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Scale up efforts to protect pregnant women against malaria – Mrs Akufo-Addo
Mrs Akufo-Addo
The First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has appealed to international advocates and stakeholders to scale up efforts to protect pregnant women and their unborn babies from the effects of malaria during pregnancy.
She made the call at an event organised by Devey at the Neuehouse Madison Square in New York during the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
It was held under the theme “Protecting pregnant women against malaria: speeding up uptake to Intermittent Preventive Treatment of Malaria for Pregnant Women (IPTp) in affected African countries.”
“Our pregnant women must receive Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) once a month or at least three times, during pregnancy. We must also ensure that they sleep under treated bed net in addition to effective case management of malaria when necessary,” Mrs Akufo-Addo said.
She said the IPT could help save lives of pregnant women and their unborn children, but there should be sulfadoxine/ pyrimethamine (SP) readily available at health facilities, adding that, “we must ensure an efficient and expanded supply chain system for SP distribution and access.
“We will continue to educate, create awareness, conduct medical outreaches, provide insecticide treated nets, and construct more primary health facilities known in Ghana as CHPS compounds.”
She called on stakeholders to join in the work of up-scaling the use of ‘Intermittent Preventive Treatment’ to protect pregnant women and their unborn children from the devastating effects of malaria in pregnancy
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.