Category: Medical

Mrs Emma Danso, the Executive Director of Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation, has reiterated that lupus is a public health concern that is yet to receive the support it deserves in Ghana.

Lupus is an inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues.

The Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation in a statement copied to Ghana News Agency to mark this year’s Lupus Day, May 10, said findings of a global survey on steroid use by lupus patients indicate that diabetes, heart disease, organ failure, osteoporosis, and vision impairment were some of the major side effects of steroid use by lupus patients.

Mrs Danso said the survey was conducted by the World Lupus Federation from February to March 2024 to 7,741 patients from about 108 countries including Ghana.

She said focusing on the extent and impacts of steroid use for the care of lupus, the results confirmed the urgent need for both awareness of steroid side effects and ongoing research for more treatments and, ultimately, a cure for lupus.

In an addre
ss to observe World Lupus Day which is celebrated on May 10 each year, Mrs Danso shared some of the responses of patients from the survey to buttress the need for more awareness and supportive policy on lupus in Ghana.

She said while 90 per cent of patients said that their lupus symptoms improved with steroid use, 95 per cent of respondents reported at least one side effect.

She noted that also, six in 10 respondents reported experiencing at least one major side effect of using steroids; this was also true for seven in 10 respondents taking steroids for more than five years.

She said a survey respondent stated, ‘I absolutely hate the side effects of taking steroids, but unfortunately, I don’t feel there’s a better option out there when a bad flare comes on.’

Mrs Danso said other side effects which stood out in the findings include weight gain, mood swings, appearance changes, insomnia, increased appetite, and hair loss.

‘It is a hard reality to admit that the very medication supposed to help correct the
debilitating handwriting of lupus on a patient can cause more and/or new problems as side effects. This dilemma was a huge personal challenge for years,’ she said.

She said the awareness was low, and that many people continue to endure health challenges undiagnosed.

‘The side effects of the steroids used by lupus patients can be complete diseases for other people,’ she stated.

‘For diagnosed patients also, lupus healthcare is very expensive. The easy option is to take steroids in addition to other options for treatment. Many lupus patients take steroids as part of their treatment even though the aim of lupus treatment is targeted towards elimination of steroid use.’

She said in Ghana, the minimum dosage of prednisolone, the common steroid prescribed for patients was 5mg.

She noted that this implies that even when a patient was in remission or doing well, the patient must be on a maintenance dose of 5mg daily; this was a high dose compared to developed countries where patients have access to lower doses.

T
he Executive Director appealed to the relevant authorities to make 1mg and 2mg prednisolone tablets available to patients in Ghana.

She explained that most patients who use steroids default in their treatment because of the fear of the potential side effects; declaring that however, until better and affordable options were available, lupus patients would continue to take steroids, a necessary evil.

She said lupus was a chronic autoimmune disease that causes a person’s immune system to fight its own healthy organs and tissues; and that its symptoms include fatigue, skin problems, oral or nasal ulcers, arthritis, serositis as well as other disorders involving the heart, kidney, lungs, and nervous system.

She mentioned that causes of lupus include stress, hormones, genes, infections, and taking some medications.

‘There is currently no cure for lupus, but it can be well managed if diagnosed early and appropriate treatment is adhered to. Lupus is an unpredictable disease that can attack anyone at any time and
hence awareness and supportive policies are critical,’ Mrs Danso said.

‘The impact of lupus transcends patients and their immediate families. It is, therefore, imperative that everyone becomes aware of lupus and the reality of autoimmunity in Ghana,’ she added.

Oyemam Autoimmune Foundation is a duly registered non-profit organization that?undertakes advocacy, education, awareness creation, counselling as well as fundraising to provide support services such as medical assistance to patients.

It is the hope of OYEMAM to inspire hope in patients as well as those impacted indirectly by autoimmune diseases, especially lupus.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Gifty Sarfo Annan, an Oncology Nurse Specialist at the Tamale Teaching Hospital has underscored the need for men to periodically undertake medical screening on breast cancer to know their status.

She said this would ensure early detection and treatment and reduce any medical complications associated with the disease.

Mrs Annan said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tamale on the sidelines of an event organised to sensitise and screen members of blind and deaf community of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) on breast cancer.

Mrs Annan said contrary to misconceptions that breast cancer could only be identified with women, it was critical for members of the public to know that the disease was on a rise among men.

She said ‘Breast cancer does not discriminate. Both men and women must show interest in screening to enhance early detection and treatment.’

She emphasised that ‘World Health Organization reports that about 0.5 to one per cent of men are likely to get breast
cancer, which means that if you take about one thousand men, one of them is likely to have breast cancer.’

The event was organised by Cancer Care for Humanity International, an NGO, which is committed to enhancing awareness creation on cervical and breast cancer.

It was also used to commemorate this year’s Mother’s Day.

Mrs Annan was worried that though the exercise was meant for both genders, men did not show up for the exercise because of the misconception about breast cancer.

She emphasised that the disease was treatable and encouraged both men and women to avoid self-medication and rather seek early medical attention.

Madam Abubakari Sahadatu Nimatu, Northern Regional President of GFD praised Cancer Care for Humanity International for the exercise, and expressed optimism that the knowledge gained would help minimise breast cancer cases amongst them.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Newmont Africa has donated medical equipment worth over GHS 129,000 to the Children’s Ward of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to enhance the quality of healthcare.

A statement issued by Newmont Africa said the equipment donated were a Mobile Portable Electric Suction Machine, a Promedic Pulse Oximeter, 10L, 40L, and 50L oxygen cylinders, and food warmers, among others.

