Day: February 1, 2024

The establishment of the Rebecca Akufo-Addo PICU at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) some four years ago, has tremendously improved child health care.

The centre has saved the lives of over 56 per cent of children who visited the facility within the period.

KBTH authorities said the lives of about 79 children had been saved because they were able to access quality emergency services at the facility while over 700 neonates and children under 12 years have been cared for within the last four years

The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of KBTH, established under Mrs Akufo-Addo’s Rebecca Foundation, upon the request of the management of the hospital in 2019, currently provide emergency care for children under 12 with the majority needing ventilators to help them survive.

The PICU was constructed with state-of-the-art building technology and fitted with the latest equipment to ensure efficient health delivery in a friendly and comfortable working environment.

It has a clinical laboratory, clinical p
harmacy and office, main reception with staff rest area, staff training and meeting rooms and changing rooms all fitted with disability-friendly toilet and bathing facilities.

The facility has its own fully furnished changing rooms, resting rooms, and ablution facilities with showers, offices, and consultation rooms, among others.

The revelation became known when Mrs Akufo-Addo and her Guyana counterpart, Mrs Arya Ali, visited the PICU to assess operations there.

Madam Ali was in the country with her husband, President Irfaan Ali, who was on a state visit to Ghana.

Mrs Akufo-Addo, together with Mrs Ali, visited the PICU and the Sunshine Hostel, which houses children with cancer and their guardians as they receive care and treatment.

Mrs Akufo-Addo assisted in constructing the Hostel too.

Dr Frank Owusu Sekyere, Director Medical Affairs, KBTH, who together with Professor Christabel Enweronu-Laryea, Head of Child Health Care, KBTH, took the two first ladies round the facility, and gave updates about the o
perations there.

Dr Owusu Sekyere said the Department of Child Health did not have an Intensive Care Unit, so they were happy that the first lady came in to establish the PICU, which has a very high dependency unit and an Intensive care unit that offers ventilating support services for the children.

He said, ‘At least, at the last count, 147 children were put on the ventilator out of which 79 children survived and ‘walked freely from this facility.’

‘Previously, four years ago, we could have recorded all 147 mortalities.

Prof Enweronu-Laryea, on her part, said that since the place opened in 2019, there had been good results with many children passing through the facility and becoming well again.

Prof Awo Renner, Head of the Paediatric Oncology Unit, KBTH, who took the two first ladies around the Sunshine Hostel, said the facility hosts more than 30 children and their guardians at a time and that over 200 children and their parents have so far stayed at the facility since its construction.

The facility h
ad helped reduce the treatment abandonment rate from over 40 per cent to less than 15 per cent.

‘And that translates into improved outcomes, and better survival rate as well,’ she said.

Prof Renner said there was also an improvement to indirect social cost to the family, adding that ‘parents do not have to think of where they are going to stay, their transportation and even feeding; and that also help curb abandonment.’

The mothers too are taking through beads craft as income generating so that when they go back home, they would be able to get something to rely on, she said.

She said both the children with cancer and their guardians are fed daily for free.

This hostel is the envy in Africa and globally. I boast about it wherever I go for a conference, and they are amazed at the input of the First Lady.’

The facility has been invaluable to us, she emphasized.

‘The hospital has actually made a huge impact in the quality of care for cancer patients.’

The naming of the ultra-modern PICU after Mrs Akufo-Ad
do, according to the authorities of the KBTH, was in appreciation of the many lives her benevolence would ‘save as well as her continued love and dedication to the health needs of children and mothers.’

According to the hospital authorities, the Child Health Department was a referral point, which received cases from across Ghana and the sub-region, with most cases requiring intensive care.

The increasing patient numbers received, as against the Department space, made admission challenging and compromised the quality of care.

Meanwhile, Mrs Akufo-Addo said the purpose of their visit was to assess the current conditions of the facilities since they were built and commissioned for use.

The First Lady and Mrs. Ali toured the facilities and donated air conditioners to the PICU and some food and other consumables to the Sunshine Hostel.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with COCOBOD and the Cocoa Processing Company, will celebrate National Chocolate Week from February 9 to 14, 2024.

