News
Times Ladies raises awareness on breast cancer
The Ladies’ Association of New Times Corporation (NTC) has held a breast cancer awareness event as part of activities to create awareness on the disease among women in the corporation.
Clad in the corporation’s pink breast cancer t-shirts, the ladies were educated by Ms Raissa Sambou, a breast cancer survivor who is also a staff of the corporation.
Speaking at the brief event, Ms Sambou said her breast cancer journey started in November 2019 when she felt a lump in her left breast.
She said after seeing the doctor, she was given antibiotics with the hope that the lump would disappear on its own but it did not.
She said after two biopsy tests at the 37 Military Hospital and a private hospital, it was confirmed she had the disease.
According to Ms Sambou, her cancer was an invasive type grade three carcinoma. Carcinoma is cancer that forms in the epithelial tissue. Epithelial tissue lines are most of the organs, such as the internal passageways in your body (like your esophagus), and the skin.
“I went through eight cycles chemotherapy and 16 rounds of radiotherapy,” she said.
She explained that breast cancer was curable when detected early but could spread to the brain, lungs, spine and other vital organs of the body if not identified early.
Ms Sambou urged women in the corporation to pay much attention to the breasts, saying “you cannot afford to be careless with your breast health.”
She said self-examination was key to the prevention and cure of the disease, advising them to always do self-examination, starting from their armpits, neck then to the breasts.
“Take self-examination seriously because you know yourself better than the doctor,” she said, while urging them to support family members who had been diagnosed of the disease.
The Acting Editor of The Spectator, Mrs Georgina Naa- Maku Quaittoo in her remarks said the event was to join in the celebration of the breast cancer awareness month which is commemorated in October every year.
Mrs Quaittoo who is also the president of the Times Ladies Association (TLA) encouraged the women to regularly check their breast through self-examination and report any abnormally detected in the breast at the hospital.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
‘Nipahiamoa’ residents cry for basic social amenities
Residents of a farming community in the Nkoranza North District of the Bono East Region are living under conditions that directly reflect or connote the name of the township, Nipahiamoa.
The name of the town, Nipahiamoa, when translated directly means ‘humans need help.’
Despite the contribution in ensuring there is sufficient food in not only the region but the country at large, Nipahiamoa lacks basic social amenities to make life enjoyable after their farming activities.
water for the people of Nipahiamoa
According to some of the members of the community that The Spectator spoke to during a visit to the area, they lacked basic needs such as potable water, health post, among others.
This, they claimed, was impacting negatively on their general wellbeing and appealed to authorities to come to their aid.
The Unit Committee chairman of Nipahiamoa, Mr James Najohnbo, told this paper on Thursday that successive governments have neglected the town over the years.
“It is the reason we are where we are today in this era of development. Some people poke fun that our condition is a reflection of the name of the town but I don’t believe that. We have been neglected by governments over the years. There are no government initiatives here,” he explained.
The community, inhabited by over one thousand people, mostly settlers, is located on the Techiman-Kintampo stretch of the Trans-ECOWAS highway which connect from Tema to Mali.
Mr Najohnbo, who conducted this reporter around, revealed that a borehole constructed for the community by the former Member of Parliament for Nkoranza North, Major Derrick Oduro, had since broke down, compelling the people to turn to the Bono manso waterfalls which they trek several kilometres for their source of water.
Mr Najohnbo stated that their children are not left out in this challenges as they had to trek to either Manso or Dweneho, about two kilometres to access healthcare and education.
He added that a wooden structure constructed in 1994 currently serves as the only primary school for the community.
“Our kids had to trek several kilometres to Manso to attend school which come at cost to most parents.”
A 30-year old hairdresser, Rebecca Dibenpong, also appealed to authorities to come up with income generating activities to boost economic lives of the people.
She alleged that politicians often claimed they don’t have enough numbers to attract development, hence such initiatives were directed to bigger communities.
Like the name suggest, Nipahiamoa, the community needs urgent attention to make life meaningful for the people who contribute to the national economy by way of their farming activities.
From Daniel Dzirasah, Nipahiamoa
News
Maternal mortality rate increases in Ashanti Region
The Ghana Health Service has revealed a staggering statistic of 1,000 women losing their lives during childbirth in the Ashanti Region between 2020 and 2024.
This alarming number, according to the Regional Health Director, Dr Frank Adomanko Boateng, highlights the persistent challenge of maternal mortality in Ghana, despite efforts to improve maternal healthcare.
Dr Adomanko Boateng, therefore emphasized on an urgent need for stronger interventions to curb the high rate of maternal deaths.
Speaking at the 2024 Regional Health Forum, he indicated that “Ghana is struggling to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing maternal mortality to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.”
Dr Boateng stressed that time was of the essence, saying, “The clock is ticking, and we must double our efforts.”
He called for intensified measures over the next six years to bridge the gap and prevent further loss of lives.
Ghana’s maternal mortality ratio, he noted, has been declining from 760 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 310 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2017.
However, “the country still faces significant challenges in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in regions like Ashanti.”
To address the issue, he said, Ghana has been working to improve maternal healthcare through various initiatives, including the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The country aims to reduce maternal mortality by strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to quality care, and enhancing community engagement
From Kingsley E. Hope,
Kumasi
