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Slapping, knocking children can damage eardrum – Head of Special School
The Headmaster of the Tetteh Ocloo State School for the Deaf in the Greater Accra Region, Mr. Isaac Arthur has advised parents not to either knock the heads of their children or slap them ostensibly to correct them when they go wrong.
He said such actions were unacceptable because of the possible health implications on them which could be irreversible.
Speaking in an interview with The Spectator on Wednesday, Mr. Arthur observed that in some homes, knocking or slapping children was the frequent means of bringing children to order.
He said what some parents were ignorant of was that, it [slapping and knocking the head of children] could destroy their tympanic membrane (also known as the eardrum) which may not be reversible or be restored.
He, therefore, called for alternative means of correction such as talking to them or giving them unharmful tasks to do so that in an attempt to correct them, they would not be harmed.
He again expressed concern about the fact that some men were quick to abandon their disabled children and put the blame of their condition solely on their mothers.
Mr. Arthur observed that it was unfortunate that many of such children were from single parents, a trend he attributed to ignorance on the part of the men about causes of disability in children.
Mr. Arthur’s timely advice is as a result of his professional background in Special Education and his encounter with children with Special needs over the years coupled with the training he had undertaken relative to persons with disabilities.
The Headmaster mentioned attempted abortion, accidents such as falling or motor accidents, lack of oxygen flow to foetus, poor diets, lack of proper medication, diseases among others as some of the factors contributing to disability of children.
“Men must accept disabled children because they are a gift from God and train them to be the best they can be” he said.
He encouraged parents to take advantage of the various Special Schools in the country, which he said were free of charge, to give their children the best of education for them to also contribute to the development of the country.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
News
Sam George authorises dismissal of about 100 Ghana Post staff over irregular recruitment
Communications Minister, Sam George, has authorised the dismissal of nearly 100 staff of the Ghana Post Limited, citing an irregular recruitment process.
The affected staff members were employed after the December 7, 2024, election, a period during which the minister says proper procedures were not followed.
Speaking about the decision, Sam George expressed his commitment to clearing the ministry of individuals whose recruitment was not in line with the established protocols.
He stated that as the head of the ministry, he could not work with staff members whose employment was marred by irregularities.
“If you are a minister and you take over a ministry that has 3,117 staff in the ministry and its agencies and 600 were recruited after December 7, you cannot expect me to come and inherit such a mess, and so the rationalisation is ongoing,” he told the press on Tuesday.
He added, “Today, I have authorised a termination of a few more at Ghana Post, almost 100 that were done post-election.”
The Communications Minister explained that the irregular recruitment had created a situation where positions were filled without following due process, leading to inefficiencies within the department.
The Ningo-Prampram legislator emphasised that he is on a mission to “Clean up the ministry to make sure that it is lean and efficient and carries out its works.”
The government has been reverting many post-election employment in the public sector, which it says was done without following the laid down procedures in various sectors of the economy.
Source: myjoyonline.com
News
High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana pays courtesy call on Minister of Health
The High Commissioner of Barbados to Ghana, Juliette Byone-Sutherland, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to discuss key issues in the health sector.
During the meeting, Mr.Akandoh highlighted the need for increased funding to ensure the effective implementation of healthcare processes.
To address the challenges faced by health workers in rural areas, the Minister mentioned a proposed package of incentives, including an additional 20% of their basic salaries, quicker promotions, and scholarships for further training.
He also emphasised the importance of providing steady leave with pay to encourage health workers to remain in these areas.
Mr.Akandoh stressed the need for six additional hospitals to cater to the new regions created in Ghana. He also discussed plans to upgrade regional and teaching hospitals to attract more skilled health workers.
In response, High Commissioner Byone-Sutherland expressed her appreciation for the Minister and the government’s efforts to improve the health sector.
She also suggested that nurses from Barbados could benefit from health training programmes in Ghana, gaining practical experience in the field.
This courtesy call highlights the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing between countries to improve healthcare outcomes.
The Ministry of Health remains committed to addressing the challenges faced by health workers and ensuring that Ghanaians receive quality healthcare services.
