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Dr Gyikua Plange-Rhule (left), interacting with a colleague doctor at the ceremony

KATH doctors, staff launch fund to support mothers

DOCTORS and other allied staff of the Department of Child Health of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have launched a foundation to raise funds to support women who are unable to pay their hospital bills after delivery.

At least 250 staff, made up of doctors, nurses, administrators and other staff, have been rolled onto the fund, known as the ‘Little Steps Foundation’ and they have mobilised seed money of GH¢1,000.00 to help pay for the bills, cater for emergency drugs and conduct various kinds of laboratory tests for the expectant mothers.

Launching the fund on Thursday, the president and head of the Mother and Baby Unit of the Department of Child Health, Dr Gyikua Plange-Rhule, said a chunk of the fund would be used in getting the necessary equipment to save the lives of newborn babies, and also cater for other emergency care that some of the women were unable to pay.

8 surprising memory boosters: Don't forget to try them!

Dr. Roshini Raj, Health magazine's contributing medical editor, stopped by TODAY on Wednesday with simple, healthful tips for boosting our memory.

1. Salmon

Fatty fish like salmon are rich in an omega-3 called DHA. "DHA, in particular, is great for the brain," Raj said. "Studies show it improved cognition and memory, so get your salmon."

Psychiatric nurses to receive salary arrears

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has assured striking psychiatric nurses in the country that processes have begun to enable them to receive their salary arrears.

A letter written by the acting Chief Director of the MoH, Dr Afisah Zakariah, to the Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority said the ministry “in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Audit Service has successfully concluded the verification and validation of the documentation pertaining to the payment of salary arrears to some staff of your facility.”

‘Be careful of what you eat’

A research scientist at the Crop Research Institute in Kumasi, Mr Kwadwo Adofo, has advised the public to be careful with the food they consume as some of them could be detrimental to their health.

He said certain individuals imported some varieties of foods from other countries which had not been scientifically proven to be healthy for consumption.

Mr Adofo, who is also a Sweet potato breeder, was speaking at an event organised by Farm Radio International in collaboration with the Editors Forum, Ghana (EFG), to educate the general public on the benefits of Orange Flesh Sweet Potato (OFSP).

Psychiatric nurses strike again over unpaid salaries

Aggrieved nurses at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital on Thursday began an indefinite strike to put pressure on government to pay their salaries which has been outstanding for one year.

The nurses went on strike in August 2015 but called it off after government assured that the money would be paid by end of September.

14 Doctors attend training  in Accra

“We write to inform you of our resolve to resume work in line with the hospital’s mission to help the poor within the Techiman municipality.

“Any inconvenience caused to the church, the hospital and its management is deeply regretted,” a letter jointly signed by the 14 doctors and addressed to the Hospital Administrator stated.

The letter, which was copied to the GMA Divisional Chairman, Brong Ahafo; the Diocesan Director of Health, Techiman Diocese; the management team and heads of departments of the hospital, however, said, “We, however, want to make known our conviction to continue to support unequivocally the action of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) in fighting for conditions of service for all public sector doctors.”

Moves to revamp ICT Centres in health institutions

THE Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) is rolling out a programme to revamp Information Communication and Technology (ICT) centres in all health training institutions in the country.

The project, which is being executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, will ensure that nurse trainees have unhindered access to the internet and other electronic facilities.

Breast Cancer —early detection saves lives

Cancer is a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells eventually form a lump or mass called a tumour and are named after the part of the body where the tumour originates.

The five most common cancers worldwide are lung, breast, bowel, prostate and stomach cancer.

The top cancer in women worldwide is breast cancer, which is increasing particularly in developing countries where the majority of cases are diagnosed in late stages.

Make healthy heart choices

World Heart Day is observed on September 29, every year. Organised by the World Heart Foundation as an international campaign to inform people about cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are the biggest cause of death, the day promotes preventive measures to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Governments and non-governmental organisations celebrate and promote World Heart Day with activities such as fun activities, public talks, concerts, and sporting events.

Four Muslim pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia

FOUR Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims have died of natural causes during this year’s pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Some of the pilgrims, who were part of the 5,309 Ghanaian Muslims who performed the Hajj, died before the start of the pilgrimage while others died during the pilgrimage.

A source close to the Pilgrimage Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) told the Daily Graphic that the death of the four Ghanaians was not related to the stampede that killed 717 pilgrims in Mina last week.

It said the Chairman of the PAOG, Alhaji Abdul-Rauf Tanko, led the search mission at the various hospitals in Mecca.

Ghana launches national condom strategies

A National Condom and Lubricant Programming Strategy (NCLS), with the goal to improve access and use of quality condoms and lubricants in the country has been launched in Accra.

Ministry of Health developed NCLS which is a five year strategy, spanning 2016-2020, together with Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (CIP), all in an effort to ensure quality sexual and reproductive health for all Ghanaians.

• The repainted Likpe Bakwa Health Centre

Likpe citizens support health centre rehabilitation

Some citizens of the Likpe Traditional Area in the Volta Region have contributed GH¢350,000 towards the rehabilitation of the Likpe Bakwa Health Centre. 

The amount was raised by citizens both home and abroad following an appeal to save the facility from further deterioration.

The structure was deteriorating, with the roofs leaking, floods the wards when it rained.

The health centre had also become a habitat for bats and lizards.

