Article: Salome Donkor
GHANA will join the global community to mark the first World Malaria Day (WMD) tomorrow, April 25. The theme for the 2008 WMD is “Malaria - A Disease Without Borders”, and the slogan is: “Unite to Combat Malaria”.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that malaria continues to haunt 40 per cent of the world's population and affects more than 500 million people a year, killing more than 1 million.
The burden of malaria is heaviest in sub-Saharan Africa but the disease also afflicts Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and even parts of Europe.
The World Malaria Day - which was instituted by the World Health Assembly at its 60th Session in May 2007 - is a day for recognising the global effort at providing effective control to malaria.
It is also an opportunity for countries in the affected regions to learn from each other's experiences, support each other's efforts and encourage new donors to join a global partnership against malaria.
It is also for research and academic institutions to flag their scientific advances to both experts and the general public; and for international partners, companies and foundations to showcase their efforts and reflect on how to scale up what has worked out.
Before the institution of the WMD last year, African heads of state have signed a declaration at Abuja, Nigeria in April 2000 calling for at least one billion US dollars a year to be made available to the Roll Back Malaria movement in Africa to help achieve its aims of reducing malaria deaths by half at the end of the decade.
Known as the Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in Africa, the initiative taken in accordance with the Millennium Development Goals, culminated in the celebration of Africa Malaria Day, which prevailed until the WHO instituted WMD at its 60th Session in May last year.
Malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases and an enormous public health problem.
The free encyclopaedia says each year, malaria affects approximately 515 million people and kills between one and three million people, the majority of whom are young children in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for about one in five of all childhood deaths.
It also contributes greatly to anaemia among children which is the major cause of their poor growth and development.
Malaria infection during pregnancy is associated with severe anaemia and other illness in the mother and contributes to low birth weight among new-born infants — one of the leading risk factors for infant mortality and sub-optimal growth and development.
Malaria parasites are transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. The parasites multiply in red blood cells, causing symptoms of anaemia (light headedness, shortness of breath, etc.), as well as other general symptoms such as fever, chills, nausea, flu-like illness, and in severe cases, coma and death.
Malaria is both preventable and treatable, while effective preventive and curative tools have been developed. The transmission of the disease can be reduced by preventing mosquito bites with the use of mosquito nets and insect repellents, or by mosquito control measures such as spraying insecticides inside houses and draining standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
Sleeping under insecticide treated nets can reduce overall child mortality by 20 per cent. There is evidence that insecticide treated nets (ITNs), when consistently and correctly used, can save six child lives per year for every one thousand children sleeping under them.
Unfortunately, many children, especially in Africa, continue to die from malaria since they do not sleep under insecticide-treated nets and are unable to access life-saving treatment within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.
According to the Ministry of Health (MOH), between 3-3.5 million cases of malaria were reported in Ghana each year. The disease accounts for more than 61 per cent of hospital admissions of children under five years, and 8 per cent of admissions of pregnant women.
In support of the national malaria prevention programmes the United States Government announced in December 2006, that Ghana had been selected as one of the eight countries to benefit from an initiative to rapidly scale up malaria prevention and treatment interventions in countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease was most prevalent under a five-year, $1.2 billion project.
The most up-to-date information on nation-wide coverage of key malaria prevention and control
measures in Ghana comes from a Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, conducted from August to early October 2006, which indicates that approximately 30 per cent of households reportedly own at least one bed net (of any type) while almost 19 per cent reportedly own one or more insecticide-treated nets (ITN).
In order to extend the reach of malaria interventions to the community level, the President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) was instituted to reduce malaria mortality by 50 per cent in vulnerable groups, namely pregnant women, children under five years of age, and people living with HIV/AIDS.
This will be accomplished by achieving 85 per cent coverage of groups at risk with four key interventions which are the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) for malaria in pregnancy, use of ITNs, and indoor spraying with residual insecticides (IRS).
To mark the Day, the MOH will hold a one-day seminar for media practitioners in Accra to sensitise them to malaria control and prevention programmes.
The African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN), which is a network of African journalists and scientists working together to fight malaria in Africa is organising a four-day workshop to commemorate the day.
On this year's World Malaria Day, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership - which includes WHO - will focus on malaria as a global health problem and partners will engage the international community in their fight against malaria.
Another goal of the PMI is to strengthen and improve the capacity of indigenous non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to undertake malaria prevention and control activities under the leadership of the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP).
As depicted in the theme for this year’s celebration, malaria is a disease without borders and all are at risk, especially pregnant women and children under five.
We all need to unite to combat malaria through the use of locally appropriate vector control methods such as the use of ITNs, and, where appropriate, indoor residual spraying (IRS) and, in some settings, other biological and environmental measures, such as the maintenance of clean surroundings to drive away mosquitoes.
The organisers of the first World Malaria Day have launched an internet campaign in a bid to get as many people as possible to involve themselves in the event on April 25 at the Roll Back Malaria's website, where they can find out what events are taking place.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Register with NHIS to avoid
Story: Salome Donkor
THE reported cases of some women who are detained in hospitals for the non-payment of their bills after they have been delivered of their babies are really pathetic.
Depending on their conditions, some of them are detained for their inability to pay maternity bills of between GH¢40 and GH¢50.
Some people, however, think that there should be no tears for such women because they needed to plan adequately towards their pregnancy and delivery and that it is those who do not who find themselves in such a mess.
Those who differ from this line of argument contend that irresponsibility on the part of some men who refuse to take care of women after impregnating them is a contributory factor to the problem.
Recently, a Ghana News Agency report said a senior staff midwife at the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast, Miss Mary Koomson, appealed to husbands to pay the maternity bills of their wives after the women had been delivered of their babies.
She was quoted to have said in an interview that most often some mothers were detained for long periods in the hospital after delivery because they did not have money to pay their bills.
