Day: May 14, 2024

Mrs Emma Danso, the Executive Director of Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation, has reiterated that lupus is a public health concern that is yet to receive the support it deserves in Ghana.

Lupus is an inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues.

The Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation in a statement copied to Ghana News Agency to mark this year’s Lupus Day, May 10, said findings of a global survey on steroid use by lupus patients indicate that diabetes, heart disease, organ failure, osteoporosis, and vision impairment were some of the major side effects of steroid use by lupus patients.

Mrs Danso said the survey was conducted by the World Lupus Federation from February to March 2024 to 7,741 patients from about 108 countries including Ghana.

She said focusing on the extent and impacts of steroid use for the care of lupus, the results confirmed the urgent need for both awareness of steroid side effects and ongoing research for more treatments and, ultimately, a cure for lupus.

In an addre
ss to observe World Lupus Day which is celebrated on May 10 each year, Mrs Danso shared some of the responses of patients from the survey to buttress the need for more awareness and supportive policy on lupus in Ghana.

She said while 90 per cent of patients said that their lupus symptoms improved with steroid use, 95 per cent of respondents reported at least one side effect.

She noted that also, six in 10 respondents reported experiencing at least one major side effect of using steroids; this was also true for seven in 10 respondents taking steroids for more than five years.

She said a survey respondent stated, ‘I absolutely hate the side effects of taking steroids, but unfortunately, I don’t feel there’s a better option out there when a bad flare comes on.’

Mrs Danso said other side effects which stood out in the findings include weight gain, mood swings, appearance changes, insomnia, increased appetite, and hair loss.

‘It is a hard reality to admit that the very medication supposed to help correct the
debilitating handwriting of lupus on a patient can cause more and/or new problems as side effects. This dilemma was a huge personal challenge for years,’ she said.

She said the awareness was low, and that many people continue to endure health challenges undiagnosed.

‘The side effects of the steroids used by lupus patients can be complete diseases for other people,’ she stated.

‘For diagnosed patients also, lupus healthcare is very expensive. The easy option is to take steroids in addition to other options for treatment. Many lupus patients take steroids as part of their treatment even though the aim of lupus treatment is targeted towards elimination of steroid use.’

She said in Ghana, the minimum dosage of prednisolone, the common steroid prescribed for patients was 5mg.

She noted that this implies that even when a patient was in remission or doing well, the patient must be on a maintenance dose of 5mg daily; this was a high dose compared to developed countries where patients have access to lower doses.

T
he Executive Director appealed to the relevant authorities to make 1mg and 2mg prednisolone tablets available to patients in Ghana.

She explained that most patients who use steroids default in their treatment because of the fear of the potential side effects; declaring that however, until better and affordable options were available, lupus patients would continue to take steroids, a necessary evil.

She said lupus was a chronic autoimmune disease that causes a person’s immune system to fight its own healthy organs and tissues; and that its symptoms include fatigue, skin problems, oral or nasal ulcers, arthritis, serositis as well as other disorders involving the heart, kidney, lungs, and nervous system.

She mentioned that causes of lupus include stress, hormones, genes, infections, and taking some medications.

‘There is currently no cure for lupus, but it can be well managed if diagnosed early and appropriate treatment is adhered to. Lupus is an unpredictable disease that can attack anyone at any time and
hence awareness and supportive policies are critical,’ Mrs Danso said.

‘The impact of lupus transcends patients and their immediate families. It is, therefore, imperative that everyone becomes aware of lupus and the reality of autoimmunity in Ghana,’ she added.

Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation is a duly registered non-profit organization that?undertakes advocacy, education, awareness creation, counselling as well as fundraising to provide support services such as medical assistance to patients.

It is the hope of OYEMAM to inspire hope in patients as well as those impacted indirectly by autoimmune diseases, especially lupus.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has announced that the outstanding nursing trainee allowance for 2024 will be released by the government by Thursday, May 16, 2024.

‘I am assuring our trainees that come this Thursday the Controller and Accountant General shall transfer funds (177 million) to the Ministry of Finance for onward crediting of the trainee allowances accounts. So, hopefully by next week the ‘Alawa’ will drop’.

