Upper East Curbs Female Genital Mutilation

    

The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with the Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs), are to come out with strategies to curb Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) practiced in some parts of the Region. The Council said it would put in place measures to deter parents from sending their babies and daughters to neighbouring countries such as Burkina Faso and Togo to engage in the act. “The Assembly members of the various MDAs will be tasked to sensitize parents to stop this barbaric act. We cannot allow this in this 21st century,” the Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Syme, said. He said this when stakeholders including heads of department and Civil Society Organizations raised the concern at a regional mid-year cross sector review meeting organised by UNICEF and the UERCC in Bolgatanga on Tuesday. The participants said FGM was common in the Pusiga District, Bawku Municipal, the Bawku West and the Kessena-Nankana West districts which share borders with Togo and Burkina Faso, as parents often cross with their babies and daughters to have their genital organs mutilated. Dr Syme said it was a crime under the laws of Ghana to engage in such negative cultural practices and that parents who would be found indulging in it and their accomplices would not be spared when caught. The participants suggested examination of children at health facilities to know whether they had been taken through FGM as part of measures to halt it. They also suggested that teachers should constantly check girls’ attendance at school because some parents take their daughters out of school to be genitally mutilated. Ms Clara Dube, Chief Field Officer of UNICEF at the Tamale office, expressed worry about parents in the Region who give out their daughters for early marriages and said statistics showed that 39 per cent of females in the Upper East Region were given out for marriage before age 18 years. She said one of the major causes of complication in child birth could be attributed to early marriages and appealed to parents not to endanger the lives of their daughters by giving them out for marriage before 18 years. Ms Rubby Anang, Chief Field Officer of UNICEF in charge of Child Protection Network, appealed to stakeholders particularly members of the Upper East Child Protection Network to sensitize parents on their roles and responsibilities in the upbringing of their children.

Source: GNA

Ghana To Gain US$500million From Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)

Ghana is likely to access approximately US$500million from the second phase of the Millennium Challenge Account compact by the middle of 2014.
 

Out-going Country Director of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), Katrina Ntep, told journalists in Accra that discussions on the compact are currently ongoing and she hopes the programme will be very well-formed by the end of this year to pave the way for the signing and official launch by mid-2014.

The second phase of the compact, will finance the country’s irregular and insufficient power supply. The grant will be targetted at enhancing the distribution system, effecting institutional changes and creating a Power Park to boost energy consumption said Ms. Ntep.

“The country needs to improve the distribution system and make institutional changes at all stages within the power sector. Everybody is familiar with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)’s performance. I think something can be done to support and incentivise institutional changes to improve business processes and reduce losses from lack of collection -- or there can be systems to identify theft more easily.”

She said Ghana is one of two countries that have been eligible for the grant since 2004 on a continuous basis, and the country’s performance and indicators continue to be strong.

“I know that there are challenges at the national level, but when you compare Ghana’s performance to other countries’ performances, Ghana is very strong,” she said.

In November, Government submitted a concept-paper proposal to the Board of Directors of the MCC to support power generation and distribution in the country.

Ms. Ntep said, currently, a team of US technical experts are engaging with Government and finalising plans for the second phase.

She observed that the power sector is a high-risk area, and that the MCC is interested in investing into high-risk ventures with high rewards -- as in the case of the power sector, because it impacts all sectors of the economy and more Ghanaians are expected to benefit.

Ghana’s demand for power is growing at around 10 percent per annum, spurred by robust economic growth and rising consumption. 

Healthy guidelines for People Suffering from Peptic Ulcer Diseases(PUD)

Peptic ulcers also known as Peptic ulcer diseases (PUD) or Stomach ulcer ,  are located in the stomach and the duodenum, can occur at any age and affect both men and women. Untreated, sufferers can look forward to a long blockade with them.

But today's peptic ulcer sufferers have a brighter prospect for relief than did those of even a single generation ago. There is now less than 1 chance in 18 that surgery will ever be necessary and new medications act faster and better and offer more relief than ever before.

 Ulcer is an open sore, often infected. It is believed to have occurred due to an infection by a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

 This sore is in the stomach or the duodenum, (the first part of the intestine leading from the stomach) the part of the intestines which connects with the stomach.

Signs & symptoms
The warning sign of active ulcers you will most likely experience (if you get any warning at all) is a gnawing discomfort in the middle or upper abdomen that typically comes between meals or in the middle of the night.

Food or liquids, including antacids and milk, can provide some temporary relief, but milk might not be all that good a remedy since it stimulates production of hydrochloric acid and other digestive juices which further aggravates the pain.

The most common symptom of ulcers is an intense burning sensation below the breastbone, which is typically felt between 1-3 hours after meals. The pain can be intense enough to cause its' victim to awaken during the night with an excruciating internal burning sensation. It could cause headaches, nausea and/or vomiting.