She said it was sad to see women who had been delivered of their babies on admission at the hospital but no sign of their husbands visiting them to check on the state of health of the mothers and their children.
The situation at the Central Regional Hospital may just be a tip of the iceberg. During a recent visit to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua as part of her visit to media houses in the New Juaben municipality, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, was reported to have offered to pay the medical bills of nine women who were being kept at the hospital following their inability to foot their medical bills after they had been delivered of their babies.
Although the effort of the minister is laudable, it is equally intriguing considering the fact that the women would have continued to be in ‘detention’ if the Honourable minister had not visited the hospital. What also happens to other women who find themselves in similar conditions in other health institutions in other parts of the country, who may not be saved by a Good Samaritan?.
One may ask about the whereabouts of the husbands of those women or the men who impregnated them and whether they have not registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The situation is really pathetic, because the wish of every mother, after a safe delivery, is to be at home with her child by her side to continue with post-natal care and also being taken care of by an elderly woman, not being “detained” in hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the issue, a social worker, Ms Constance Yeboah, advised women to register with the NHIS to guarantee them health care and save them during emergency situations.
She also advised women to engage in income-generating activities to support the upkeep of their families and not to depend solely on other people, whether they were their husbands or family members, stressing that it was always better for women to be empowered economically.
Ms Yeboah said women needed to take very good care of themselves when they were pregnant and visit antenatal clinics regularly. They also needed to take the medications prescribed for them by doctors and also eat nutritious food to have a safe delivery.
She advised unemployed women, teenage girls, street girls, as well as women who were engaged in menial jobs which earned them very low incomes, to take very good care of themselves and desist from pre-marital sex in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies and their social implications. She said in worst situations, they should use condoms.
Ms Yeboah said apart from the likelihood that the children brought forth by such women might end up on the streets to compound the country’s socio-economic problems, the growth and development of such women might also be affected and their lives disorganised.
When contacted, Mr Dela Ashiagbor, officer in-charge of the Social Welfare of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service said women who report to their office with such problems are advised to register with the NHIS.
He, however said, it is unfortunate that most of them do not know the processes to go through to get registered under the scheme or where to go for the registrations.
He said, such people are therefore counselled and directed to the NHIS offices. He also said the Social Welfare Department and DOVVSU will intensify education on the NHIS at the markets and other public places to get more people well-informed about the scheme.
THE reported cases of some women who are detained in hospitals for the non-payment of their bills after they have been delivered of their babies are really pathetic.
Depending on their conditions, some of them are detained for their inability to pay maternity bills of between GH¢40 and GH¢50.
Some people, however, think that there should be no tears for such women because they needed to plan adequately towards their pregnancy and delivery and that it is those who do not who find themselves in such a mess.
Those who differ from this line of argument contend that irresponsibility on the part of some men who refuse to take care of women after impregnating them is a contributory factor to the problem.
Recently, a Ghana News Agency report said a senior staff midwife at the Central Regional Hospital in Cape Coast, Miss Mary Koomson, appealed to husbands to pay the maternity bills of their wives after the women had been delivered of their babies.
She was quoted to have said in an interview that most often some mothers were detained for long periods in the hospital after delivery because they did not have money to pay their bills.
She said it was sad to see women who had been delivered of their babies on admission at the hospital but no sign of their husbands visiting them to check on the state of health of the mothers and their children.
The situation at the Central Regional Hospital may just be a tip of the iceberg. During a recent visit to the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua as part of her visit to media houses in the New Juaben municipality, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mrs Oboshie Sai Cofie, was reported to have offered to pay the medical bills of nine women who were being kept at the hospital following their inability to foot their medical bills after they had been delivered of their babies.
Although the effort of the minister is laudable, it is equally intriguing considering the fact that the women would have continued to be in ‘detention’ if the Honourable minister had not visited the hospital. What also happens to other women who find themselves in similar conditions in other health institutions in other parts of the country, who may not be saved by a Good Samaritan?.
One may ask about the whereabouts of the husbands of those women or the men who impregnated them and whether they have not registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The situation is really pathetic, because the wish of every mother, after a safe delivery, is to be at home with her child by her side to continue with post-natal care and also being taken care of by an elderly woman, not being “detained” in hospital.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the issue, a social worker, Ms Constance Yeboah, advised women to register with the NHIS to guarantee them health care and save them during emergency situations.
She also advised women to engage in income-generating activities to support the upkeep of their families and not to depend solely on other people, whether they were their husbands or family members, stressing that it was always better for women to be empowered economically.
Ms Yeboah said women needed to take very good care of themselves when they were pregnant and visit antenatal clinics regularly. They also needed to take the medications prescribed for them by doctors and also eat nutritious food to have a safe delivery.
She advised unemployed women, teenage girls, street girls, as well as women who were engaged in menial jobs which earned them very low incomes, to take very good care of themselves and desist from pre-marital sex in order to avoid unwanted pregnancies and their social implications. She said in worst situations, they should use condoms.
Ms Yeboah said apart from the likelihood that the children brought forth by such women might end up on the streets to compound the country’s socio-economic problems, the growth and development of such women might also be affected and their lives disorganised.
When contacted, Mr Dela Ashiagbor, officer in-charge of the Social Welfare of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service said women who report to their office with such problems are advised to register with the NHIS.
He, however said, it is unfortunate that most of them do not know the processes to go through to get registered under the scheme or where to go for the registrations.
He said, such people are therefore counselled and directed to the NHIS offices. He also said the Social Welfare Department and DOVVSU will intensify education on the NHIS at the markets and other public places to get more people well-informed about the scheme.
Monday, April 14, 2008
The female running mate debate
04/12/08
The female running mate debate
What are the plans of other parties?
