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31/01/2022

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day 2022

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including Buruli ulcer, Chagas disease, dengue, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiases, and snakebite envenoming mostly affect impoverished communities and disproportionately affect women and children, leading to devastating health, social and economic consequences.

The new GFINDER report shows that research and development funding for NTDs reduced to US$328million in 2020 - a 6% drop from 2019, marking four consecutive years of funding decline.

"The global R&D response to the COVID pandemic from dozens of funders shows how the quantity and diversity of a funding base can speed development timelines and build a pipeline that is able to withstand the inevitable failures of individual candidates. Having seen what prioritising research and development can achieve, it is clearer than ever that neglected diseases only persist because we choose to let them" - 2021 GFINDER report: New perspectives. https://lnkd.in/eY6hFqXc

photo credit: africa.com
&D

23/09/2021

FiFi the llama and COVID-19 treatment

Fascinating research on-going at University of Reading: COVID-19 immune therapy involving llama nanobodies has shown promise in early trials. Nanobodies are single domain antibodies produced by llamas in response to infection.

One of the lead researchers, Prof Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute in Oxfordshire, explained that coronavirus-infected rodents treated with the new nanobody nasal spray fully recovered within six days. Public Health England has also mentioned this therapy is among the "most effective SARS-CoV-2 neutralising agents" it had ever tested. This is yet to go through human trials but opens up significant possibilities for the use of safe and effective nanobody treatments for COVID-19. Once approved, it could be administered as a nasal spray for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 infection. With Shayan Yar Tanya Saxena Saurabh Kaura Shubham Baid Emilia Nwakpa Ali Afrasiabi Madhav Raman Selorm Kwame Attatsi Dr Selorm K.Tsrakasu Dr Maame Yaa Nhyira Essel, MBChB MPH MBA MGCP Mawulorm Kwaku Denu Sefakor Akosua Ahiagble, PMP® Stephen Annan

https://lnkd.in/grzXthCb



Image: from BBC news. https://lnkd.in/gBm3U-kb

23/08/2021

TRIPLE THREAT: COVID-19, EBOLA, AND MARBURG DISEASE IN WEST AFRICA.

English News and Press Release on Côte d'Ivoire and 2 other countries about Health and Epidemic; published on 19 Aug 2021 by WHO

13/08/2021

Marburg Hemorrhagic fever in West Africa!!

A case of virus disease has been confirmed in the southern Gueckedou prefecture of 🇬🇳. This is the first time Marburg, a highly infectious disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, has been identified in the country, & in West . https://bit.ly/3fMNOAk

24/12/2020

Every voice matters: ANTIBIOTIC ABUSE (Part 1)
By Dr Justice Boakye-Appiah

A self-Pronounced Death sentence!!!!!!!!

This meme is supposed to be a medical joke but I don't find it funny. It basically represents a death sentence for someone, more like k) fie k) wu. It represents and signifies an impending doom on healthcare and I fear it is already imminent in Ghana. Let me try to describe and explain the message of the meme.
So if you went to the hospital and the doctor suspected you had an infection, he/she in order to confirm the infection would have to take your blood/urine/stool/discharge/swab or spinal fluid(depending on where the infection is) to the lab. The lab scientist then transfers the sample onto the round plate in the meme. These plates contain nutrients and other supplements which help grow the bacteria if present. So if you do have an infection, the bacteria will grow for easy identification and confirmation. If you do not have an infection, then nothing grows on the plate.
Now, as part of the test process, the lab scientists also attempt to determine the potency of antibiotics against the specific bacteria. So they try killing the bacteria with various antibiotics and eventually advise the doctor on which antibiotic to use.
Those same previously potent antibiotics are no more killing the bacteria. What has changed? THE BUGS HAVE DEVELOPED RESISTANCE TO THE ANTIBIOTICS. And so what will happen to this patient? Your guess is as good as mine. It's basically a death sentence.
If you look at the top image, you notice that there are some round papers on the plates. These are impregnated with antibiotics and so you observe that no bacteria is able to grow in the immediate perimeter of the paper. That tells the doctor that this antibiotic is able to kill the bacteria and so is good for this patient.
On the contrary, in the 2019 image, the bacteria seem to be singing y3ntie obiaa and are even spreading their habitat over the antibiotic impregnated papers.