Often severe heartburn in evident. It's possible that a Peptic Ulcer could develop symptoms such as dark tar-like stools or spitting up blood.

These advanced symptoms may be indicative of gastro-intestinal bleeding and should be immediately addressed by your doctor. Bleeding ulcers are potentially life-threatening and are to be considered a medical emergency.

• Constant pain in the abdomen - which mainly is a duodenal symptom. This pain occurs within one or two hours after meals and also when the stomach is empty. This pain lasts for several minutes or hours and you can get relief by eating or having any antacid medicines.

• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and losing weight in the same process is another sign.

Proper nutrition for gastritis and peptic ulcers – less is more!

In our fast paced world, we pay less and less attention to good nutrition and getting in the right amount of vitamins and trace elements (due to the growing fast food mentality and a wealth of ready-to-eat items in the supermarket).

If you add nicotine (smoking) and excessive alcohol consumption to the mix, and throw in some consistent and unresolved stress, an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract is not at all surprising. A weakened immune system is often not up to the task of fighting off the bacteria which can then find an ideal environment in the digestive system and cause gastritis and ulcers.

Nutritional advice for people suffering from gastritis or ulcers of the digestive tract

To prevent and treat gastritis and peptic ulcers, a light and wholesome diet is best. This differs from a normally wholesome and balanced diet in that some foods and drinks which may strain the digestive system are left out.

Beverages to be avoided if you have gastritis or peptic ulcers
alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks like mineral water or colas, lemonade and any drinks served very cold.

Foods to be avoided if you have gastritis or peptic ulcers

Milk products
A proper diet for the treatment of gastritis or ulcers should not include whole milk, cream or sour cream with a fat content of over 20% as well as any fermented milk products. In addition you should avoid high-fat cheeses (over 45%) and blue cheese (ripened) varieties such as Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Camembert.

Meats
For those who suffer with gastritis or peptic ulcers (and anyone who wants to be more healthy) fatty, smoked or cured meats should be left out of the diet. Additionally spicy roasted meats, meats prepared along with bacon, naturally high-fat meats like goose or duck, and higher-fat animal parts in general (e.g. skin) as well as any type of sausage should all be avoided.

Fish
Types of fish like eel, herring and salmon as well as smoked fish of any sort, dried or otherwise preserved fish or fish products should not be consumed if you have gastritis or peptic ulcers.

Fruits and Nuts
Good nutrition for gastritis and ulcer sufferers does not include unripe fruit, raw drupes (i.e. fruits with a pit like cherries and plums), nuts of any kind as well as almonds and pistachios and avocados.

Likewise candy, sweets and sugar in general should not be part of your diet if you have gastritis and/or an ulcer as well as spices, especially those which have been dried or are in powdered form.

Potatoes and vegetables
Avoid any potato dishes which have been prepared using oil, including chips (French fries, pommes frites, wedges, etc.) and crisps (i.e. potato chips) if you have gastritis or an ulcer (and in general).

Also potato salad containing bacon, mayonnaise or excessive oil should not be part of your diet. There are also several types of vegetable which are difficult to digest: cabbage, leeks, onions, mushrooms, peppers, olives, pickles, cucumber, horseradish and beans. These should be left out of your diet, as well as any vegetable salads which have mayonnaise or other sauces which are high in fat.

Bread and baked goods
Eliminate fresh bread and baked goods as well as coarse whole grain bread, fresh pastries, high-fat baked goods like éclairs and doughnuts from the diet if you currently have gastritis or ulcers (as well as after the symptoms have subsided).

peptic ulcers
All fats foods should be avoid (including high-fat soups or sauces) both during and after your gastritis/ulcer treatment. Hard-cooked eggs and any other high-fat food which contains eggs (such as mayonnaise) should not be part of your diet. Don't eat roasted, fried or grilled foods and avoid foods which were prepared using bacon or onion.

What you can and should eat and drink during and after treating gastritis and/or a peptic ulcer

If you suffer with gastritis, it's a good idea to eat foods that you can tolerate; i.e. foods and drinks which do not lead to diarrhoea, the build-up of uncomfortable gas, abdominal pain or nausea. You should also avoid foods that cause you to feel too full or cause heartburn (pyrosis).

This includes light wholesome foods which are low in fat, mild in taste, lean and properly prepared. Dairy products such as yoghurt are effective against gastritis as they inhibit the reproduction of the H. pylori bacteria. There's no need to limit your intake of quality bread and baked goods if you suffer from gastritis.