The event which is celebrated under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture would promote the consumption of chocolate and highlight chocolate as a healthy product.

This year’s event will be held on the theme ‘Eat chocolate, stay healthy, grow Ghana’ and sub-themed: ‘Explore Ghana, eat chocolate’.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi, Deputy Head of Corporate Affairs, GTA said the Chocolate Week activities for this year would commence with a visitation to the Chief Imam, the Central and Cantonments Mosques, as well as a health walk from the Accra Tourist Information Center to the Chocolate City at Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout.

He said other activities include the opening of the exhibition at Chocolate City after the walk, family day, church visitation, cook-off session, time with schoo
l children and cocoa quiz competition for Senior High Schools.

‘Chocolates will also be shared at tourist sites across the 17 regions of GTA, and Chocolatarium, a summit for chocolate industry players.’

The National Chocolate Week Celebration was instituted in 2005 to coincide with Valentine’s Day which falls on February 14, every year to boost the domestic consumption of Ghanaian chocolate and other cocoa-based products.

The annual event has traditionally been hosted by the Ministry of Tourism. But in 2021, COCOBOD and GTA proposed extending the day’s celebration to a week, which was successfully put into effect as the National Chocolate Week.

Source: Ghana News Agency

In the digital age, an increasing number of people are finding love and companionship online.

However, alongside the countless success stories, there is a darker side to online relationships. Romance fraud has become a pressing global concern, affecting individuals across continents and leaving behind shattered hearts and financial devastation.

This article delves into the world of romance fraud, examining its impact, identifying the warning signs, and discussing the preventive measures that can help protect against this threat.

Global Reach of Romance Fraud:

Romance fraud knows no boundaries, transcending geographical borders and cultures. From developed nations to emerging economies, countless victims have fallen prey to fraudsters who manipulate emotions for personal gain.

Recent statistics reveal a concerning rise in romance fraud cases, highlighting the urgency to address this issue on a global scale.

The Anatomy of a Romance Scam

Romance fraud starts innocently enough, with individuals connectin
g on dating websites or social media platforms.

Fraudsters adopt highly convincing personas and invest time in building emotional connections with their victims. Once trust is established, the scammer begins to manipulate their victim emotionally and financially.

Common tactics include fabricating sad stories, claiming urgent financial needs, or promising a shared future together. Unfortunately, victims often find themselves investing not only their hearts but also their savings into a relationship built on lies.

Warning Signs and Red Flags

While romance fraudsters are skilled manipulators, there are several warning signs that can help potential victims identify a scam. Some common red flags include: quick declarations of love and affection.

Unusual requests for financial assistance, such as money transfers or loans; inconsistent personal details or discrepancies in information provided; reluctance to meet in person or engage in video calls and a suspicious lack of social media presence or limited online
footprint.

Preventive Measures to Safeguard against Romance Fraud

Given the devastating effects of romance fraud on its victims, it is crucial for individuals to take proactive steps in protecting themselves.

Consider implementing the following preventive measures; conduct thorough research before engaging in an online relationship, verify the person’s identity and check for fake profiles.

Guard personal information: avoid divulging sensitive details, such as financial information or your home address, until you have established a genuine and trustworthy connection.

Stay vigilant: continuously assess the authenticity of information provided by your online partner. If something feels off or too good to be true, trust your instincts.

Educate yourself and others: spread awareness about romance fraud and share cautionary tales to help others recognize potential scams.

Report suspicious activity: if you suspect that you have encountered a romance fraudster, report the incident to the relevant authorities an
d inform the platform on which the scam took place.

Conclusion

Romance fraud poses a significant threat to individuals worldwide, exploiting vulnerable hearts and causing irreversible financial harm.

By recognizing the red flags, staying cautious, and adopting preventive measures, we can collectively work towards a safer online landscape.

Together, let us protect our hearts and wallets from the insidious reach of romance fraud, ensuring that love remains a beautiful, genuine experience in the digital age.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Stakeholders are raising alarms over the rise in female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) at Lakeside communities within the Volta Basin in the wake of the Akosombo Dam spillage.