In 2016, my boss and I published a research paper demonstrating the presence and seriousness of antibiotic-resistant Tuberculosis in Ghana(Boakye-Appiah JK et al, High prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among patients with rifampicin resistance using GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin in Ghana. Int J Mycobacteriol 2016;5:226-30). In the course of the project, I identified a patient who was resistant to all first and second-line antibiotics used in the treatment of TB globally. He had been on the medication for over 18 months instead of the standard 6 and was still very sick. His doctors didn't know what was happening to him but could also not help him out. A week after we found the cause, he died. He received a death sentence the day he contracted drug-resistant TB. Already, penicillin is almost useless in Ghana. Resistance is very widespread. And there are quite a number of such documented patterns of antibiotic resistance globally.

In 2016, my boss and I published a research paper demonstrating the presence and seriousness of antibiotic-resistant Tuberculosis in Ghana(Boakye-Appiah JK et al, High prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among patients with rifampicin resistance using GeneXpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin in Ghana. Int J Mycobacteriol 2016;5:226-30). In the course of the project, I identified a patient who was resistant to all first and second-line antibiotics used in the treatment of TB globally. He had been on the medication for over 18 months instead of the standard 6 and was still very sick. His doctors didn't know what was happening to him but could also not help him out. A week after we found the cause, he died. He received a death sentence the day he contracted drug-resistant TB. Already, penicillin is almost useless in Ghana. Resistance is very widespread. And there are quite a number of such documented patterns of antibiotic resistance globally.

This is the problem statement. what then is the solution? ...

28/10/2020

A true representation of the limitless opportunities that come with education, empowerment, determination and hardwork. Continue to inspire women and girls all around the continent! 🙌🏽

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been voted as the new head of the World Trade Organization. She secured 104 out of 164 votes to become the first African to head the World Trade Organization. Member countries in the European Union and ECOWAS all endorsed her candidacy. The global trade organization now has its first female director general in its 25-year history.
Congratulations madam! Keep inspiring young girls and women.

07/10/2020

COVID-19 VACCINE FOR AFRICANS BY AFRICAN SCIENTISTS IN NIGERIA.

I am excited to see African countries join in the global race for the production of Covid 19 Vaccines. The issue of efficacy is not the focus here as there is a lot more to do but the interest and increase in capacity towards vaccine development is worth commending. If only we will get our priorities right and look at ways of improving our OWN lives and OUR Society. Interesting read! Hope they get the funding needed but the question on my mind is, can’t we find 100 million dollars to fund such projects?
Are we not spending more on other projects here which are not even completed or continued by successive governments?
You can read about this vaccine by African scientists in Nigeria at quartz Africa website. https://qz.com/africa/1911951/nigerian-scientists-develop-covid-19-vaccine-need-human-trials/

The vaccine candidate is being targeted at trials with Africans to ensure efficacy

02/10/2020

(1) Every voice matters: What Feminism means
We won’t deny that years of suppression have made some women assume a second-class role in society. In this 21st century, it is unfortunate that the world has to grapple with certain issues that are suppressive to the rights of some females, though a lot of ground has been covered in making the lives of women better.
That influences the drive of true feminism, and for that cause, every genuine man is in favour of it. True feminism is about telling women that they are capable, and can achieve whatever goals and aspirations they desire. Feminism is about giving equal opportunity to women in society. Feminism is about making our girls feel safe at home, in society and the workplace.
It is quite unfortunate that some unscrupulous persons with their own unfortunate desires have projected a man-hating, deluded ideology inspired by double standards and self-pity as feminism, but that shouldn’t make us shift focus from the drive to create a better world for females.

Dr Jeffrey Sakyi Offeh
Medical Practitioner

Picture from theeverygirl.com.

23/09/2020

EVERY VOICE MATTERS
Hello guys,
Over the next few weeks, i will be engaging with many professionals in various fields of work who are making meaningful contributions to the society, creating supportive environments, promoting health and wellness and health and equity advocacy through posts and videos . Everyone has a voice and what matters must be addressed! Very exciting and a learning experience for us all. so watch out!
Feel free to contact me if you have anything relevant to this page to share or discuss. Enjoy the week...

Disclaimer: No copyrights infringment intended with the image used.

