and anticipated that it would empower the NHIA to implement comprehensive cybersecurity measures.
According to him, “This is a huge project that will greatly benefit the NHIA by implementing robust cybersecurity measures, safeguarding their systems, and ultimately protecting the sensitive information of NHIA members and healthcare providers.”
A Senior Manager of IT infrastructure, Mr. David Asare Addo, and his colleague, a Senior Manager of Applications, Mr. Enock Afanyi, with the MIS Directorate, gave an overview of the NHIA’s current technological landscape.
Present at the meeting were representatives from the Claims, Membership and Regional Operations (MRO), Research, Policy, Monitoring, and Evaluation (RPME), Corporate Affairs, the Audit, Administration, and Human Resource Directorates.
Story By : Vivian Arthur
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Swedru All Blacks back to winning ways, Roshan humble King Faisal
Sekondi Rospak FC made it eight wins in eight successive home games after three second-half goals from John Amoah, Joseph Ntow and Stephen Anthony Kofi. John Amoah opened the scoring in the 55th minute after a barren first half. Joseph Ntow added to the tally in the 56th minute before Stephen Anthony Kofi rounded things up in the 74th minute to give Rospak a 3-0 win over former Premier League side King Faisal.
Elsewhere at Swedru – leaders Swedru All Blacks humbled PAC Academy in an emphatic 2-0 win. Zayat Bubakari scored first for Swedru All Blacks in the 27th minute before Rudolf Junior Nana Kwasi Mensah made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Swedru All Blacks are top of the table with 36 points – 4 points ahead of second placed Rospak FC.
Meanwhile, Former Premier League side Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs recorded their fourth successive home victory after beaten New Edubiase United 2-1 at the Robert Mensah Park. Enoch Odoom struck first for Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs in the 19th minute but Steven Asante equalized for New Edubiase United before halftime. After the interval, Godfred Eshun scored from distance in the 65th minute to help Cape Coast Mysterious Dwarfs secure all the points.
Here are the results in Zone Two
