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Editorial

Parents must support their children with special needs

 Overcoming stigmatisation at all levels in society is one campaign almost every civil society organisation is tackling.

From menstrual hygiene, breast cancer, HIV/AIDS to crime-related stigma; these organisations have gone to extreme lengths to create awareness to make it easier for vic­tims to be accepted in the society.

It is, therefore, strange to read about a call on parents that takes their children with special needs to Special or Care Homes to be ca­tered for and eventually, abandon them.

That is wickedness at the high­est level.

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According to a report published by this paper, some parents and guardians have turned these special schools into ‘dumping grounds’ where they take their wards and leave them to their fate.

These parents refuse to visit the children for the period they stay at the facility and care less about their state of health.

The worse of all is that such parents would not even attend meeting of parents to discuss the welfare of these children that needs the support of their parents to survive.

The Spectator finds the situation very offensive and unacceptable considering the fact that these chil­dren have no hand in their forma­tion and did nothing to contribute to their present form.

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The timing also make it very startling because of the several campaigns on this social canker called stigmatisation.

The truth is, we have gone past the era where a certain level of stigmatisation was allowed because the mode of transmission of certain diseases were actually not clear.

In this era, there is information everywhere on how people who had been released from detentions, people who have recovered from certain sicknesses etc should be integrated into society.

So, having overcome some chal­lenges, The Spectator wonders why parents in this age would ‘dump’ their wards somewhere.

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This paper, therefore, affirms the call on such parents to rather encourage their special children so that their talents can be harnessed

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Editorial

 Obtain license before practising traditional medicine

 People suffer from a variety of health problems, and instead of consulting with medical professionals who are competent to treat them, they prefer to take var­ious concoctions from unqualified people, which ultimately makes their condition worse.

The Traditional Medicine Prac­tice Council (TMPC) has expressed concern and warned practitioners of traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine that neglect to obtain or renew their licenses from the council may be subject to legal action.

The Spectator is happy about this move because controlling Traditional Medicine Practice (TMP) will restore sanity to the system, as more and more people choose traditional rather than mainstream medicine.

The term “traditional medicine” describes the knowledge, abilities, and procedures utilised in the pres­ervation of health as well as the di­agnosis, treatment, and prevention of physical and mental illness.

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These methods are founded on the theories, beliefs, and life ex­periences that are native to many cultures.

The alert was sent out on August 31, on the occassion of African Traditional Medicine Day, which is observed every year. The World Health Organisation (WHO) creat­ed the Day in 2003 to honour the significance of traditional medicine in Africa and to encourage its incor­poration into all of the continent’s national health systems.

According to the council, 70–80 per cent of people use herbal medicines as their major source of healthcare, making them the most widely used type of traditional medicine.

As to Section 9 of the TMPC Act, 2000 (Act 575), it is impermissible for an individual to manufacture herbal medicine for commercial purposes or run a business as a practitioner without first register­ing with the council.

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In order to enhance public safety when administering herbal medications, it is crucial that herb­al practitioners follow the Council’s recommendations and renew or ob­tain licenses from the organisation.

This is due to the fact that regulated practice would improve and promote the THPs’ meaningful participation in primary healthcare operations.

Most importantly, for millions of people, particularly in rural areas, traditional medicine and THPs are essential parts of the healthcare field.

Additionally, obtaining a license before practice will be extremely beneficial to herbalists as it will spare them from the harsh conse­quences of breaking the law.

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The Spectator concurs with the Council that making safe and effective traditional medicines available could play a significant role in expanding access to health­care services, as one-third of the population does not have access to vital medications.

Without a doubt, this will have a significant positive impact on Gha­naians’ health and wellbeing.

Whatever it may be, traditional medicine is here to stay and will continue to play a significant role in the healthcare systems of many communities, so the correct proto­cols must be followed to guarantee everyone’s safety.

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Editorial

Construction of ‘Ayee Ayee Fee’ Avenue road in Akweteyman stalled

Dear Editor,

Residents of ‘Ayee Ayee Fee Avenue’, an area around Akweteyman in Accra are unhappy with the stalled road construction in the area.

The project, which began on a promising note, has been aban­doned for months, leaving the road in a deplorable state.

The present state of the road has made its usage a nightmare for residents, commuters, and traders in the area.

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The potholes and dust makes it difficult for vehicles to ply the road, while pedestrians risk their safety navigating the uneven terrain.

The lack of progress on the project has also created traffic congestion, air pollution, and economic hardship for local busi­nesses.

It is unacceptable that the authorities have allowed this project to stall, despite the clear need for a safe and accessible road.

I implore the relevant authori­ties to take immediate action to complete the road construction on ‘Ayee Ayee Fee’ Avenue.

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The community deserves a safe and reliable transportation infra­structure, and it is the responsi­bility of the authorities to deliver it.

Regular updates on the proj­ect’s progress, coupled with a clear plan for completion, can help restore confidence in the authorities’ ability to deliver on their promises.

Richmond Angel Mensah,

Accra.

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