Day: June 17, 2023

Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, the Group Chairman of the Asaase Broadcasting Company (ABC), has appealed to the Ghana Health Service and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to explore avenues to make kidney care services affordable for Ghanaians.

He said the cost of receiving dialysis was ‘mind-boggling’ and appealed to the health authorities to have a ‘serious look’ at the situation and support Ghanaians who could not afford treatment.

Mr Otchere-Darko made the appeal when the Asaase Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the ABC, distributed at least seven dialysis machines to selected health institutions at a ceremony in Accra, on Friday.

‘Receiving dialysis in a week is mind boggling if you get it here. Not many Ghanaians can survive the cost of it.

‘I plead with the State and in particularly the NHIA; I understand you have limited resources but is there any way we can stretch that to support, even subsidise the cost of receiving dialysis,’ Mr Otchere-Darko appealed.

The distribution of the machines, which formed part the Foundation’s Kidney Heath Campaign, also commemorated the three-year anniversary of the Asaase Radio.

The beneficiary hospitals are: the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Enchi Government Hospital, Sogakope District Hospital, Obuasi District Hospital, Volta Regional Hospital, Bono Regional Hospital, and the Upper East Regional Hospital.

Nenyi George Andah, the Chief Executive Officer, ABC, said the distribution of the machines formed part of the company’s commitment to support kidney care in needy and deprived communities.

‘The setting up of these dialysis machines shows our dedication to improve healthcare in marginalised communities, transform lives and build inclusive societies,’ he said.

Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, said the health insurance scheme currently did not cover chronic kidney cases.

It covers acute kidney disease (short-term due to injury) dialysis with a flat amount of about GHS900.00

He said the Authority would consider adding chronic (lifetime) 9cases to its benefit package if its resources improved.

It costs between GHS500 and GHS500 per one dialysis session.

Chronic patients need three sessions to flush out toxins and excess fluid in their blood.

The kidneys remove extra wastes and fluids from the body.

They also remove the acid produced by the cells in the body and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts and minerals in the blood.

Kidney diseases include simple kidney cysts, infection, kidney stones and polycystic kidney disease.

The main causes of chronic kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure.

It can also be a genetic condition, caused by repeated urinary tract infections, obstruction by tumors and kidney stones and enlarged prostate.

Certain drugs, infections and injuries are also known to result in acute kidney conditions.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Violence against women and girls is taking on a worrying and unacceptable scale in our society, and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has cried out. Since the beginning of the year, cases of maltreatment, rape, ritual crimes, murders, and killings targeting women and girls are said to have hit the headlines, causing shock, grief, and horror.

The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family, Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa in a press briefing on June 15, 2023, lamented the increasing number of murders and acts of violence perpetrated against women and girls in Cameroon.

The press briefing which took place in Yaounde, Center region of Cameroon was aimed at reiterating to all women and girls of the country, the determination of the government to put an end to the inhuman butchery.

According to Minister Marie-Thérèse Abena Ondoa, the Cameroonian government will continue to implement family and mental life education programs as well as positive parenting programs and accelerate the implementation of the National Strategy to combat Gender-Based violence.

“Under the very high impetus of the head of State, and the coordination of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, we intend to intensify the denunciation of perpetrators and set up structures for this purpose. We equally intend to promote the culture of peace, living together, and the rule of law,” she stated.

“Through me, the Government of Cameroon is taking this opportunity to rejoice over the happy outcome that would have led to the tragic disappearance of some thirty women abducted by separatists in the North West on May 20, 2023, and condemns this pernicious instrumentalization of women,” she continued.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Security elements in Yaounde, cntre region have opened investigation with the hope of apprehending a suspected kidnapper.

The suspect, Andela Fabrice is reportedly on the run with his friend’s daughter of just about three years old.

According to sources, the little girl’s father accommodated Fabrice in his home in Messassi where he was living with his two daughters. He went out Thursday June 15, 2023 and only to return the next day and discovered only elder daughter sleeping, while the younger one was no where to be found, including his friend Fabrice.

Unable to reach Fabrice, he reported to the police who have launched a manhunt to track down Fabrice, suspected to have kidnapped the little girl.

Source: Cameroon News Agency