Sudan III & IV Contamination Of Palm Oils In Ghanaian Markets: The Need To Follow Directive Of The FDA

It is highly devastating that as Ghana strives at all cost to achieve optimal health as possible, some group of individuals explore various dubious means for their selfish interests at the expense of the entire health of the people of our motherland…Indeed, we still remain our own enemies as

Health Digest: Activated Charcoal

Also known as medicinal charcoal, is a substance that unwanted substances in the digestive system bind to, and are further removed from our system through our stools. It is used to treat drug overdose poisoning as well as any other form of poisoning.

It is made from coal, wood or other substances but becomes activated when heat is applied to it. It comes in the raw form and the tablet form. Place 3 tablets in the warm water, stir and drink.

It is also used to treat severe diarrhoea which you call "running stomach" and heart burns, to prevent hang over and reduce high cholesterol levels. If suffering from any of the above, just add a tablespoonful of medicinal charcoal to warm water, stir for uniformity and drink, for relief.

Do not take the tablets with water just as you do with other drugs else it will accumulate in your stomach and cause blockage. Also, do not take it together with other drugs.

If you are a woman suffering from fibroid in its early stages, add medicinal charcoal and lemon juice to a glass of water, stir and drink to shrink the fibroid till its no more present.

You can get medicinal charcoal from health shops and some pharmacies.

Submitted by 

Gakpetor Seli Phanuel

(Association of Sports and Exercise Science)

Promoting Healthy Living as a Nation; the Role of Stakeholders

Theme for the 10th Anniversary Celebration of NAHSAG is Promoting Healthy Living as a Nation; the Role of Stakeholders. In an exposition of the subject, Wisdom K. Axame writes:

Our health is by far the most important thing to us. It does not matter whether we are rich or poor, good health is vital to make every individual’s life happy. Health cuts across many facets of life and is even evident in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of it as “a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.  Per the WHO definition, health is an ideal state as we all ought to be healthy physically, mentally and socially which seems very difficult to attain. That notwithstanding, as human as we are, we all strive to get to this ideal state in order to be healthy.

Getting to this ideal state of health can only be achieved through healthy living and healthy lifestyles. One may ask what healthy living is; simply put, healthy living means the steps, actions and strategies an individual puts in place in order to achieve optimum health. In a broader sense, it is about taking responsibility and making smart health choices for today and for the future. Getting physically fit, eating right, emotional wellness, spiritual wellness and prevention are all a part of creating a healthy lifestyle.

Promoting a healthier living is not one man’s business. It calls for collaboration and coordination between relevant stakeholders. Stakeholders in health are persons or institutions that directly or indirectly affect the operation of the healthcare industry. They include clients, healthcare providers, the government and the student. These various stakeholders contribute in their respective jurisdictions to the promotion of healthy living.

Clients:

Clients are by far the largest group among the stakeholders in the promotion of a healthier life. This is because in one way or the other, other stakeholders may become clients when there is the need to access health services. Clients are usually affected either positively or negatively by the actions of other stakeholders. With respect to the promotion of a healthier living, it is the role of the client to patronise and adhere to the services of the other stakeholders. Aside this, clients need to take their health into their own hands by adopting health promotion lifestyles. Promotion of one’s health is an effective way of healthy living as each individual’s actions towards their health will affect them positively or negatively.

Healthcare Providers:

Healthcare providers are public entities or private organizations that render health services to the general population. Their services are either curative or preventive. The curative services of healthcare providers are aimed at treatment and rehabilitation of sick individuals while the preventive services mainly come in the form of health education. Healthcare providers play a vital role in the promotion of healthy lifestyles as they provide opportunities for people to be healthy aside what individuals do themselves to remain healthy.

Government:

Government is considered a key shareholder in the healthcare industry. Governmental departments such as the ministries of health, food and agriculture, education and finance are some facets of government that have a role to play in promoting a healthier living. Government influences the health of its people by formulating and implementing health policies aimed at improving the health of individuals. In addition, government controls health cost in order for health services to be affordable to the average individual. Furthermore, in promoting a healthier living, government also trains and motivates health professionals who are the preachers of healthy living. These are just a few of government’s role in promoting healthy living.

Student:

Yes, the student is also a stakeholder in promoting healthy living. Just as all other all stakeholders can be clients, so the student can also fall under any of the stakeholders. Students, in this case health students, are agents of change undergoing grooming from various institutions. The formation of student associations such as the National Health Students’ Association of Ghana (NAHSAG) is living proof of how students can contribute in promoting healthy living. Students groups like NAHSAG provide platforms for students to give advocacy on health issues which goes a long way to educate the general public on pertinent health issues.