Asks Salome Donkor
The dream of most gender activists and women groups is to see a woman occupy the seat of Vice-President and even become President of Ghana in the near future. After all, next door, Liberia has shown the way by electing Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as the first female President for that country.
This might have generated the most prominent debate in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the last few weeks, in support of a female running mate for the country’s general election in December.
The names of Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, the Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London; Mr John Dramani Mahama, Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi; Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, running mate for the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta-Mills in the 2004 general election, and Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader and MP for Nadowli, cropped up among the list of people who were tipped to be selected.
Gender advocates, women groups and the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman, lent their support to this idea and pushed for Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, wife of Mahama Iddrisu, who is currently based in the Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom.
To demonstrate their support for Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, a number of NDC women marched to the campaign office of Prof. Atta-Mills in Accra to present a statement in support of Mrs Mould-Iddrisu.
A Daily Graphic publication on Tuesday, April 1, 2008, indicating that after months of speculation, the lot had finally settled on Mr Mahama as the running mate of Prof. Mills sparked intense debate and controversy.
The heat surrounding these speculations were put to rest on Wednesday, April 9 when Prof. Atta-Mills announced at a press conference in Accra that Mr Mahama had been selected for the position. That announcement also permanently settled the issue of the choice of a woman to partner him for the forthcoming elections.
In the ensuing debate, people looked at the major criteria for the selection of a running mate and whether Ghana was ready to have a woman as vice-president.
While some political analysts argued that the selection of a vice-president should be based on outspokenness, unique qualities, and the person’s ability to draw votes, in addition to going by a political party's procedures for the selection of a running mate, they also added that it was equally important to look at the person’s commitment to the party and ability to win votes for the party, in addition to ethnic and religious considerations.
A writer in the February 23, 2008 edition of the Spectator, said after much searching, she was proposing two names: Mrs Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, a Member of the Council of State and former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and Madam Joyce Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
The writer said the two women had proved by their respective track records in public and private endeavours that they are endowed with managerial and technical competence, spiritual wisdom, charisma and eloquence and, therefore, should be considered as running mates by political parties.
The Vice-President of Ghana is the second highest executive official in the Ghanaian Government.
Article 60 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states, “There shall be a Vice-President of Ghana who shall perform such functions as may be assigned to him by this Constitution or by the President”. Clause (6) of the same article also states that “Whenever the President dies, resigns or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall assume office as President for the unexpired term of office of the President with effect from the date of the death, resignation or removal of the President”.
Furthermore, Article 60 (8) states that “Whenever the President is absent from Ghana or is for any other reason unable to perform the functions of his office, the Vice-President shall perform the functions of the President until the President returns or is able to perform his functions”.
These functions of the Vice-President spelt out in the constitution definitely places an onerous responsibility on him/her, since at a point in time, he/she can act as the President and must be a good and supportive complement to the President and be prepared to assume the Presidency if the President should become incapacitated.
Although in the USA the Vice-President is not necessarily the second most powerful person in his/her government and neither is the Deputy Prime Minister in Britain, Ghana’s vice-presidency is a very powerful office since the Vice-President performs the role of the President in his absence.
Never in the history of Ghana’s democratic development has the issue of the consideration of a woman as a running mate attracted so much attention from gender activists and women advocacy groups.
This new development follows the twist to Ghanaian women’s support to the campaign to mount pressure on political parties to select a woman as their running mate for the forthcoming elections.
The contribution of women to Ghanaian politics after independence became more prominent and resulted in the introduction of the Representation of the People (Women Members) Bill in 1960, which was passed and received the Governor-General’s assent on June 16, 1960.
It was, therefore, not surprising that the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) gave credit to women by electing 10 female MPs that same year.
Other people, however, contend that the country is not ready to have a woman as a Vice-President and that the selection of a woman for that position will not favour any party because of the patriarchal nature of the Ghanaian society, which has relegated women to the background.
Some are of the view that contrary to what gender activists are saying, Ghanaian women are not perturbed about one of them becoming Vice-President.
When asked to react to the perception that Ghana was not ready to have a woman as a Vice-President since the country’s traditional and cultural norms have downplayed the role of women in decision making, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said women were equally qualified and capable to serve in the highest office of the land, adding that “It is time we break away from this perception and move beyond what society says”.
Speaking in a telephone interview, she described the fact that her name came up for consideration during the NDC’s search for a running mate for the flag bearer as a fantastic opportunity and indicated that she was encouraged by her family, the NDC and gender activists who believed in her capability to champion the cause of women.
She agreed that women were constrained financially and were at a disadvantaged position when it came to the issue of funds since they contributed immensely to support the family.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, who has been Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat since November 2003, has a vast experience from the Ghanaian Ministry of Justice in administering various facets of intellectual property law, international law, human rights and gender in Ghana and Africa.
She said the country had to move a step further and support women to come up and urged women’s groups and gender advocates to support more women to participate in competitive elections and also occupy decision-making positions, stressing that “The fact that somebody belongs to party ‘A’ or ‘B’, should not be an issue”.
According to Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, although she was not selected as a running mate to the NDC flag bearer, the current situation had strengthened her and she would not relent in her effort to aspire to such positions in future.
She offered her support and encouragement to Mr Mahama on his selection and pledged her unflinching support to Prof. Mills and the party in the contest to win this year’s presidential and general election.
Prof. Mills has given the indication that even if he does not select a women as his running mate he intends to reserve 40 per cent of his cabinet for women, in case he wins the December polls, because he agrees that some women are also competent.
The manifestoes of the, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) also contain elaborate provisions on the vision for women and commitment to ensure equitable representation of both men and women in all areas of national endeavours.
Are these parties going to go the extra mile in make the fight in support of women empowerment more practical and realistic? The fight is definitely not easy, especially in political circles, but Ghanaian women must always muster courage and surge forward.
The female running mate debate
What are the plans of other parties?