It quoted the Head of Safety and Sustainability at Newmont’s Business Unit in Africa, Mr Ashley Armarego, to have said the gesture formed part of the company’s commitment to the safety and well-being of not just its workforce but the broader community.

‘It is also a result of our cross-functional collaboration, and I am happy that the company continues to make a difference in the lives of people through its operations.

‘I am proud of the team’s dedication to the well-being of the communities in which we operate,’ he said.

Armarego said safety was Newmont’s utmost priority and at the core of its operations and ‘it is on the back of this that
we extend this value beyond our walls into our host communities.’

‘Supporting the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital’s Children’s Ward is one of the many things that give Newmont’s purpose its essence’.

The statement said Dr Taiba Jibril Afaa, Acting Head of the Department for the children’s Ward, thanked Newmont for the gesture, adding it was timely and would significantly enhance the hospital’s capacity to offer quality treatment to the children in their care.

‘We want to express our sincere thanks to Newmont for their generous support during this time of oxygen shortage.

The items provided will be put to good use, and we look forward to building a strong relationship with Newmont in future,’ She added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Tamale North Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) has donated 50 pieces of bedsheets to the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).

The items, presented to Ward Three of the Internal Medicine Department of the hospital, were to address the shortage of bed sheets in the ward.

Mr Emmanuel Morna, President, Tamale North Chapter of FGBMFI, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency following the donation, stated that it was a mandate inspired by the fellowship’s Christian beliefs and principles drawn from the Bible.

He mentioned that one of their members, who worked at TTH, brought to their attention the shortage of bed sheets in the ward, which they considered important to address.

Dr Samuel Alomatu, Acting Head of Unit for Ward Three of Internal Medicine Department, who received the items on behalf of the hospital, expressed gratitude to the association for the gesture describing it as timely.

He said the ward had old, torn bed sheets, which were insufficient and required
replacement.

He indicated that ward three had a capacity of 64 beds, and the donated bed sheets could cover more than half of them.

Mr. Alomatu further noted that the ward lacked many other essential items that could enhance health delivery and appealed to the generosity of society to emulate this kind gesture.

Some other items he appealed for were glucometers, potable blood pressure checkers and ECG machines.

Madam Madina Mahamoud, Deputy Director, Internal Medicine at TTH, expressed concern over patients lying on beds without bedsheets when the available ones were being washed.

She indicated that the situation was not conducive for health delivery as it made patients uncomfortable, stating that providing bedsheets facilitated better care delivery as patients would be more comfortable on their beds

The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International is a non-denominational Christian fellowship aimed at inspiring its members to embody and share the teachings of the Gospel.

Source: Ghana News Agenc
y

Mr Isaac Mensah, a patient suffering from ‘hemiparesis of the upper extremities and paralysis of the lower extremities’ has appealed for support to help him undergo surgery.

Mr Mensah requires GHS57,830 to undergo the decompression of the cervical spine stabilisation at the Wenchi Methodist Hospital in the Bono Region.

Mrs Mary Mensah, the wife of the patient, made the appeal through the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Monday.

She said specialists needed the money urgently, and therefore appealed for support from churches, religious leaders, corporate bodies, and individuals, to help address the health challenges of her husband.

An enclosed letter signed by Emmanuel Denteh, the Head of Department, Orthopedic Ward, Wenchi Methodist Hospital and made available to the GNA said, ‘the patient has been reviewed to have a C5 fracture secondary to fall at work.’

The intended surgery is aimed at making him capable of sitting upright, to undertake physiotherapy and rehabilitation to improve body function.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Cancer Care for Humanity International, an NGO, has undertaken a sensitisation programme for persons living with disabilities (PwDs) in Tamale to commemorate this year’s Mother’s Day celebration.

The event, which brought together persons with visual and hearing impairment affiliated with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), was used to provide free breast cancer and other medical screening, as well as sensitisation on the causes, effects, and treatment of the diseases.

Mrs Gifty Sarfo Annan, an Oncology Nurse Specialist at Tamale Teaching Hospital and Chief Executive Officer of Cancer Care for Humanity International, said the event formed part of the organisation’s commitment towards enhancing awareness creation on cervical and breast cancers, and how to take precautionary measures to avoid its occurrence and spread.

She said over the years, PwDs among other vulnerable groups in the country had not been given adequate information on breast cancer and its related issues, which adversely a
ffected their health.

Mrs Annan said breast cancer was a major killer of women in the country, explaining that those who excessively consumed alcohol and those with late childbearing (first childbirth birth after 40 years), were among those at high risks of developing the disease.

‘Even, the fact that you are a woman and having breast also puts you at the high risks of getting breast cancer,’ she said.

Mrs Annan said breast cancer treatment was quite expensive, especially for PwDs and other vulnerable groups, and urged them to prioritise periodic screening and early treatment to avoid any medical complications.

She appealed to government to prioritise establishing a radiotherapy centre in the Northern Region to enable more women have access to breast cancer treatment in the area.

Mrs Abubakari Sahadatu Nimatu, the Northern Regional President of GFD, said the exercise was crucial and timely because most PwDs lacked sufficient information on the disease.

She said, ‘There are instances where our members co
uld not also access medical care at health facilities because of lack of sign language interpreters.’

She appealed to the government to increase the number of sign language interpreters at the various health facilities across the country to enhance inclusive health care delivery.

Madam Mohammed Latifa, who received her first ever breast cancer screening and sensitisation during the exercise, commended Cancer Care for Humanity International for the exercise and pledged to periodically screen her breast to be sure of her status.

A total of 41 women were sensitised and screened at the end of the exercise whilst two others, who were suspected of having breast lumps, were referred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for further examination and treatment.

Source: Ghana News Agency