The river-borne tropical disease, known as bilharzia, holds a significant share in causes of infertility and maternal morbidity, although registered among neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

Mr Ben Sackey, the Director of the Environmental and Sustainable Development Department of the Volta River Authority (VRA), said schistosomiasis was a ‘major challenge’ that came with the construction of the dam and is now feared dominant in over 400 communities in five regions sharing the Volta Basin.

The Director was delivering an address at a symposium in Ho to mark the 2024 World NTDs Awareness Day.

He said the evading floods from the spillage carried along aquatic weeds bearing snails that carried the schisto worms.

‘With the flood waters was the movement of the water weeds which harbours the schisto snail vector. What it means is that the
weeds could now find themselves, in communities where hitherto, were not there.’

Speaking on plans for the control of post-spillage, Mr Sackey noted the inception of a baseline study on the spread of infection, which was being undertaken by the University of Health and Allied Sciences under an MoU with the VRA.

He said the provision of sanitary facilities including drinking water for affected communities was being sustained, while partnerships with the health authority continued to enable mass drug administration in hundreds of lakeside communities.

Projects including the dredging of the lower Volta are expected to take off soon, and the Director spoke of ‘a recent partnership’ with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the KNUST to develop economic value for aquatic weeds.

Professor Morhe, Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UHAS, said the waterborne tropical infection was first reported in 1899 in Egypt, and presently remains ‘the most neglected gynaecological condition in sub-Saharan Africa’,
affecting over 50 per cent of females.

He noted increased risk among women and girls in underdeveloped countries, counting an estimated 56 million in Africa south of the Sahara.

Blood flukes, known as the trematode worms, are parasites, and which Prof Morhe said could retain a lifespan of more than 40 years in a human host.

Common complications include infertility, ectopic pregnancies, preterm and underdeveloped babies, and HIV.

Prof Emmanuel Morhe said the release of inflammatory cells by the parasites attacked all foreign proteins in the female fertility organs including fertilised ovaries, thereby affecting the menstrual cycle and ovulation.

He said a study conducted in eleven communities in the Volta basin showed that 36.21 per cent of the 400 women surveyed had the disease and was prevalent within the age brackets of adult teens and young adults.

Prof. Morhe added that the number of affected persons in the Volta basin remained unknown and that stakeholders should consider disease prevention efforts
including an end to open defecation and urination which infested water bodies with the parasites.

Dr. Alfred Kwesi Manyeh, a senior research fellow at UHAS, and an NTD expert who is leading the UHAS-VRA baseline study, said data so far, showed a culture of heavy dependence on the infested river.

He said although women less frequented the water body as compared to men, certain economic activities such as weaving, which sourced raw materials from the river, increased contact with the disease vectors.

Dr. Manyeh said the study was bringing to the fore, the issue of inadequate water supply, a lack of social mobilisation and sensitisation on mass drug administrations, a lack of stakeholder engagement on the various interventions, and the fear of adverse drug reactions.

The symposium was on the theme ‘Addressing the Burden of Schistosomiasis and the Related Conditions in Ghana Towards Achievement of the 2023 Road Map’ and was attended by stakeholders including heads of the Volta Regional Health Directorate, and
various health experts.

A route march through the streets of Ho and Hohoe was held a day prior to raise community awareness to the NTDs, of which Schistosomiasis remains a dreaded member.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Cocoa Board has announced a policy to allow artisanal chocolate makers to buy cocoa beans directly from the Cocoa Marketing Company Limited.

The policy, which starts this year, will provide relief for the small-scale processors to address the issues of high production cost characterised with buying beans from secondary sources and access to beans.

It is also a way of supporting the growth of small businesses to reduce unemployment in the country.

‘We wish to implore such firms not to take this opportunity for granted but rather use it to expand, innovate and diversify their production lines to maximize profit,’ Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, said in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Ray Ankrah, Deputy CEO, at the launch of the 2024 National Chocolate Week Celebration.

Mr Aidoo said the Board had mounted aggressive campaigns in recent years to change attitudes among the citizenry towards local consumption of cocoa.