Asks Salome Donkor
The dream of most gender activists and women groups is to see a woman occupy the seat of Vice-President and even become President of Ghana in the near future. After all, next door, Liberia has shown the way by electing Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as the first female President for that country.
This might have generated the most prominent debate in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the last few weeks, in support of a female running mate for the country’s general election in December.
The names of Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, the Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat, London; Mr John Dramani Mahama, Member of Parliament for Bole/Bamboi; Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, running mate for the NDC flag bearer, Professor John Evans Atta-Mills in the 2004 general election, and Mr Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader and MP for Nadowli, cropped up among the list of people who were tipped to be selected.
Gender advocates, women groups and the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman, lent their support to this idea and pushed for Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, wife of Mahama Iddrisu, who is currently based in the Commonwealth Office in the United Kingdom.
To demonstrate their support for Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, a number of NDC women marched to the campaign office of Prof. Atta-Mills in Accra to present a statement in support of Mrs Mould-Iddrisu.
A Daily Graphic publication on Tuesday, April 1, 2008, indicating that after months of speculation, the lot had finally settled on Mr Mahama as the running mate of Prof. Mills sparked intense debate and controversy.
The heat surrounding these speculations were put to rest on Wednesday, April 9 when Prof. Atta-Mills announced at a press conference in Accra that Mr Mahama had been selected for the position. That announcement also permanently settled the issue of the choice of a woman to partner him for the forthcoming elections.
In the ensuing debate, people looked at the major criteria for the selection of a running mate and whether Ghana was ready to have a woman as vice-president.
While some political analysts argued that the selection of a vice-president should be based on outspokenness, unique qualities, and the person’s ability to draw votes, in addition to going by a political party's procedures for the selection of a running mate, they also added that it was equally important to look at the person’s commitment to the party and ability to win votes for the party, in addition to ethnic and religious considerations.
A writer in the February 23, 2008 edition of the Spectator, said after much searching, she was proposing two names: Mrs Gifty Affenyi Dadzie, a Member of the Council of State and former President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), and Madam Joyce Aryee, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
The writer said the two women had proved by their respective track records in public and private endeavours that they are endowed with managerial and technical competence, spiritual wisdom, charisma and eloquence and, therefore, should be considered as running mates by political parties.
The Vice-President of Ghana is the second highest executive official in the Ghanaian Government.
Article 60 (1) of the 1992 Constitution states, “There shall be a Vice-President of Ghana who shall perform such functions as may be assigned to him by this Constitution or by the President”. Clause (6) of the same article also states that “Whenever the President dies, resigns or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall assume office as President for the unexpired term of office of the President with effect from the date of the death, resignation or removal of the President”.
Furthermore, Article 60 (8) states that “Whenever the President is absent from Ghana or is for any other reason unable to perform the functions of his office, the Vice-President shall perform the functions of the President until the President returns or is able to perform his functions”.
These functions of the Vice-President spelt out in the constitution definitely places an onerous responsibility on him/her, since at a point in time, he/she can act as the President and must be a good and supportive complement to the President and be prepared to assume the Presidency if the President should become incapacitated.
Although in the USA the Vice-President is not necessarily the second most powerful person in his/her government and neither is the Deputy Prime Minister in Britain, Ghana’s vice-presidency is a very powerful office since the Vice-President performs the role of the President in his absence.
Never in the history of Ghana’s democratic development has the issue of the consideration of a woman as a running mate attracted so much attention from gender activists and women advocacy groups.
This new development follows the twist to Ghanaian women’s support to the campaign to mount pressure on political parties to select a woman as their running mate for the forthcoming elections.
The contribution of women to Ghanaian politics after independence became more prominent and resulted in the introduction of the Representation of the People (Women Members) Bill in 1960, which was passed and received the Governor-General’s assent on June 16, 1960.
It was, therefore, not surprising that the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) gave credit to women by electing 10 female MPs that same year.
Other people, however, contend that the country is not ready to have a woman as a Vice-President and that the selection of a woman for that position will not favour any party because of the patriarchal nature of the Ghanaian society, which has relegated women to the background.
Some are of the view that contrary to what gender activists are saying, Ghanaian women are not perturbed about one of them becoming Vice-President.
When asked to react to the perception that Ghana was not ready to have a woman as a Vice-President since the country’s traditional and cultural norms have downplayed the role of women in decision making, Mrs Mould-Iddrisu said women were equally qualified and capable to serve in the highest office of the land, adding that “It is time we break away from this perception and move beyond what society says”.
Speaking in a telephone interview, she described the fact that her name came up for consideration during the NDC’s search for a running mate for the flag bearer as a fantastic opportunity and indicated that she was encouraged by her family, the NDC and gender activists who believed in her capability to champion the cause of women.
She agreed that women were constrained financially and were at a disadvantaged position when it came to the issue of funds since they contributed immensely to support the family.
Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, who has been Director of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat since November 2003, has a vast experience from the Ghanaian Ministry of Justice in administering various facets of intellectual property law, international law, human rights and gender in Ghana and Africa.
She said the country had to move a step further and support women to come up and urged women’s groups and gender advocates to support more women to participate in competitive elections and also occupy decision-making positions, stressing that “The fact that somebody belongs to party ‘A’ or ‘B’, should not be an issue”.
According to Mrs Mould-Iddrisu, although she was not selected as a running mate to the NDC flag bearer, the current situation had strengthened her and she would not relent in her effort to aspire to such positions in future.
She offered her support and encouragement to Mr Mahama on his selection and pledged her unflinching support to Prof. Mills and the party in the contest to win this year’s presidential and general election.
Prof. Mills has given the indication that even if he does not select a women as his running mate he intends to reserve 40 per cent of his cabinet for women, in case he wins the December polls, because he agrees that some women are also competent.
