Over one hundred pupils from Nima cluster of schools in Accra have been sensitized against drug abuse.

The initiative according to the organizers is to join the fight against the prevalence of drug abuse especially tramadol among the youth in the country . The Students were educated on the effect of drug abuse and how it can be prevented.

Students between the ages of 15 and above from upper primary and JHS of "Nima 2" Basic school benefited from the event.

Educating the students on the theme "Drug abuse", a psychiatric clinician Seidu Asima, reiterated the need for the students to become an ambassadors in campaigning against the menace.

He said, drug abuse is Increasing among the youth and hence the need for sensitization.

"Today you will become an ambassador, when you go home pass it on to your friends, your brothers, your parents and to everybody", The clinician advised.

He added that drug abuse affect individuals physiological and psychological hence can cause hallucination, Nausea, vomiting, sweating, dizziness among others.

Mr. Seidu Asima however, advised the students to report anything wrong with them to their parents, community elders, Teachers, Pastors and Imams or visit the hospitals before taking any drug.

He cautioned the students to desist from taking unprescribed drugs since it can affect them.

Speaking to GIJ News, the member of project management Committee of Junior Chamber International (JCI) Accra Elite chapter Karimatu Fuseini
said the selection of Nima Cluster of schools became necessary due to the increase of drug usage among some people in the area.

She said the situation was revealed earlier to them by the assembly man of the area.

"We spoke to the assembly man of Nima-west so he thought it wise that we do it in the school as they are the young ones coming up",she stated.

She further pledged her organization's support to help sustain the initiative in the school.

"The headmaster has given us the go-ahead of visiting them twice every term so it's a privilege. We would really love to be coming for evaluation and also continue the process because it's a trending issue in the whole world now", she added.

Meanwhile, the headmaster of the school Mr. Noah Ayisi has bemoaned the abuse of drugs among students.

"Drug abuse has been a major problem in Nima community here and With the inception of tramadol it is becoming worse.

We see it mostly in the attitude of the boys especially, as some becomes rebellious and and truant", the headmaster revealed.

He said the situation is pathetic and getting worse hence continues sensitization ceremonies and other events will help curb the menace.

Mr. Ayisi expressed satisfaction for the timely intervention from JCI Accra Elite group.

"The event is very very timely because looking at the situation, the tramadol abuse is becoming a menace in our community here in Nima. So it's very very timely", he said.

He however call on civil society organizations and other Non-profit organizations to emulate JCI Accra Elite initiative to help win the fight against drug abuse.

He said government should also intensify efforts to regulate tramadol and other drugs which has become readily available to the youth in the country.

Some participants speaking after the event were optimistic of carrying the cross to become an ambassadors in educating others on drug abuse.

Credit: Richard Mensah

The 2017 Ghana’s Most Beautiful Eastern region representative, Naana Serwaa Boateng had an interaction last Saturday with 80 participants on issues related to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights at Mensah Dawa in the Eastern Region.

It may be fashionable, you may like how you look, or maybe you’ve gained a little weight and your clothes are too tight now.

First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has inaugurated the newly-constructed Mother & Baby unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The new facility has room for 130 babies, eleven children and enough facilities to accommodate 12 simultaneous births.

Mrs Akufo-Addo took special interest in the facility when it was revealed that hundreds of babies and mothers died each year at the unit because of lack of space and facilities.

To stem the tide, she organised a fundraising exercise to help construct a new facility at the hospital.

Inaugurating the facility in Kumasi on Friday, 19 January 2018, she said “This facility, we are commissioning today, is a world-class one, more importantly for me is the fact that it’s the only green hospital in Africa certified by IFC and the World Bank.

I emphasise this point because I believe that Ghana needs to go green in its construction of public facilities. This will save us money over the long term and help preserve our environment.”

Source: classfmonline.com

Most of us are aware of the nourishing, restorative and protective benefits of papaya fruit, but have little knowledge about the healing powers of papaya leaves – which are far more powerful than its fruit.

Unlike the fruit, the leaves are bitter to taste due to its high concentration of phytonutrients – which explains its therapeutic benefits.


The nutrition inside the papaya leaf is incredible!

Based on the research studies, it was found that the phytonutrient compounds in papaya leaves act in synergy to display a strong antioxidant and immune enhancing impact in the bloodstream. Papain, alkaloids and phenolic compounds are responsible for their positive biological effects.

The enzymes papain and chymopapain are the two biologically active components of papaya. They aid in digesting proteins and are widely used for treating indigestion, bloating, and other digestive disorders. In addition, the alkaloid compounds, carpaine, pseudocarpaine and dehydrocarpaine demonstrate chemo-preventive effects.

Pure isolated alkaloids and their synthetic derivatives are used as basic medicinal agents because of their antispasmodic, analgesic, and bacterial properties. The phenolic compounds, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin and kaempferol exhibit potent antioxidant effect. Papaya leaves are also high in minerals like calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron and manganese.