Health benefits of corn

In addition to its delicious sweet taste, corn is high in fibre, low in fat and a great source of essential nutrients offering an array of health benefits given below.

• Reduces risk of cancer

The fibre content of one cup of corn amounts to 18.4% of the daily recommended amount. This aids in alleviating digestive problems such as constipation and haemorrhoids, as well as lowering the risk of colon cancer due to corn being a whole-grain.

• Prevents Anaemia

Corn helps to prevent anaemia caused by deficiency of these vitamins. It also has a significant level of iron, which is one of the essential minerals needed to form new red blood cells; a deficiency in iron is one of the main causes of anaemia.

• Protects the heart

Fibber used to be known as roughage, which reflects the ability of insoluble fibre to prevent constipation. However, the second type of fibre,  provides other health benefits. It binds with cholesterol and carries it out of

• Dr Moses De-Gaulle Dogbatsey (3rd right), the Administrator, Mrs Juliana Dogbatsey (second left), their son, Moses De-Gaulle Kofi Dogbatsey Jnr. (with the award), with some officials of the BID Group.

Medi-Moses wins another international award

The Medi-Moses Prostate Centre has been awarded yet another International award - the ISAQ International Star Award for Quality - for its strong commitment to quality brand excellence.

The centre has also been recognised for its leadership and innovation in the realm of customer satisfaction by the Business Initiative Directions (BID) Group One at an awards ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland.

The award was received on behalf of the centre by Dr Moses De-Gaulle Dogbatsey, the CEO/Medical Director, and Mrs Juliana Adyzie Dogbatsey, the Administrator of the centre, and one of their sons, De-Gaulle Moses Kofi Dogbatsey Jnr.

• Mr K. B. Asante (standing) launching the book on Traditional and Religious Plants of West Africa. With him include Mr Kwesi Abbiw (right), the author, and Prof. Matilda Steinner-Asiedu (3rd left), Dean, School of Biological Sciences, University of Ghana.

Let’s rely on herbal medicine - K.B. Asante

AN elder statesman, Mr K. B. Asante, has called on African countries to rely more on herbal medicine in their health delivery efforts.

This, he said, was because there was a plant for every ailment that had been used since time immemorial.

Mr Asante was speaking during the launch of a book on the importance of plants and their usage, which tries to clear the misconception about herbal medicine.

The book, ‘Traditional and Religious Plants of West Africa,’ was authored by a retired researcher, Mr Daniel Kwesi Abbiw, who has researched into herbal medicine for the past 30 years.

1,620 Prisoners registered under NHIS

INMATES of four prison centres in the Central Region have been registered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), in line with an exercise to offer prisoners easy access to health care.

The inmates, numbering 1,620, were drawn from the Ankaful Main, Annex, Maximum, and the Winneba Prisons. They were registered under the exercise by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the Central Region.

All the beneficiaries were given new NHIA Biometric Identification Cards to enable them to access health care anywhere in the country.

The Central Regional Director of the NHIA, Mr Francis Oti-Frimpong, headed the two registration teams from Cape Coast and the Winneba offices of the NHIA to execute the programme.

La-Nkwantanang Assembly organises Cholera Awareness Walk

The La-Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly (LaNMMA) on Saturday organized a three-hour Cholera Awareness Walk through some principal streets of Madina. 

The Awareness Walk started from the Assembly's yard and went through Ritz Junction, Ashaleybotwe road to the the Kelekele Polyclinic, amid brass band music.

The participating groups included the Dromo Keep-fit Club, Mesokay,Keep-fit Club and  Young & Wise Keep-Fit Club, as well as food vendors and the LaNMMA's Rapid Response Initiative (RRI) members.

The participants carried placards with various inscriptions on cholera awareness, as well as the giving out of flyers. 

The participants later converged at the Madina Polyclinic, where a massive cleanup exercise was embarked upon. The Sanitation Department fumigated the entire premises to rid the place of rodents and pests.

G-string causes surge in vaginal infections

A Medical Officer at the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital in Sekondi, Dr Roland M. Sowa, has cautioned females against the wearing of the skimpy ‘G-string’ underwear, since it has health implications.

He said a research carried out by the hospital indicated that many female genital infections reported at the facility were due to the wearing of the underwear.

Dr Sowa, who is also the Western Regional HIV/AIDS Coordinator, said the string of the underwear facilitated the transfer of organisms from the anus to the vagina.

He gave the caution at an Enhanced HIV/AIDS training for journalists in Takoradi, which was sponsored by the US Embassy and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief  (PEPFAR).

A G-string or thong is a narrow piece of cloth or leather, or plastic that passes between the buttocks. It is attached to a band around the hips.

Dr Sowa explained that the hospital carried out the investigation to establish what accounted for the high rate of

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Survival rate for prostate cancer high

The month of September is recognised as World Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. During this period, a lot of activities are organised in countries across the world to commemorate the month.

Much of these activities are centred on creating awareness of prostate cancer.

In Canada, for instance, the month is recognised as Blue Month where the citizens are engaged and educated on the disease and the need to seek early medical care and prevention.

 Some participants in the press conference

MoFA initiates process to end ban on five vegetables by EU

The Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Department (PPRSD) of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoFA) has outlined a number of measures to address the issues necessitating the ban on five vegetables to the European market.
Some of the measures, according to the Director of the division, Ms Milly E. Kyofa-Boama, were stepping up the training of farmers on good farm practices and engaging researchers and experts to educate them on pest identification and control.

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