The manifestoes of the, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) also contain elaborate provisions on the vision for women and commitment to ensure equitable representation of both men and women in all areas of national endeavours.
Are these parties going to go the extra mile in make the fight in support of women empowerment more practical and realistic? The fight is definitely not easy, especially in political circles, but Ghanaian women must always muster courage and surge forward.
K’bu Maternity Ward project is laudable
04/10/08
Story: Salome Donkor
The revelation by the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah(rtd) that the country was not winning the war against maternal deaths (Daily Graphic, April 5, 2008) might have touched the hearts of many people, including women in the reproductive age.
This is in view of the fact that the Ghana Demographic Health Survey, 1993 puts the maternal mortality rate in Ghana at 214 per 100,000 live births with a life time risk of one in 35.
Available evidence shows that 75 per cent of these deaths are preventable and that the timely provision of blood transfusion, caesarian section, oxytocin and antibiotic therapy, and the timely management of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia are sufficient to reduce maternal mortality rates by 50 per 100,000 without the need for advanced technology and safe support mechanisms.
Maternal mortality is defined by health experts as the death of a pregnant woman during her pregnancy or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. According to the experts an obstetric emergency is not a situation where the expectant mother involved could be asked to come back the next day, since that can result in her death.
Recently, a high-level panel discussion on reducing maternal mortality in Ghana to ensure that achieving points four and five of the MDGs remains high priority on the national agenda, was held in Accra. It was organised in Accra by the Ministries of Women and Children Affairs and Health, in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) as a follow-up to the action plan of a global conference on safe motherhood, that was held in London in October last year.
One of the panellists, Dr Ali Samba, an obstetrician/gyaenacologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, spoke about prevailing conditions at the maternity Unit of the hospital. He said being a tertiary and referral hospital, the unit undertook between 10 and 12,000 deliveries a year and recorded 700 to 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
He said most cases ended up there late and needing emergency obstetric care, adding that most of the problem arose during labour and they required emergency action. This means the hospital should have all the facilities and equipment needed to provide emergency obstetric care.
However, according to Dr Samba, currently, only one of the three theatres at the department is working and as such, emergency cases have to queue, resulting in the loss of lives.
He most of the time the doctors had to decide which of the emergency cases was more of an emergency and pointed out that “We need a second theatre”.
Some expectant mothers complained that they sometimes make do with benches due to shortage of beds, while mosquitoes decend on them at night, due to poor mosquito nets.
In 2005 the issue of reported figures of maternal mortality in the country touched the hearts of the Women Caucus in Parliament and decided to learn more about the problem.
According to the acting Chairperson of the Caucus, Mrs Gifty Euginea Kusi (MP for Tarkwa Nsuem), the group held a seminar that same year in Accra in collaboration with the Ghana Presentation of Maternal Mortality, based in Korle Bu.
She said they were briefed about the situation at the Korle Bu Maternity Unit and it came out that out of the three theatres at the unit only one was functional, while the remaining two had been rendered non-functional for four years as of 2005.
Mrs Kusi said after the seminar, the women parliamentarians launched the Korle Bu refurbishment fund which yielded ¢400 million (GH¢40,000) made up of ¢100 million cash and ¢300 million in pledges, while letters were sent to organisations for support.
She said one organisation, MTN Ghana Limited resolved to support the programme and although it took some time, the company, had fulfilled its promise following the provision of $600,000 by the MTN Ghana Foundation which was set up by Scancom Limited.
The launch of a programme to commerce the refurbishment of the second floor of the Korle-Bu maternity ward, to facilitate improved health care for women and children , was therefore a dream come true.
Speaking at the launch the Vice President of the International Criminal Court of Justice, Prof Akua Kuenyehia, observed that the health of women was essential to wealth creation in Ghana and pointed out that the health needs of women world-wide and how to solve them posed a problem to every governmente.
She said if all corporate organisations in Ghana would assist government’s efforts by providing assistance in a particular direction such as education, health and others it would be very profitable for the whole nation.
Prof. Kuenyehia advised staff of the department to adopt a culture of maintenance in order to maintain the facility.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), agreed to by world leaders in September 2000, include a specific target of reducing the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth by three-quarters by 2015 but health experts say the situation may not change by 2015 if no drastic measures are taken to reverse the situation.
The initiative by MTN Limited in response to the action taken by the women parliamentarians, is therefore commendable, as in the words of the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Ms Mawuena Dumor “MTN places a premium on social investment as core aspects of our business with emphasis on social matters of national importance”.
High maternal mortality rate in Ghana is a concern to reproductive health rights advocates and clearly there is the need to find out what can be done differently to save women from dying from pregnancy-related complications.
Story: Salome Donkor
The revelation by the Minister of Health, Major Courage Quashigah(rtd) that the country was not winning the war against maternal deaths (Daily Graphic, April 5, 2008) might have touched the hearts of many people, including women in the reproductive age.
This is in view of the fact that the Ghana Demographic Health Survey, 1993 puts the maternal mortality rate in Ghana at 214 per 100,000 live births with a life time risk of one in 35.
Available evidence shows that 75 per cent of these deaths are preventable and that the timely provision of blood transfusion, caesarian section, oxytocin and antibiotic therapy, and the timely management of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia are sufficient to reduce maternal mortality rates by 50 per 100,000 without the need for advanced technology and safe support mechanisms.
Maternal mortality is defined by health experts as the death of a pregnant woman during her pregnancy or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. According to the experts an obstetric emergency is not a situation where the expectant mother involved could be asked to come back the next day, since that can result in her death.
Recently, a high-level panel discussion on reducing maternal mortality in Ghana to ensure that achieving points four and five of the MDGs remains high priority on the national agenda, was held in Accra. It was organised in Accra by the Ministries of Women and Children Affairs and Health, in collaboration with the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) as a follow-up to the action plan of a global conference on safe motherhood, that was held in London in October last year.
