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Virologist asks govt to institute localised lockdown

A virologist at the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), Dr Michael Owusu,  has asked the government to institute localised lockdowns in COVID-19 hotspots across the country.

He noted that the virus was running ahead of the nation and the only way to prevent the health system from being completely overwhelmed was to impose restrictions since the country’s state in relation to the pandemic was not as being reflected from the government.

Commenting on the development, Dr Owusu cautioned that “the figures have become a cause for concern as many fear issues may spiral out of control and if drastic and critical steps are not taken immediately to stop the rapid infection rate, a catastrophe will soon hit the country and issues will get out of hand”.

The virologist insisted that the government has to restrict the movement of persons to stem the infection rate and he believes that is the only sure way of reducing the rate of infections as there were people who had tested positive but were still going about their daily activities.

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“I know people who are positive but still going to work, if a lockdown is imposed they will have no option than to stay home, if this is not done and more people, including health workers get infected and die, it can lead to the country being swamped by the virus since morale in health workers can be affected,” Dr Owusu warned.

Contributing to the discussion, Dr Ernest Yorke, the President of the Greater Accra Chapter of the Ghana Medical Association bemoaned the government’s painting a picture of everything being rosy when it was not saying “Ghana stands a chance of losing everything if the direction is not changed in COVID-19 management in our country and I also support the call of a localised lockdown.

“The government will, however, want to weigh the social and political impact of such a measure before going for it but am sure if a decisive move is not taken soon, the country will lose all gains made so far,” he cautioned.

The government has fought off claims that the figures are being massaged to create a good picture. -myjoyonline.com

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 GFP founder Akua Donkor passes on

• Akua Donkor

Akua Donkor

 The founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor, has passed away.

She died at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on Monday, October 28 at 72.

Reports gathered by The Spectator indicat­ed that she was diagnosed with respiratory issues at the Nsawam Government Hospital and was referred to the Greater Accra Re­gional Hospital where she died.

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Known for her spirited presence in Ghana­ian politics, Akua Donkor was a staunch advo­cate for the rights of farmers and women.

Her bold and outspoken demeanour en­abled her to capture public attention and significantly impact the grassroots communi­ties she aimed to represent.

Throughout her political journey, she distinguished herself by running for the presidency multiple ti mes, demonstrating remarkable resilience despite financial chal­lenges.

Akua Donkor was listed as the third can­didate on the ballot for the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

Her political career began with her elec­tion as the Assemblywoman for Herman in the Ashanti region, and she made her first bid for the presidency in 2012 as an independent candidate.

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She was, however, disqualified by the Electoral Commis­sion in 2012 and 2016 for the reason that she did not meet the eligibility require­ments.

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 Stop using breast enhancing creams …they expose females to breast cancer

Mrs Enyonam Abiti making a presentation

Mrs Enyonam Abiti making a presentation

 Women have been cautioned to stop using of breast enhancing creams which is said to contain estrogen, predis­posing them to the breast cancer disease.

Using such creams over time in­creases estrogen levels in patrons of such products thereby exposing them to the disease.

Estrogen is a type of sex hor­mone responsible for development and regulation of female repro­ductive system and secondary sex chart.

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Mrs Enyonam Abiti, a medical of­ficer at Madina Pentecost Hospital, said this at a day’s seminar and breast cancer awareness creation day at Sunyani in the Bono Region.

The programme, organised by the Bono Regional office of CO­COBOD, forms part of activities to mark this year’s World Breast Cancer Day celebrations held every year in October.

Some staff of COCOBOD and women in cocoa farming used the opportunity to have their breast screened.

Mrs Abiti during a presentation revealed that one in every eight women was diagnosed of breast cancer while 1 from 1,000 men contract the disease.

She noted that early detection and regular screening was the sur­est way to salvage the situation.

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She mentioned that habits such as excessive smoking and alco­hol intake predisposes women to breast cancer.

Moreover, she added that peo­ple advanced in age, past history, past ovarian cancer case as well as young girls that menstruate early, among others stands the risk of contracting the disease.

The Bono Regional Administrator of COCOBOD, Michael Paddy Kwesi Asumanu, stated that the decision to organise the breast screening was to ensure that women in cocoa farming were healthy at all times to go about their farming activities in order to increase productivity.

“We don’t want a situation where our women in cocoa farming are infected with breast cancer disease to jeopardise the cocoa sector,” he said.

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According him, the Regional Office of COCOBOD in partnership with the Bono Regional Teaching hospital would organised screening for about 4,000 women on Octo­ber 31, 2024 at Goaso in the Ahafo Region.

The move, he said, was part of their corporate social responsibil­ity towards women as the world mark breast cancer awareness creation this month.

Some of the women who spoke to The Spectator commended CO­COBOD for the gesture and called on other institutions of state to emulate the example.

The organisers later held a float on the principal streets of Sunyani to create awareness on the breast cancer disease.

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 From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani

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