Diabetics have 3 good reasons to try papaya leaf extracts

Enhances insulin sensitivity: Poor insulin sensitivity is the cause for type-2 diabetes, which causes inefficient glucose uptake by the cells. Several animal studies and some human studies have shown that papaya leaf extracts were able to demonstrate glucose lowering effect.drnk

A study on Mauritian population showed that papaya leaf extract supplementation decreased the enzyme levels of ALT and AST (bio-markers of type 2 diabetes) among diabetic patients and improved insulin sensitivity.

Decreases diabetes complications: The mix of antioxidants in papaya leaf extracts are helpful in decreasing the secondary complications of diabetes such as fatty liver, kidney damage and oxidative stress. A growing number of well-researched studies have demonstrated the same.

Accelerates wound healing: The process of wound healing is delayed or hindered in a diabetic patient and can cause other complications. Many studies have confirmed that consuming papaya leaves enhanced the process of wound healing – due to its anti-bacterial and remarkable antioxidant action.

The health benefits extend beyond blood sugar stabilization…

Some clinical studies have confirmed that the papaya leaf extracts effectively inhibit cancer cell growth and improve immune activity. A 2010 study, published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacolgy confirmed that the papaya leaf extracts can mediate and boost Th1 type cytokines in the immune system and may potentially treat and prevent certain types of allergic disorders and cancer .

How can I use papaya leaves?

The Japanese, the aboriginals of Australia and many traditional herbal treatments have used papaya leaves for their health-enhancing powers. The tender papaya leaves are cooked and consumed similar to spinach in the islands of East Indies. Fresh, green papaya leaf is used as an antiseptic, while the brown, dried leaves are used as a tonic and blood purifier.

The best way to consume the papaya leaves is in the form of tea. Prepare a tea infusion, by adding 10 leaves to half a gallon of water – allow it to boil till the quantity of water is decreased to a quart. Cool and consume in small doses as needed to treat indigestion, for detoxifying, for immune-building purposes or as a general tonic.

The adverse effects of the papaya leaves have not been tested in humans however animal studies suggest low toxicity, hence they are considered safe for long term consumption.

What are the forms of papaya leaf extracts available in the market?

Papaya leaf extracts are available in the market as capsules, tea leaves and in the powder form for consumption. When you reach for papaya leaf extract supplements, be sure to choose non-GMO, organic supplements since most of the papaya, today, are genetically modified. Many studies have shown that choosing fermented papaya extracts to be more beneficial due to their enhanced antioxidant and immune-boosting effects.

With government-run healthcare turning into a disaster – many people are turning to plant-based remedies that are effective and less expensive, with no side-effects. Papaya leaves are just one of many natural ways to improve your health – especially if you suffer from diabetes.

If you can’t talk to your current doctor about natural healing – find another doctor and take action today.

Medical doctors will from this year, apply for postings after their housemanship.

That is according to the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare.

He described as worrying, doctors' reluctance to accept postings to deprived areas after training.

“If you want to work, you apply to the Region you would want to work. This year we’ve started interviewing doctors, we’re not posting them anymore. We’ll not sit in Accra again and post any doctor,” he said.

He added: “Rural experience as a practitioner is very crucial in your profession and career development”.

He was speaking at the graduation and oath swearing ceremony for the School of Medical Sciences, Dental School and the School of Veterinary Medicine in Kumasi.

According to him, every Region will be given a quota of  doctors needed as part of the new arrangement.

He promised government’s efforts to improve working conditions of medical professionals and also upgrade district hospitals and other health facilities in the country.

Dr Asare appealed to the doctors to bring their expertise together and stop seeking greener pastures.

“Put your expertise at the disposal of your countrymen whose tax partly contributed greatly to your education,” he said.

Source: myjoyonline.com

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has said it would not countenance any action or practices by medical doctors likely to impact negatively on quality healthcare delivery in the country.

Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, the Director-General, said that it was quite worrying that some public sector doctors and dentists, who are on full time appointment by the government, have in recent times developed the penchant for spending part of their official working hours to work in private health facilities.

“Some of these medical and dental practitioners even go to the extent of referring patients to their private facilities”, he said stressing that the GHS was taking the necessary steps to stem such unethical conduct.

Dr Nsiah-Asare, who was addressing an oath-swearing and induction ceremony for the School of Medical Sciences, Dental School and the School of Veterinary Medicine of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), cautioned practitioners to uphold the code of conduct of the medical profession.

He said doctors and dentists who are keen to work in private practice could team up with colleagues with the similar desires to establish private health facilities in order to work as full time private practitioners in needy and deprived communities.

The ceremony was held under the joint supervision of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council and Veterinary Council of Ghana, and had a total of 241 newly-qualified doctors, including dental and veterinary surgeons, taking the Hippocratic Oath.

Source: GNA