One of the panellists, Dr Ali Samba, an obstetrician/gyaenacologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, spoke about prevailing conditions at the maternity Unit of the hospital. He said being a tertiary and referral hospital, the unit undertook between 10 and 12,000 deliveries a year and recorded 700 to 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
He said most cases ended up there late and needing emergency obstetric care, adding that most of the problem arose during labour and they required emergency action. This means the hospital should have all the facilities and equipment needed to provide emergency obstetric care.
However, according to Dr Samba, currently, only one of the three theatres at the department is working and as such, emergency cases have to queue, resulting in the loss of lives.
He most of the time the doctors had to decide which of the emergency cases was more of an emergency and pointed out that “We need a second theatre”.
Some expectant mothers complained that they sometimes make do with benches due to shortage of beds, while mosquitoes decend on them at night, due to poor mosquito nets.
In 2005 the issue of reported figures of maternal mortality in the country touched the hearts of the Women Caucus in Parliament and decided to learn more about the problem.
According to the acting Chairperson of the Caucus, Mrs Gifty Euginea Kusi (MP for Tarkwa Nsuem), the group held a seminar that same year in Accra in collaboration with the Ghana Presentation of Maternal Mortality, based in Korle Bu.
She said they were briefed about the situation at the Korle Bu Maternity Unit and it came out that out of the three theatres at the unit only one was functional, while the remaining two had been rendered non-functional for four years as of 2005.
Mrs Kusi said after the seminar, the women parliamentarians launched the Korle Bu refurbishment fund which yielded ¢400 million (GH¢40,000) made up of ¢100 million cash and ¢300 million in pledges, while letters were sent to organisations for support.
She said one organisation, MTN Ghana Limited resolved to support the programme and although it took some time, the company, had fulfilled its promise following the provision of $600,000 by the MTN Ghana Foundation which was set up by Scancom Limited.
The launch of a programme to commerce the refurbishment of the second floor of the Korle-Bu maternity ward, to facilitate improved health care for women and children , was therefore a dream come true.
Speaking at the launch the Vice President of the International Criminal Court of Justice, Prof Akua Kuenyehia, observed that the health of women was essential to wealth creation in Ghana and pointed out that the health needs of women world-wide and how to solve them posed a problem to every governmente.
She said if all corporate organisations in Ghana would assist government’s efforts by providing assistance in a particular direction such as education, health and others it would be very profitable for the whole nation.
Prof. Kuenyehia advised staff of the department to adopt a culture of maintenance in order to maintain the facility.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), agreed to by world leaders in September 2000, include a specific target of reducing the number of women dying during pregnancy and childbirth by three-quarters by 2015 but health experts say the situation may not change by 2015 if no drastic measures are taken to reverse the situation.
The initiative by MTN Limited in response to the action taken by the women parliamentarians, is therefore commendable, as in the words of the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Ms Mawuena Dumor “MTN places a premium on social investment as core aspects of our business with emphasis on social matters of national importance”.
High maternal mortality rate in Ghana is a concern to reproductive health rights advocates and clearly there is the need to find out what can be done differently to save women from dying from pregnancy-related complications.
Six NPP women vie for seats in E/R
04/05/08
Story: Salome Donkor
It is the expectation of non-governmental organisations and women groups to see an increase in women’s participation in the forthcoming parliamentary election.
This is in view of the fact that years of continuous public education by a number of non-governmental organisations and women groups, and the adoption of affirmative action taken in recent times, the representation of women in politics and public offices have only made minimal impact.
Women constitute more than 50 per cent of the country’s 20 million plus population but their share of political and public office appointments does not reflect this trend.
Although women would want to be in the mainstream of political activities, deeply rooted social-cultural practices that relegate women to the background and educational qualification and make most of them to recoil into their shells. To win the support of the electorate, they are required to outshine the men in constructive arguments, debates and presentation of ideas.
For the few women that have the necessary qualification, zeal and enthusiasm to contest elections, they lack the financial resources to pursue their aspirations and sometimes have to depend on men for assistance.
The only area women have met the 30 per cent Affirmative Action benchmark is at the District Assembly level where their participation has improved from five to 35.5 per cent
Women approached the 2004 election with the hope of picking 50 seats in parliament. They succeeded in winning 25 seats. Across the 10 regions of the country, the Western Region fielded 13 women candidates, Central 12; Greater Accra 16; Volta 12; and Eastern eight. Ashanti Region had 16; Brong Ahafo six; Northern seven; Upper East six; and Upper West four.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) fielded the maximum number of 27 women candidates. Currently, there are 25 women in Ghana's 230-member parliament.
As the heat for preparations towards the December 7 parliamentary intensifies, it is important to monitor the situation to see the extent of the participation of women.
Records from the Eastern Region Secretariat of the NPP indicate that six women are among the 65 people who have filed to contest the parliamentary elections on the ticket of the party in the region.
They are Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, who is the only sitting female MP in the region, who is contesting the Birim North seat with two men and Ms Gloria Ofori-Boadu, a Barrister-at-Law and Human Rights Advocate, who is contesting the Abuakwa South seat, which became vacant following the election of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Ms Ofori-Boadu who is a former elected assembly member, is contesting the seat with five men.
The Mpreaso seat, currently occupied by Dr Francis Osafo Mensah is also being contested by Ms Sussana Mensah, a former Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Grace Attafuah, a former Regional Women’s Organiser and three men. The sitting MP is not contesting.
Another seat that is expected to generate a heated competition is the New Juaben South Constituency, which is being contested by the incumbent MP and former Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, a former Presiding Member of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and two men.
Madam Boateng is the current assemblymember for Social Welfare Electoral Area of the New Juaben Municipality and the Vice-Chairperson of the Women in Local Governance Fund, which was set up by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs.
