The African youth and the HIV-AIDS pandemic

Soldiers in Burma survey the body of a woman who died if AIDS as part of their lessons on HIV-AIDS.

A female full blown AIDS patient at a hospital in Zambia.

A full blown AIDS man being assisted by family members at a village in Zambia.

An AIDS infected boy at home in Tanzania.

A man suffering from AIDS at a hospital in Tanzania.

Africa is the world’s youngest continent, as a proportion of youth among the regions total populations is higher than any other continent. In 2010, 70% of the region’s population was under the age of 15 to 24.

 The African youth is faced with serious educational, economic, cultural and social barriers. Above all, is the HIV-AIDS canker which for more than 20 years has eviscerated the continent, more especially our youth. HIV and AIDS remain the major causes of death and is the major issue of public health in the whole of sub Saharan-Africa. This is due to the fact that many African youth, especially those in the rural areas do not have adequate or no information concerning this disease.

Through this photograph, I want to sensitize the youth of Ghana about how deadly the disease is if victims developed the full blown versions of the disease and advocate for abstinence especially among the unmarried and sexually active youth and faithfulness between married persons for a disease which is said to have no cure.
images sources:
National geographic
www.photosensitive.com

HEALTH MATTERS-Natures natural gift:diastema

THE PLIGHT OF THE DEAF AND DUMP: A SLOW KILLER

Once upon a time, a woman who was dumps and was sent to the Adabraka polyclinic. unable to talk to the doctor about her ailment so, she decided to make use of the sign language which unfortunately the doctor could not understand.an interpreter was absent, which eventually led to the doctor prescribing the wrong medication as he was unable to decode the message the sick lady was communicating. This further worsened the already terrible situation the lady had found herself.

The scenario I have just illustrated above tells the sad situation of persons with disabilities more especially the deaf and dumb and what hell they have to endure every time they urgently need healthcare at health facilities nationwide.

As a responsible and concerned citizen of the republic of Ghana, I think it is high time our medical personnel’s received training in sign language and training in other programmes that will ensure that persons with various degrees of disabilities are given the necessary and proper medical care so that they will not have to struggle to receive healthcare that abled Ghanaians access.

This in my estimation is discrimination as chapter five: article 29, clause (6) clearly states:

“Every place to which the public have access shall have appropriate facilities for disabled persons”.

Some people, Mr.Editor may argue that rams have being built for the physically disabled and the blind are able to explain their predicament to the doctor when ill bur my question is this:

What about the deaf and dumb? Surely no provision is made for them as many medical personnel in this country cannot communicate with these persons.

I will like to use this media platform to appeal to our various medical institutions, Ghana Education Service and the teaching hospitals to include in their syllabus the sign language and other short courses that will empower the medical staff of Ghana to deliver excellent service to our brothers and sisters with hearing and speech disabilities. Thank you

Christiana Afua  Nyarko

Level 300

Ghana Institute of Journalism