It is thus prudent to involve all relevant stakeholders in the protection, promotion and the maintenance of the health of the population.

Credit: Wisdom K. Axame

1st Vice President, NAHSAG

axman34@outlook.com

Blood Donation - Here's What You Need To Know

Do you know that in every two (2) seconds, an individual needs blood to survive and that the unavailability of blood for transfusion has led to loss of lives and serious ill health?

Are you also aware that of the over 24 million population of Ghana, should 1% donate blood annually, there would be no blood shortage in Ghana?

Now ask yourself who constitutes that 1%.

Accident victims, patients requiring surgical procedures including most pregnant women, medically diagnosed severe aneamic individuals and many others require blood to live.

It is so surprising that even within this modern era of scientific evolution, there is no single artificial replacement for blood.

I can vividly recall the words of one of my lecturers, Mr. Edwin Narter Olaga (Head of the 37 Military Hospital Blood Bank): "the mere fact that mosquitoes and witches prefer blood should put a silent message across that blood is life". It is on this note I bring to notice that only blood donation can make blood available for transfusion.

WHO CAN DONATE BLOOD?

If you are not below 17yrs and above 60yrs of age, you are eligible to donate blood. If you are not less that 50Kg of weight, a sickle cell patient, diabetic, hypertensive, on medication for any reason, asthmatic or chronic of any medical condition, you pass to donate to save a life.

Since blood donation is geared towards saving lives, health professionals responsible ensure that an individual is him/herself safe in donating blood. For that matter, ones hemoglobin concentration (blood level) is checked to ascertain you have enough blood to donate. Other clinical and medical details of the donor is sought for clarification. Donor just need to be sincere enough. As for the recipient, there is no need to worry because the donated blood is taken through series of infections testing and cross-matching before it is issued.

Blood donation does not only help the recipient, but as well boosts the immune system of the donor to regenerate newly healthy and capable cells to run the body; and such individual can voluntarily donate as much as three times in a year.

Do not say there isn't enough time for yourself because the right time is now! The blood donation itself takes about 5 to 10 minutes but just the entire process would take approximately 30 to an hour to complete. Aside the normal minor pain of the invading needle for a couple of seconds, blood donation is not painful as one may think. Only half a liter out of the approximately 8 to 10 liters of the normal individual blood is taken during blood donation and the blood volume is replaced within a day and full content, within a week to a month.

Blood donation can be regarded as a corporal work of mercy because it is a way of caring for the sick. Help clear that persistent notion that "99.9% of the living has no relatives when it comes to blood donation but 100% of the dead have relatives". Do something so that in the future, you can beat your chest and say 'oh Yes! I have done my part'. Let someone live! Donate blood!! Save lives!!

Credit:

Sampson Kafui Djonor

Biomedical Scientist

kadjnrsampson@gmail.com

0541437234

Four Principles of Cardiovascular Exercise

Repetitive, rhythmic exercise that increases your heart rate and requires you to use more oxygen is called aerobic exercise, cardiovascular exercise, or “cardio” for short.

1. Cardio exercise is imperative to your heart health for many reasons
2. Cardio provides aerobic conditioning—this is when the heart muscle becomes stronger and enlarged due to exercise, which makes it pump more efficiently. Therefore, your resting heart rate is reduced and the heart doesn’t need to work as hard.
3. Cardio strengthens the muscles used during breathing and throughout the body.
4. Cardio burns extra calories, which helps reduce body fat and manage weight. Cardio improves circulation.
5. Cardio increases red blood cells in the body, which helps transport oxygen to all tissues of the body that need it.
6. Cardio improves mental health, reduces stress, and lowers the incidence of depression.
7. Cardio reduces the risk of heart attack, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

The FITT principle can help you incorporate cardio exercise into your physical activity plan.

Frequency (how often you are physically active in a week)

According to the Centers for Disease Control, your long-term goal is to do cardio exercise at least five times per week. Of course, the more the better, if you are able.

If you need to set up small, more achievable temporary goals, aim to get cardio in at least three times per week. If this seems difficult, remember you can adjust the intensity and the time so that you can achieve this frequency goal first. Research shows the frequency of physical activity is very important for reducing many heart-related risk factors, including blood pressure, stress, and blood sugar for people who have diabetes. So, even if you have to start slowly—for example with 5 to 10 minutes of walking 3 times a week—you will begin to build another heart-healthy habit when you regularly set aside time in your week for physical activity.