The sixth women, Madam Gifty Klenam is contesting the Lower West Akyem seat with two men including the sitting MP Mr Apeatu Ankrah.
All the women have indicated that they have plans to transfer their rich experience to benefit the communities in the respective constituencies and to add to the number of women MPs in the Eastern Region.
The Regional NPP Secretary, Mr Alecs Agobo said the candidates would be vetted soon while primaries would be organised in the various constituencies by the end of the month.
He said the region had a lot of women who were equally endowed to participate in competitive elections but most women who could not withstand some of the verbal attacks and outrages associated with electioneer decided to stay in the background.
The region had no woman MP from 1992 to 2004 and it is expected that more women will file to contest as MPs on the ticket of other parties.
*All women aspiring MPs are encouraged to send their Curriculum Vitae and a passport sized photograph to the Women’s Page at editorial@graphic.com.gh
Story: Salome Donkor
It is the expectation of non-governmental organisations and women groups to see an increase in women’s participation in the forthcoming parliamentary election.
This is in view of the fact that years of continuous public education by a number of non-governmental organisations and women groups, and the adoption of affirmative action taken in recent times, the representation of women in politics and public offices have only made minimal impact.
Women constitute more than 50 per cent of the country’s 20 million plus population but their share of political and public office appointments does not reflect this trend.
Although women would want to be in the mainstream of political activities, deeply rooted social-cultural practices that relegate women to the background and educational qualification and make most of them to recoil into their shells. To win the support of the electorate, they are required to outshine the men in constructive arguments, debates and presentation of ideas.
For the few women that have the necessary qualification, zeal and enthusiasm to contest elections, they lack the financial resources to pursue their aspirations and sometimes have to depend on men for assistance.
The only area women have met the 30 per cent Affirmative Action benchmark is at the District Assembly level where their participation has improved from five to 35.5 per cent
Women approached the 2004 election with the hope of picking 50 seats in parliament. They succeeded in winning 25 seats. Across the 10 regions of the country, the Western Region fielded 13 women candidates, Central 12; Greater Accra 16; Volta 12; and Eastern eight. Ashanti Region had 16; Brong Ahafo six; Northern seven; Upper East six; and Upper West four.
The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) fielded the maximum number of 27 women candidates. Currently, there are 25 women in Ghana's 230-member parliament.
As the heat for preparations towards the December 7 parliamentary intensifies, it is important to monitor the situation to see the extent of the participation of women.
Records from the Eastern Region Secretariat of the NPP indicate that six women are among the 65 people who have filed to contest the parliamentary elections on the ticket of the party in the region.
They are Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah, Minister for Lands, Forestry and Mines, who is the only sitting female MP in the region, who is contesting the Birim North seat with two men and Ms Gloria Ofori-Boadu, a Barrister-at-Law and Human Rights Advocate, who is contesting the Abuakwa South seat, which became vacant following the election of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Ms Ofori-Boadu who is a former elected assembly member, is contesting the seat with five men.
The Mpreaso seat, currently occupied by Dr Francis Osafo Mensah is also being contested by Ms Sussana Mensah, a former Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Ms Grace Attafuah, a former Regional Women’s Organiser and three men. The sitting MP is not contesting.
Another seat that is expected to generate a heated competition is the New Juaben South Constituency, which is being contested by the incumbent MP and former Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Barimah, Madam Beatrice Bernice Boateng, a former Presiding Member of the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and two men.
Madam Boateng is the current assemblymember for Social Welfare Electoral Area of the New Juaben Municipality and the Vice-Chairperson of the Women in Local Governance Fund, which was set up by the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs.
The sixth women, Madam Gifty Klenam is contesting the Lower West Akyem seat with two men including the sitting MP Mr Apeatu Ankrah.
All the women have indicated that they have plans to transfer their rich experience to benefit the communities in the respective constituencies and to add to the number of women MPs in the Eastern Region.
The Regional NPP Secretary, Mr Alecs Agobo said the candidates would be vetted soon while primaries would be organised in the various constituencies by the end of the month.
He said the region had a lot of women who were equally endowed to participate in competitive elections but most women who could not withstand some of the verbal attacks and outrages associated with electioneer decided to stay in the background.
The region had no woman MP from 1992 to 2004 and it is expected that more women will file to contest as MPs on the ticket of other parties.
*All women aspiring MPs are encouraged to send their Curriculum Vitae and a passport sized photograph to the Women’s Page at editorial@graphic.com.gh
Women advised to project positive attitudes
04/28/08
Story: Salome Donkor
An American Attorney, Dr Yvette E. Taylor-Hachoose, has advised women to project positive attitudes in life and free themselves from negative thoughts that affect their progress.
She said globally women faced obstacles through wars and civil strives, while cultural practices such as female genital mutilation, betrothal of girls, widowhood rites, as well as abuse of women in the domestic setting tend to degrade and dehumanise women.
She however pointed out that “the role of women has diminished but the spirit has not” and advised women to take inspiration from people with positive attitudes to spur them on to attain success .
Dr Taylor-Hachoose, who is also the president of a U.S law firm, made the statement at a media round table dialogue in Accra. Her firm focuses on business formation, corporate transactions, business succession planning, estate planning and elder law including Wills, Trusts and Estate Administration and Guardianship, as well as protection.
She is currently in Ghana on a two week visit to conduct a series of dialogues on the status of women as business owners, and to hold discussions with female lawyers, business leaders, academics, journalists and university students about laws and business practices that promote the success of women. The visit has taken her to Kumasi and Cape Coast.
She said she undertook the trip to coincide with the celebration of International Women’s Day, which was marked globally on March 8, and pointed out that her visit which was aimed at sharing experience with women entrepreneurs had offered her tremendous leaning experience.
Touching on the theme for the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, she said investing in women and girls was critical for the development of the world in general and Ghana in particular since it would have positive results on the development of the country’s economy.