23/09/2020

15 YEARS OLD SARAH, R***D AND PREGNANT
I came across this news article by Aljazeera (worth reading) which revealed the woes of many adolescent girls from disadvantaged parts of Africa as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and this article makes me wonder what the situation is in Ghana. Schools in most parts of Africa like Ghana have been closed. Like Sarah, going to school is an essential part of life for these girls. Education provides endless opportunities for them, a solution to poverty, forced marriages, waywardness and a source of food due to the feeding programmes introduced by many African governments. Although I have my concerns with the implementation of the school feeding programme in Ghana, I have always supported this programme due to its huge impact and the opportunity for many disadvantaged parents and children to not worry about meals for their children during school works or sending them to school. All these have come to a halt due to this pandemic and the consequences are devastating especially for the poor and marginalized communities. Many reports show that with the closure of school, many African girls are more at risk of child marriages, r**e, teenage pregnancy and Female ge***al mutilation. What is the evidence in Ghana? A focus on the re-orientation of our health system incorporating health promotion strategies and approaching health in a more holistic way might be worth considering. Not getting COVID shouldn’t only be the priority. As we protect ourselves from COVID-19 with all these policies and restrictions, it is important to not forget that these have an impact on people, their livelihoods and ultimately, their health.

01/08/2020

IS THERE NO SISTER CODE IN GHANA?

I usually do not understand when people mention that they were not able to fully watch a sensitive video on Social media until I came across the Akua Denteh video. After some few seconds, I had to stop watching the atrocity being committed on a poor defenceless old woman who should have been spending time with her grandkids telling them the untold stories of Ghana’s History which they so love to do. But no! Her life meant nothing to these people including women.
It wasn’t only the lynching of this woman that was sad to watch. What stood out for me was the sight of many YOUNG WOMEN who I would have expected to be the voice of reason. An injustice condoned and mostly perpetrated by women who should have otherwise formed a human shield to protect another woman. There is no justification for this and it goes to show the deep-seated conflicts and maybe dislike that exists between women themselves in the society and continually derails the efforts been made to bridge the inequality gap between genders. Possibly, the fight for equality has neglected an important aspect- women empowering each other when the need arises. That seriously needs attention to complement all the other things being done at the moment. I ask, why do people and even women generally prefer to work with male bosses? Moreover, is there no code for sisters too? It is very nice to see pictures being shared on social media in support of women empowerment but for Madam Akua and all the other old women in those witch camps, what happened to your voices
There are many challenges out there that need attention.

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26/07/2020

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR YOU JUST BECAUSE YOU ARE A WOMAN.

See eh! Most often when I hear female aspirants say or insinuate that, vote for me because I am a woman. I usually do not especially when that becomes the main focus of their campaign. Similarly, I cringe when I hear the rhetoric that certain percentages or positions should be left solely for women in politics or schools. To me, these usually do not help resolve the societal conflicts and disparities that exist between men and women. What happens to the equally competent boy child who loses out on a life-changing opportunity because the quota left for men has been exhausted. Would that be fair to him as well? That certainly drifts away from the true meaning of equality and equity that should exist amongst both genders. Another example here is the lower cut-offs for females into tertiary institutions. One might argue that it rather defeats the purpose of empowering girls and women to equally work hard in this competitive world just as the boys. Are we saying that girls inherently cannot match up to boys? Should the world or things be made easier for women in comparison to men in order to show that things are better? Is there a need for special treatment or rather the need for equally accessible opportunities? Guess this really is the issue with many that subscribe to the proliferation of the toxic masculinity agenda in response to the many years of struggle of the African woman to make her own choices and live a fulfilling life. Clearly, the agenda has changed it. We are now at each other’s throat akin to a dick-measuring competition over who should have the final say or the gender roles in our relationships.

The truth is, it is biologically implausible for a man to be equal to a woman and in a social context far-reaching to expect the same attributes, responsibilities and outcomes from both genders. Generally, men are stronger than women and this is backed by science. It therefore makes it questionable when the concept of only equality takes the place of equity in the agenda of bridging the social gap between men and women and for me, the health disparities that exist and are relevant to both genders. Do we even know what gender equality really means? Simply put, Men and women can never be the same however, our differences, strengths and weaknesses make us unique and complement each other in the attainment of a society that hears and support every valid voice. A socially inclusive environment with equal opportunities for everyone. I believe that one’s gender coupled with their life choices or the presence of a disability should not be a hindrance in anyone’s pursuit of success and a good life.