Easily digestible vegetables such as carrots, fennel, turnips, cauliflower, green peas, beans, tomatoes, zucchini and green leafy salad. For seasoning you should try to include freshly dried spices, mild vinegar (e.g. balsamic), lemon juice and a little salt. Jams, marmalades and honey are the best sweeteners.

If you have sweet tooth and suffer from gastritis, it's best to avoid refined baked goods and stick with whole-grain or fruit cakes (without whipped toppings or frosting) and cookies. For the preparation of your food we recommend boiling, steaming or baking in foil. Use a ceramic saucepan or a coated non-stick pan or saucepan. The oven or microwave are both suitable depending on the container you're using, but remember to avoid using fats.

The optimal drinks include any sort of tea, mild coffee, grain coffee, mineral water without gas, vegetable juices as well as diluted fruit juices.

Please keep in mind that a more wholesome diet such as the one outlined above does not have a direct therapeutic effect in the treatment of gastritis or ulcers, rather it is more tolerable for the digestive system and so easier to metabolise.

In addition, food sensitivities can vary greatly from person to person. Initially when you adopt such a new diet, you may suffer with a bit of gas or other digestive problems. We advise that you consult your physician and/or a qualified nutritionist. It's also very important to remember that a reduction in stress as well as a balanced lifestyle which includes some physical activity are essential in the treatment of such disorders of the digestive system.

Five important diet tips for gastritis / peptic ulcer sufferers

1. Eat several small meals rather than a few large meals.

2. Try to take your time when you eat – don't rush!

3. Chew thoroughly.

4. Avoid eating foods that are either too hot or too cold.

5. Regularly take s vitamin supplement, in particular vitamin B12, and detoxify the digestive system. In addition, fasting (e.g. juice fasting) can be beneficial for the body as natural vitamins and minerals can better be absorbed without the strain placed on the stomach by carbohydrates.

Many educated women today will frown on the idea that “A woman’s place or office is the kitchen”.  In fact, there have been vigorous campaigns aimed at erasing that notion to replace it with one that says: “what a man can do a woman can do even better”.

 The world’s attention is drawn to equality for the male and female child, and in fact many support the need for affirmative action in favour of women’s development since gender activists believe women are mostly disadvantaged in many areas.

     

 However, biologically, men and women are different; women menstruate, give birth, breastfeed and are naturally skewed toward taking care of children emotionally.

      

 These biological roles that women have tend to limit them in one way or another -- hence the need for affirmative action.

    

Affirmative action can also be referred to as positive discrimination, and means a policy or a law that favours a section of the population.

     

 In Ghana, one thing that limits women in terms of progress in their career is childbirth. When a woman gives birth she needs rest; and she needs to breastfeed the child exclusively for six months.

    

 Perhaps that is why the Ghana Medical Association is advocating a six-month maternity leave for women.

   

Members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) in November last year called for the review of labour laws to grant mothers six months of maternity leave, and the mandatory establishment of nurseries in all public and private institutions.

    

They said exclusive breastfeeding among all working nursing mothers must be encouraged, and health facilities in the country be made to ensure they are baby-friendly.

     

The above concerns were in a communiqué the GMA issued and was signed by the GMA President Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei and General Secretary Dr. Frank Serebour at the end of the 54th annual general conference of the Association held in Cape Coast.

   

 The communiqué noted that given the proven benefits of six months of exclusive breastfeeding to new-borns, the GMA calls for an increase in the current three-month maternity leave to six months -- stressing that it is especially relevant as some mothers are asked to start their maternity leave six weeks prior to delivery.

     

In Ghana, most institutions now give a three-month maternity leave -- after which mothers apply for their annual leave, and that pushes them to about four-and-a–half months.

     

Many organisations may argue that they cannot be paying someone for a whole six months when the person is actually “not working”: in fact, some private institutions tend to sack female workers once they start giving birth.

     

 The argument is, at that point in the female’s life, they are not productive commercially -- so which money should be used to pay them?

       

However, the big question that we have to ask ourselves as a country is whether we are projecting into the future at all. “They young shall grow,” was an answer a friend gave me when discussing this issue.

   

 Do we see the new-borns as a human resource for the country? Would it not be better if mothers had the time to nurture their young ones and invest in their brain-development, which would eventually ensure good human resource development for the country?

       

 A politician once remarked that a good source of investment for any country is to invest in its human resource development, because at the end of the day -- no matter the level of the economy, no matter the infrastructure -- it is the human beings that make a nation.

     

The GMA also advocates a mandatory establishment of nurseries in organisations to allow nursing mothers to breastfeed infants during their breastfeeding breaks. It sounds like a dream: breastfeeding breaks?

     

 One may argue that there are day-care centres springing up all over the place and these days they even admit three-months olds; that is true, but there are also horrifying stories associated with that development.

