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Health Benefits of Yams
Yams are members of the Dioscoreae family. Depending upon the yam variety, of which there are about 200, its flesh may be of varying colours including white, ivory, yellow or purple while its thick skin may either be white, pink or brownish-black. Their shape is long and cylindrical (oftentimes having offshoots referred to as “toes”) while their exterior texture is rough and scaly. Yams have a very starchy and slippery texture and when cooked, will either be creamy or firm, depending upon the variety. Their taste is earthy and hardy, with most varieties having minimal, if any, sweetness. Specific types of yams include Dioscorea alata (Hawaiian yam), Dioscorea batatas (Korean yam) and Dioscorea esculenta (sweet yam). Protection against Cardiovascular Disease Yams are a good source of vitamin B6. Vitamin B6 is needed by the body to break down a substance called homocysteine, which can directly damage blood vessel walls. Individuals who suffer a heart attack despite having normal or even low cholesterol levels are often found to have high levels of homocysteine. Since high homocysteine levels are significantly associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke, having a good supply of vitamin B6 on hand makes a great deal of sense. High intakes of vitamin B6 have also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease.
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Be careful whom you kiss – Scientist advised
A medical scientist has advised the public to be wary of the people they kiss. They could be infected with Hepatitis B.
Mr Laud Anthony Bassing, of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi said like the deadly disease HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B could be transmitted through kissing and sexual intercourse.
Addressing members of the Catholic Organisation for Social and Regional Advancement (COSRA) in Kumasi at the weekend, Mr. Bassing explained that the disease has all the characteristics of malaria and therefore makes early detection difficult.
Electronic Waste In Ghana
Ghana — The latest place where we have discovered high tech toxic trash causing horrendous pollution is in Ghana. Our analysis of samples taken from two electronic waste (e-waste) scrap yards in Ghana has revealed severe contamination with hazardous chemicals.
The ever-growing demand for the latest fashionable mobile phone, flat screen TV or super-fast computer creates ever larger amounts of obsolete electronics that are often laden with toxic chemicals like lead, mercury and brominated flame retardants. Rather than being safely recycled, much of this e-waste gets dumped in developing countries. Previously, we have exposed pollution from e-waste scrap yards in China and India. Nigeria has also been identified as a dumping ground for old electronics.
Swine Flu poses No Threats to Us
By Francis Asamoah Tuffour
The outbreak of Swine Flu in parts of the world will not pose any threat to the country, the Veterinary Services Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, has assured the public. Speaking to the Times yesterday on Ghana’s state of preparedness against any possible outbreak, the acting Director of the Department, Dr Enoch Boye-Mensah Koney said there is a surveillance system in place that conducts routine exercises along the country’s entry points.
In the exercise, live or dressed birds and animals imported into the country are critically examined and those suspected of having flu are vaccinated.
Dr Koney said the main job of the department is to control and prevent animal diseases that are likely to be introduced into country, adding that this core function enjoins it to be proactive in its surveillance, monitoring and evaluation roles.
“We have surveillance system that will detect anything within our territory in the shortest possible time,” he said.
Besides the department collaborates with the port authorities, the Customs Excise and Preventive Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, Ministry of Health as well as the Wildlife Department among other agencies, to constantly check, particularly, people entering the country.
HIV-AIDS Testing is now free in Ghana
Kumasi, Feb 27, GNA – The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has directed that henceforth all HIV/AIDS tests at settings, facilities and during outreach programmes must absolutely be at no cost to clients. This was contained in a circular signed by Dr. Elias K. Sory, Director- General of the Ghana Health Service and released in Kumasi on Thursday.
It said the directive had become necessary to help increase and encourage many people to participate in the Voluntary, Counselling and Testing (VCT) exercise to improve their health status. The release urged heads of facilities at hospitals and health centres to ensure that all fees previously collected for HIV Testing should be duly accounted for and a report submitted to the Regional Directorates of Health Services at the end of February 2009. Dr. Thomas Agyarko Poku, HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator in charge of Ashanti Region told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) the directive was laudable and hoped it would pave the way for many people to undertake VCT to improve their health.
He advised people to take their health seriously and attend hospitals and clinics when necessary. Dr Poku urged the public to practice regenerative health by eating healthy and balanced diet, exercising their bodies as well as resting at all times. 27 Feb. 09
Source. GNA
Government urged to commit resources towards Reproductive Health
Mr. Akwasi Boakye-Yiadom, Director of Programmes of the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana PPAG), has said that lack of funds and Reproductive Health (RH) supplies were some of the problems militating against Reproductive Health in the country. He has therefore urged the government and organizations to commit adequate funds towards Reproductive Health to help reduce maternal deaths, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and improve the health status of women.
Mr. Boakye-Yiadom was speaking at the pre-implementation meeting on Project Resource Mobilization Awareness in Kumasi at the week-end. The meeting, jointly organized by the PPAG and the Environmental Protection Association of Ghana (EPAG) and attended by over 25 participants aimed at advocating for the integrating of RH supplies in the distribution of chain of medical supplies.
Clean-up exercise in Accra Metropolis begins
Parliamentarians in Accra/Tema Metropolitan Areas on Saturday began a year-long clean-up exercise to rid the area of filth in fulfilment of President Mills’ initiative to Keep Ghana Clean within the first 100 days of his administration.
The exercise undertaken in collaboration with management of Zoomlion Ghana is code named “Keep Ghana Clean”.
The year-long exercise to be extended to other regions included distilling of drains, sweeping and collection of refuse.
Our Streets Are Still Filthy!
We all know the problem
What is the cause of the filth on the streets?
• Generally, as I said before, the cause of the filth is that the rate at which rubbish is dumped on the street is far in excess of the rate at which rubbish is taken off. In fact no effort or provision is made towards ridding the streets of rubbish. Look at the picture above. Is there any dustbin?
More skilled workers needed in health sector
Dr. Owusu Achaw Duah, Director and Founder of the Martin Luther Health Training School, has said a more skilled workforce in the health care industry was essential of the growth of the country’s economy.
“A comprehensive skills strategy in the industry is therefore needed to meet health care demands of the century,” he said. Dr. Duah said this on Saturday at the first matriculation ceremony for 110 students of the school who had training in nursing and health care assistants.
He said in order to meet such demand, a new framework was required to address issues such as capacity building, funding and labour needs. “This framework, among other things, would need an active private sector involvement both in the training and service needs in the health care industry, and this calls for the establishment of private health institutions to augment government’s effort”, he said.