From 2017, as part of a broader strategy to t
ransform the cocoa sector, the Board rolled out various schemes aimed at processing at least 50% of cocoa produced annually in the country to improve upon an inherited per capita consumption of 0.45kg to at least 1kg within a 5-7 year period.

He said the 500,000mt installed capacity presented an opportunity for major policies to address the relatively low processing and consumption levels.

‘Through targeted campaigns, educational initiatives, and collaborative efforts with stakeholders, we have witnessed a gradual shift in consumer attitudes towards locally produced cocoa products and this has translated into the realization of a per capita consumption of 1kg,’ he said.

Mr Aidoo said there was a need to consolidate the gains, considering the per capita consumption of cocoa in Europe and Americas ranged from 7kg to 11kg.

He said the Chocolate Week Celebration, which has initiatives like Chocolate City at the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout and Nationwide Campaign every February, had not only raised awareness ab
out the nutritional benefits of cocoa but also celebrated its national and cultural significance, fostering a sense of pride in our national produce, cocoa.

‘The emergence of innovative cocoa-based products in the local market triggered by the massive support of hundreds of small-scale artisanal chocolate makers has increased the growing acceptance and appreciation for home-grown chocolates and other cocoa-based confectioneries,’ he said.

He said the Board would next month hand over several rehabilitated farms across the cocoa regions to beneficiary farmers.

These well-maintained farms have the potential of increasing our annual cocoa stocks significantly – and this means more money for our farmers and other actors.

The Productivity Enhancement Programmes such as pruning, mass spraying, and pollination, among others will ensure that the farms produce more cocoa, he added.

Mr Akwasi Agyemang, Chief Executive of Ghana Tourism Authority, praised the collaboration with COCOBOD in the past three years in the
celebration of the chocolate week to enhance consumption.

The National Planning Committee for the Promotion of Cocoa Consumption in collaboration with GTA and other key stakeholders is focusing on the youth as a potential market for this year’s celebration through tailor-made activities at the Chocolate City.

Programmes lined up for the celebration include a health walk, family day out and variety show at the Chocolate City, time with school children, and a quiz competition, among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has tasked accountants to go beyond traditional roles by embracing innovation and adaptation to become strategic business partners.

Their ability to leverage technology, analyze data, and navigate regulatory landscapes, would position them to provide ideas that would not only contribute to the financial health and success of the organizations they served but also enhance economic growth.

‘In today’s rapidly changing global landscape, the pursuit of economic growth has become inseparable from the twin pillars of innovation and adaptation.

As nations, industries, and businesses grapple with the challenges posed by technological advancements, demographic shifts, and environmental concerns, the imperative to foster a culture of innovation and adaptability has never been more critical’, Dr Bawumia stated.

These were contained in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Simon Osei Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, at the opening of the 2024 annual conference of the Contro
ller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) in Kumasi.

The Vice-President observed that, although the CAGD had come a long way in using technology to fine-tune and simplify its business processes, it was imperative for the Department to continue looking for ways to enhance business processes to make it more accessible to stakeholders to have the right kind of information that translated into economic gains for Ghana.

This year’s conference was held on the theme ‘Enhancing Economic Growth through Innovation and Adaptation.’

The two-day conference would, among other things, be used to discuss creativity and innovative strategies that would help improve revenue generation at Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

It will also be used to discuss payroll improvement initiatives – dealing with the menace of unearned salaries, as well as digital transformation technological innovation, and tax implications.

Mr Kwasi Kwaning-Bosompem, the Controller and Accountant-General said in the last f
ew years, the Department had strived to pay salaries and pensions on schedule time despite the global economic challenges, explaining that even during the Covid-19 era, the institution did not relent in payment of salaries.

Again, he said, the Third-Party Reference System, an online system that allowed third-party institutions to deduct at source loan payment, insurance premiums, welfare, and credit union contributions as well as hire purchase repayment from salaries of the Government of Ghana employees had been improved significantly.

This, he said, had prevented fraudulent transactions from employee’s salaries and addressed issues relating to wrongful deductions.

Source: Ghana News Agency