Intensity (how hard you work each time you are physically active)

Moderate-intensity aerobic activity noticeably accelerates the heart rate. Examples of this type of activity include brisk walking, cycling at moderate speeds, mopping, or walking with a purpose.  Moderate-intensity activity also generally “breaks a sweat.” As a general rule of thumb according to theTalk Test if you're doing moderate-intensity activity, you can usually talk, but not sing, during the activity. Whereas, if you're doing vigorous-intensity activity, you will not be able to say more than a few words without pausing for a breath. Vigorous activities include running, cycling at fast speeds, and swimming laps.

Time (the duration or how long your physical activity lasts)

Your cardio sessions should last at least 10 minutes at a time. But the longer you are able to exercise, the more calories you will burn and the more endurance you will build. Aim to slowly increase the duration of your physical activity over time to reach at least 30 minutes of continuous cardio. If you can eventually go even longer -- for example, 60 minutes --  that’s even better.

Type (the kind of physical activity you are doing) 

It doesn’t matter what type of physical activity you do—as long as you work up to doing it about 5 times per week, you get your heart rate up, and you make it last at least 10 minutes at a time. Begin slowly and listen to your body to make sure you are tolerating it well.

Keep in mind, you may never be able to reach vigorous intensity, and that’s perfectly acceptable. Your level of moderate intensity may be different from another person’s level. Do whatever activity you can to get started and aim to make improvements slowly as you are able.

EXAMPLES OF MODERATE INTENSITY

• Walking briskly
• Water aerobics
• Bicycling slower than 10 miles per hour
• Tennis (doubles)
• Ballroom dancing
• General gardening
• Mopping or vacuuming floors

EXAMPLES OF VIGOROUS INTENSITY

• Race walking, jogging or running
• Stair climbing
• Swimming laps
• Tennis (singles)
• Aerobic dancing
• Bicycling 10 miles per hour or faster
• Jumping rope
• Heavy gardening (continuous digging or hoeing)
• Hiking uphill or with a heavy backpack

Credit: Gakpetor Seli Phanuel
Association of Sports and Exercise Science

Causes Of Free Radicals Called Oxidative Stress

METABOLIC

 *Energy production

 *Inflammation

 *Infections

 *Daily Stress

 *Unhealthy Diet

 ENVIRONMENTAL

 *Cigarette smoke

 *Industrial chemicals

 *Heavy Metals

 *Air Pollution

 *Car Exhaust

 *Pesticides/Herbicides

 *Certain Medications

 *Excess Alcohol consumption

 *Ultraviolet Light

 *Radiations (X-rays, CT Scans).

EFFECTS

•  Excess Free Radicals can
•  Attack DNA
•  Mutation e.g Cancers
•  Lead to premature aging etc.

 HOW CAN YOU PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FREE RADICALS?

 -Endogenous Antioxidants

 °Glutathione

 °Alpha Lipoic Acid

 °Co-Enzyme Q-10

CONDITIONS EMANATING FROM OXIDATIVE STRESS

More than 75 diseases which includes;

• Heart Conditions e.g. Hypertension
• Skin conditions e.g. skin aging, dermatitis etc.
• Kidney damages e.g. Nephritis, kidney disease etc.
• Joints disorders e.g. Osteoarthritis etc.
• Lung conditions e.g. Asthma, Cancer
• Brain/Neurons e.g. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson, Migraine, Stroke, Trauma etc.
• Immune system e.g. autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammations etc.
• Blood Vessels e.g. Atherosclerosis, Hypertension
• Multi-Organs e.g. diabetes, chronic fatigue etc.
• Eye pathologies e.g. Cataracts, Macular degeneration, Glaucoma etc.

Credit:

Alfred Danso, Pharmacy Technologist,

NAHSAG 1^st Vice President, 2013/14

alfreddanso5141@gmail.com

 

Press Release - Food Safety

The National Health Students' Association of Ghana has issued a statement, in line with this year's World Health day as follows:

How safe is your food?
We deem it a great privilege to portion with you some thoughts on the theme of the World Health Day 2015, 'Food Safety' and the way forward for Ghana.

The World Health Day is a global health awareness day celebrated every year on 7th April to alert and educate humanity on various topical issues of health concern.