She said in dealing with women entrepreneurs, there was the need to analyse the transfer of wealth and look at what to do with wealth when it was created , stressing that to achieve success as an entrepreneur, one needed a positive attitude, uphold integrity and make sure he or she balanced whatever she or he did.
Dr Taylor-Hachoose spoke about the benefits of estate planning, and said it was necessary to plan to save one’s estate and address family situations in areas where children needed support, adding that an entrepreneur was a teacher .
She also said parents needed to be empowered to plan their inheritance, and indicate who they will want to benefit from the asserts they had acquired, adding that that offered a solution to the problem of who took care of the children when parents were not there.
She also spoke about the need for more access to credit in the formal sector for women entrepreneurs at a reasonable interest rate and also creating public opportunities for women to obtain credit, which is a necessary prerequisite for the growth of any business.
According to her, it was important to publicise organisations that could offer assistance to women entrepreneurs to make them know the benefits available to enhance the growth of their businesses.
Dr Taylor-Hachoose also touched on the need to educate women on their legal rights; including ownership of property in their own name, forms of marriages and their consequences, requirements and inheritance.
She said in many parts of the world, including Ghana, inheritance is not in the name of women, and expressed the hope that Ghana’s Interstate Succession Law,(PNDC Law 111), and other related legal enactment will benefit women.
She touched on mentorship programmes for women entrepreneurs, as well as mentorship programmes for young girls to encourage them to be independent, and pointed out that dependence, whether on government or a human being, puts one at a disadvantaged position.
She spoke about education and training through the provision of technical assistance for women entrepreneurs, including market women and stressed the need for relevant programmes to reach out to women at the grassroots to empower them to make a difference.
She thanked the women of Ghana and said she was warmly welcomed in all the places visited.
Participants at the meeting urged the media, women human rights organisations, governmental organisation to take a front role to support the fight to uplift the status of women and pointed out that institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice should be strengthened and fortified to perform their respective roles effectively.
An Information Officer of the US Embassy, Mr Benjamin East, said the visit of Dr Taylor-Hachoose to the country was in line with the commitment of the US Embassy in Ghana to occasionally bring people to talk about relevant issues including those affecting women.
Story: Salome Donkor
An American Attorney, Dr Yvette E. Taylor-Hachoose, has advised women to project positive attitudes in life and free themselves from negative thoughts that affect their progress.
She said globally women faced obstacles through wars and civil strives, while cultural practices such as female genital mutilation, betrothal of girls, widowhood rites, as well as abuse of women in the domestic setting tend to degrade and dehumanise women.
She however pointed out that “the role of women has diminished but the spirit has not” and advised women to take inspiration from people with positive attitudes to spur them on to attain success .
Dr Taylor-Hachoose, who is also the president of a U.S law firm, made the statement at a media round table dialogue in Accra. Her firm focuses on business formation, corporate transactions, business succession planning, estate planning and elder law including Wills, Trusts and Estate Administration and Guardianship, as well as protection.
She is currently in Ghana on a two week visit to conduct a series of dialogues on the status of women as business owners, and to hold discussions with female lawyers, business leaders, academics, journalists and university students about laws and business practices that promote the success of women. The visit has taken her to Kumasi and Cape Coast.
She said she undertook the trip to coincide with the celebration of International Women’s Day, which was marked globally on March 8, and pointed out that her visit which was aimed at sharing experience with women entrepreneurs had offered her tremendous leaning experience.
Touching on the theme for the celebration of this year’s International Women’s Day, she said investing in women and girls was critical for the development of the world in general and Ghana in particular since it would have positive results on the development of the country’s economy.
She said in dealing with women entrepreneurs, there was the need to analyse the transfer of wealth and look at what to do with wealth when it was created , stressing that to achieve success as an entrepreneur, one needed a positive attitude, uphold integrity and make sure he or she balanced whatever she or he did.
Dr Taylor-Hachoose spoke about the benefits of estate planning, and said it was necessary to plan to save one’s estate and address family situations in areas where children needed support, adding that an entrepreneur was a teacher .
She also said parents needed to be empowered to plan their inheritance, and indicate who they will want to benefit from the asserts they had acquired, adding that that offered a solution to the problem of who took care of the children when parents were not there.
She also spoke about the need for more access to credit in the formal sector for women entrepreneurs at a reasonable interest rate and also creating public opportunities for women to obtain credit, which is a necessary prerequisite for the growth of any business.
According to her, it was important to publicise organisations that could offer assistance to women entrepreneurs to make them know the benefits available to enhance the growth of their businesses.
Dr Taylor-Hachoose also touched on the need to educate women on their legal rights; including ownership of property in their own name, forms of marriages and their consequences, requirements and inheritance.
She said in many parts of the world, including Ghana, inheritance is not in the name of women, and expressed the hope that Ghana’s Interstate Succession Law,(PNDC Law 111), and other related legal enactment will benefit women.
She touched on mentorship programmes for women entrepreneurs, as well as mentorship programmes for young girls to encourage them to be independent, and pointed out that dependence, whether on government or a human being, puts one at a disadvantaged position.
She spoke about education and training through the provision of technical assistance for women entrepreneurs, including market women and stressed the need for relevant programmes to reach out to women at the grassroots to empower them to make a difference.
She thanked the women of Ghana and said she was warmly welcomed in all the places visited.
Participants at the meeting urged the media, women human rights organisations, governmental organisation to take a front role to support the fight to uplift the status of women and pointed out that institutions such as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice should be strengthened and fortified to perform their respective roles effectively.
An Information Officer of the US Embassy, Mr Benjamin East, said the visit of Dr Taylor-Hachoose to the country was in line with the commitment of the US Embassy in Ghana to occasionally bring people to talk about relevant issues including those affecting women.
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