Admittedly, women have been disadvantaged for so long and the move to create an all-inclusive society is warranted but should not be done to the detriment of any other. You should walk to any office and know your capabilities are the most important in getting that job, school or promotion. We therefore, need to make everyone feel a part of it. I should be able to achieve what I can regardless of my life choices, disability and more so my gender. It is not a matter of war or criticizing those who have had things easy or better. There is no point in fighting. The best results we aim to attain especially in the future does not start and end in a day. It requires a collective effort to reach that desired goal and that happens right here! Every voice truly matters!

21/07/2020

In Junior high school, I lost a very dear friend of mine. We were just about 13-14 years when this happened and I was crushed. I vividly remember those days growing up in Tema when I had several friends at different suburbs of the community and there was no way I wouldn’t pass by one of those houses when running errands. It was a community and we all had lots of fun. Soon, I started to generate several excuses to give to my mother when i knew I had spent a lot of time outside of the house. Well, one of these friends was the one who died unexpectedly. I remember this story because I honestly did not understand why someone should die from complications of pregnancy. She was young and probably naïve. She was ready to join her parents immediately after BECE in Europe when she got pregnant and decided to end the pregnancy without anyone’s knowledge. She died doing that! I just couldn’t believe it! Now, I fully understand the effects of unsafe and septic abortion and gladly, a lot of people do now. Nonetheless, this covid-19 situation and the upsurge in adolescent pregnancies is extremely worrying.
Most often we hear our mothers and aunts describe pregnancy as a blessing to a woman but is it always the case? A 14 year old will totally disagree with this notion but it is rather common in some of regions than we think for that age group. I can only imagine the look on a parent’s face when your beloved daughter breaks that news to you. It is an event every parent never wants to experience. A total heartbreak! I know a lot of people will start to think of why the girl put herself in that situation and she being the one to blame. The issue of adolescent pregnancy goes beyond these misguided ideologies. Does the partner not play a significant role in that young girl’s decision to engage in early s*x? Central Region alone has recorded over 3000 cases of teen pregnancies from January to May 2020 and most of the male counterparts consistently responsible for this include farmers, drivers and Teachers. Wow! Teachers… one would expect male adolescents right? Definitely not the case and goes to show that it is time we look at how best we can protect our young girls from these perverted older men.

Share your thoughts in the comment section. feel free to share.

I do not own copyrights to the picture displayed. Source: pininterest.com

19/07/2020

The outcry about Counsellor's words and opinions over the years shows how sensitive the issues of R**e, defilement and gender- roles are. Its sad to hear him talk about these things in the manner he does and consistently infers that they are only relevant to the discussions he was engaged in. These are real problems affecting so many people and requires concern and utmost respect for survivors

picture credit: The Guardian

18/07/2020

Many African countries are reporting an upsurge in teenage pregnancies during this covid pandemic. Kenya is investigating a case of over 3000 girls impregnated this year. This is getting out of hand

18/07/2020

PART 3

The point of discussion here is people entrust us with their lives. Sometimes at the most vulnerable time. As a leader, you literally carry the vision of the team and that is always a high level of trust from others. I can honestly say that there is always that joy and contentment when you see that your efforts and genuine concern for clients yielded great outcomes. An example I always give is seeing a couple who might have had a longstanding history of fertility issues go home with their baby and you know you played an important part in their life. Therefore, there is absolutely no need to meddle in the game of entanglements. Let me introduce you to what I generally describe as the multifaceted perspective of value. The value of: relationship and friendships, my purpose for others, my credibility and essentially my health. This is what guides my life and my interactions with others. I am not here to tell anyone how to live their lives or partake (or not) in any deals that come your way. However, the ethics of your profession is critical and possibly focusing a lens on my life might inspire someone who might not see the purpose of integrity and most importantly upholding their values especially in the professional world.
I will be sharing with you my multifaceted perspective of value soon and definitely talk about ‘women love ambition’ aspect. Of course, you are (mostly) the reason we do what we do!