This years’s focused on food safety; which the National Health Students Association of Ghana (NAHSAG), the national representative body of all health students and fresh health graduates from the various Health Training Institutions and Universities in Ghana believes is fitting due to the increasing annual death toll from the ingestion of unsafe foods.

According to the World Health Organization, food containing harmful bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances causes over 200 diseases, ranging from diarrhoea to cancers. As the adage goes, 'Prevention is better than cure' hence it is only prudent that a collective effort is geared towards the prevention of diseases associated with unsafe food.

First and foremost, we believe it is primarily incumbent on the consumer  to ensure that food to be consumed is clean, well cooked, and of acceptable quality. Expiry dates on food items must be checked before purchasing or consuming. Personal hygiene including washing of hands before handling foods or eating must be strictly observed to ensure that food ingested is free from any forms of contaminants.  Utensils and food surfaces must be kept clean and raw foods should be kept separate from ready-to-eat foods.

The general public is also encouraged to discard food items when its safety is doubtful.

We further encourage the government
to use all means possible to ensure that foods imported and sold on the local markets are of high quality and pose no threat to health.

The Ghana Standards Board, the Food and Drug Authority and the Ministry of Health should tighten their belts to ensure that Ghanaians are well protected from unsafe foods.

We want to touch on a much pressing area, which is the issue of Genetically Modified Foods.

The Accra Fast Track Court on the 3rd of March, 2015 ordered the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to halt the production and sale of Genetically Modified products in the country and we wish to seize this opportunity to call upon the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to be prompt in this regard and halt the sales or Cultivation of these Genetically Modified foods until the gen on these foods and human health as well as the environmental impact has been fully attained.

It could also be reminisced that the Ministry of Trade and Industry in 1999 issued a statement banning the importation of total fat content of poultry and poultry products above 15%. Despite this proclamation, the sale of turkey tail popularly called “chofi,” among others fatty poultry products are still flourishing across the length and breadth of Ghana regardless of the potential health problems it could cause.

We once again call upon the government and all stakeholders to prosecute any individual(s) who flouts the law.

Finally we call upon all Health students/Interns/graduates/professionals to augment the effort of Government by helping in the education of the public on food safety among other health issues. This will help promote Good health which we believe is the key to a sustainable development.

L et us together ensure that, food is made safe “from farm to plate.”

Long Live NAHSAG
Long Live Mother Ghana
Aluta Continua!!!
Signed

Amoakohene Frank
President

Cervical Cancer Awareness

Did you that CERVICAL CANCER is the leading cause of death among all gynaecological cancers in our part of the world?

Did you know that the incidence is on the ascendancy year in year out?

Did you know that with a simple non invasive test like the PAP SMEAR, it can be detected if a woman will develop the disease within the next decade making the disease very  much preventable?

The Federation of Ghana Medical Students' Association (FGMSA) is at it again, very intensive and much bigger this time round.

Let us all come together as we join hands to beat CERVICAL CANCER in our special project, OUR WOMEN MATTER HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM which is aimed at bringing education on CERVICAL CANCER to the doorstep of everyone.

With much focus on PRIMARY PREVENTION and EARLY DETECTION, we seek to reach evey corner of our country and elsewhere Africa with sound education on the unfortunate disease.

With our specially crafted activities, we wish to make an everlasting impact in the lives of our women and make our mark in the history books believing that with OUR WOMEN MATTER HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAM, we shall influence our society and by the next decade, statistics on CERVICAL CANCER shall never remain the same as we all come on board.

Let's stand for our women and their future
Let's stand for the future of our nation
All because OUR WOMEN MATTER.

Like our pages on social media
Facebook: Ourwomenmatter
Twitter:@Ourwomenmatter

Credit: The Federation of Ghana Medical Students' Association (FGMSA)

Health Benefits of Exercise

One of the Healthiest Things You Can Do

Like most people, you've probably heard that physical activity and exercise are good for you. In fact, being physically active on a regular basis is one of the healthiest things you can do for yourself. Studies have shown that exercise provides many health benefits and that older adults can gain a lot by staying physically active. Even moderate exercise and physical activity can improve the health of people who are frail or who have diseases that accompany aging.

Playing Volleyball Helps Me Stay Active

Video length: 2 min 51 sec 

Click to watch this video

Being physically active can also help you stay strong and fit enough to keep doing the things you like to do as you get older. Making exercise and physical activity a regular part of your life can improve your health and help you maintain your independence as you age.