    

 A couple shared their experience of how before they sent little Akua to school she was active, cried a lot, fed well and was a really happy baby -- and how little Akua changed to be dull, not feed well and was sick almost all the time.

     

 According to the couple, they found out that Akua was given a sedative at the day-care centre every day to keep her calm: horrifying indeed!

      

Some even share stories of house-helps giving their children alcohol to put them to sleep so that they “can be free”.  Oh, where is our conscience as a nation? What have these little ones done to deserve such maltreatment? Are we thinking of human resource development? Indeed, the young shall grow. 

    

 The Ghana Medical Association said -- given the current under-five mortality rate of 80 deaths per 1,000 live births and the country’s target of 40 deaths per 1000 lives by 2015 -- it is imperative for all stakeholders, policymakers, managers, development partners and health professionals to rededicate themselves to improve care for children under five; adding that the improved care must span the entire continuum of care, from conception through delivery and post-period to the fifth year of life.

     

 Where are the women activists? Where are the female parliamentarians? Is Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, watching? What about our dear First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama? Can’t we have laws that ensurethat women have at least six months maternity leave and also see to the establishment of nurseries in all workplaces?

    

 Are women their own enemies? Because sometimes it is the female bosses who say “I went through the same bitter experience and so my fellow-female must also do same”.

     

Yesi Jones, a Ghanaian living in Canada said: “In Canada, no one will admit a six-month old baby to school”. She said mothers are given a whole year of maternity leave, with pay.

    

 She further explains that in Canada the safety, health and security of a baby is key, and no one would dare want to give a female employee only six months of maternity leave; it would be criminal, she stressed.

    

 In Ghana 40% of under-five deaths and 60% of infant deaths happen in the neonatal age group, and the GMA is saying that it is important for all stakeholders to pay more attention to new-borns that are dying primarily from neonatal sepsis, prematurity and asphyxia.

  

The Medical Association therefore advised doctors to take a more proactive leadership role, whether as clinicians or as public health physicians, to improve under-five care and to generate innovative and cost-effective change ideas.

       

 This writer believes giving our babies a good start in life goes a long way to affect their personalities in adulthood.  Perhaps we have to conclude that granting reasonable maternity leave to mothers and human resource development are two sides of the same coin.

source: B&FT

GM Receives Most Initial Quality Awards Among Automakers

General Motors built on a strong performance in last year's J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study, placing about 50 percent of its vehicles in the top three of their respective segments with a company-best eight segment awards.

GMC ranked second overall in initial quality, climbing 10 spots, and was the top-ranked non-premium brand.

Chevrolet also jumped 10 spots and ranked fifth overall and second among non-premium brands. Together with Buick and Cadillac, all GM brands performed better than the industry average of 113 problems per 100 vehicles.  

In addition, GM was awarded the Silver Plant Assembly Line Quality Award for its Oshawa, Ontario, plant where the Chevrolet Equinox and Impala are built.

GM swept the Large Heavy Duty Pickup segment (Chevrolet Silverado HD, GMC Sierra HD) and Large Light Duty Pickup segment (GMC Sierra LD, Chevrolet Avalanche and Chevrolet Silverado LD.)

“Nothing energizes us more than receiving the verification of quality from our customers,” said Alicia Boler-Davis, vice president Global Quality and U.S. Customer Experience.

 “The overall ownership experience of the people who buy our cars and trucks is founded on providing vehicles with innovative technologies, while ensuring highest levels of initial and long-term quality and services they can rely on.”

General Motors received eight segment award recipients with a total 15 models in top three of their segments

Brand Highlights

Chevrolet , leads all nameplates with five segment awards and the Recipients are:

 Camaro – Midsize Sporty Car,  Impala  -  Large Car, Tahoe – Large CUV,  Silverado HD – Large Heavy-Duty Pickup,  Avalanche – Large Light-Duty Pickup
                                                                                                                                                                                    Segment Top 3
 Spark – Ranked Second  - City Car,  Equinox – Ranked Third – Compact CUV, Silverado LD – Ranked Third – Large Light-Duty Pickup

Cadillac
Escalade – Segment Award Recipient - Large Premium CUV, CTS – Ranked Third – Compact Premium Car

Buick                                                                                                                                                         Encore – Segment Award Recipient – Sub-Compact CUV, Enclave – Ranked Second – Midsize CUV and Regal – Ranked Third – Midsize Car

GMC
Sierra LD – Segment Award Recipient - Large Light-Duty Pickup, Sierra HD – Ranked Second – Large Heavy-Duty Pickup

The 2013 IQS is based on responses from more than 80,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2013 model year vehicles surveyed at 90 days of ownership. 

The study was redesigned for 2013 and provides manufacturers with information they can use to quickly identify problems and drive improvement.