Dr Bawumia made the announcement at the launch of the International Nurses Day, organised by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) in Accra on Tuesday,

The day was marked on the theme: ‘Our Nurses and Midwives, Our Future: The Economic Power of Care’.

The Vice President expressed his commitment to carrying on Presidents John Agyekum Kufour and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s legacies by ensuring the continuation of the nurses’ and teacher trainees’ allowances, adding that, despite occasional delays, he would make sure that payment was made to support the trainees.

H
e said that steps were being taken to reduce the backlog of unemployed Nurses and Midwives, notably the 2020 and 2021 batches, as soon as possible.

‘As the Vice President, I am dedicated to supporting the work of our nurses and midwives especially with the coming onstream of the Agenda 111 state-of-the-art facilities.

Dr. Bawumia acknowledged that nurses and midwives are more than just healthcare providers, stating that ‘they are highly skilled professionals who provide evidence-based care to patients and families, hence their expertise, empathy, and dedication helped enhance health outcomes, lower healthcare expenses, and improve the overall well-being of individuals and communities.’

Mrs Perpetual Ofori-Ampofo, President of the GRNMA, emphasized the urgent need for the government to address the challenges facing nurses and midwives in the country, which continue to affect the healthcare system.

She said resolving issues such as better conditions of service for improved livelihood and payment of allowanc
es, vehicle tax waivers among others would restrict the migration of professionals, which had led to significant burden and burnout on available ones.

Mrs Ofori-Ampofo noted that nurses and midwives were the single largest health workforce in Ghana, accounting for as much as 70 per cent of the total health workforce and contributing significantly to healthcare delivery and the Ghanaian economy; therefore, investing in them was necessary to ensure their physical, mental, and financial well-being.

She also asked the government to make a degree a prerequisite for entering the nursing profession by converting all nursing and midwifery training institutes in the country into degree-granting institutions, to enhance the nursing and midwifery workforce.

‘The GRNMA has consistently advocated for this, and it is promised on the need for Ghana to have highly skilled Nurses and Midwives taking care of the Ghanaian population and also for the country to be better placed to export them for returns,’ she stated.

Profes
sor Stella Appiah, Associate Professor of Nursing Administration at Valley View University, explained that investing in the nursing profession has become essential because nurses provide crucial and person-centred care that keeps communities healthy.

‘The World Health Organisation (WHO) has indicated that for countries to attain sustainable Development Goals three, on health and wellbeing, it is estimated that an additional nine million nurses and midwives are required by the year 2030,’ she stated.

Prof Appiah noted that investing in nurses and midwives would contribute to the country’s healthcare system while also ensuring a healthy and productive workforce.

International Nurses Day was established in 1965 by the International Council of Nurses and is observed annually on May 12 in recognition of nurses and midwives’ contributions to society.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms. Dornukie Naa Norteye,?the New Patriotic Party’s?(NPP) Parliamentary Aspirant for the Ada Constituency, has organised a free health screening exercise in honour?in the constituency.

Residents?of Ada who reside outside the constituency also benefited from the initiative.

Ms ?Norteye said she was deeply?committed to the well-being of her constituents, particularly their preventive healthcare ahead of the December 7 elections.

According to her, such health screenings would be organised periodically to assist the less privileged and also alleviate the burden of healthcare challenges among the vulnerable.

The constituents who benefited from the health screening expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the thoughtful gesture from the parliamentary candidate.

They told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the gesture was the first they had benefited from and therefore urged eligible voters to vote for her to continue with such initiatives.

Madam Erica Mensah, a resident of Lolonya and a beneficiary, said
that for the screening, she was not aware of having high blood pressure.

Another beneficiary, who only gave his name as James, said the medicines he received for free might cost about GHC200.00 or more if he had gone to the hospital for care; therefore, he was grateful for getting them free.

Mr. Alfred Numegbey, head of operations for the Patriotic Health Team overseeing the screening, disclosed that high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels were prevalent among participants.

He advised all individuals to prioritise regular exercise and monitor their sugar intake for improved health outcomes.

Source: Ghana News Agency