Inadequate data on cancer hampers its control

Cancer, an abnormal growth of cell in any part of the body which mostly leads to death constitutes about 12 per cent of all deaths worldwide. In developing countries such as Ghana, cancer is among the three leading causes of death in adults. The major cancers in females in Ghana are cervical and breast cancer, which are found in the age group 35 to 54 years.Others include liver and haematological cancers. In males, prostate cancer, liver cancer and haematological cancers are the top three. Childhood cancers are also on the increase, with lymphomas being most common. Unfortunately, in Ghana, it has been difficult to estimate the prevalence rate of cancers because the Cancer Registry is not functioning as expected.According to Dr. Kofi Nyarko, the Focal Person of the National Cancer Control Programme, attempts have been made to use mortality and morbidity rates to determine cancer prevalence in the country. He said this is essentially limited to the two major teaching hospitals, Korle Bu and Komfo Anokye, which only hold data on cancers diagnosed in the departments and do not have an overall national picture.Dr. Nyarko advocated for a population based cancer registry that would produce a more accurate picture of the cancer burden in Ghana. "What will help to prioritize cancer control is better and reliable data for advocacy, education and policy formulation. This will enable us know who is affected- age and sex distribution, where the patients are coming from, the treatments they are on and the survival rates, etc." He added that it would also help to generate complete, accurate, timely and confidential data on al cancer cases.He disclosed that the National Cancer Registry currently is still rudimentary, with weak human and technical capacity, as well as logistical constraints which hinder its operation. He attributed the increase to mainly epidemiological transition, recent changes in diet, the social environment and the adoption of western lifestyles, although there are other specific causes. Dr. Nyarko emphasized the need for Ghana to have dedicated resources control activities in the country. He was speaking at the inaugural Africa Cancer Information and Advocacy Initiative workshop on Cancer Control Planning. Together with American Cancer Society (ACS) 21 NGOs from five countries convened to increase cancer awareness, early detection and survivor support. It is project that in 2010, cancer will become the world?s leading cause of death, surpassing heart disease. Breast, cervical, liver and prostate as well as HIV/AIDS-related cancers are among the most common in Africa. Additionally, tobacco production and use are becoming more prevalent on the continent. There are few hospitals in Ghana that are dedicated to the management of cancers and are mainly located in Accra and Ashanti Region, with Radiotherapy Centres, pathology department, breast cancer clinic and paps smear facility. With more than 95 years of experience, the ACS aims to use its unique position to be a global leader in cancer control advocacy, capacity building and information sharing. The Africa Initiative is designed to expand evidence, improve planning and promote action for cancer control in five countries, namely Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. The Vice President of Global Strategies, ACS, Ms Johanna Raltson in a presentation on the global cancer burden and the emerging pandemic in Africa, noted that whereas hunger and under nutrition are decreasing (850 million), overweight and obesity is increasing (1 billion). She said that in line with World Health Organization (WHO) priorities Africa must treat what can be treated, prevent what must be prevented and cure what can be cured. "Much can be done to prevent it because most of the countries in Africa are in the first stage of the disease."Dr. George Amofa, Deputy Director General of the Ghana Health Service disclosed that cancer control initiatives in Ghana include breast and cervical screening and also through the re-generative health initiative. "We believe that when we begin a national programme from scratch we will be making headway."



Labour court now operational As workers question Labour Commissions usefulness
The Labour court which was set up within the High Court in October last year is now in full swing.The establishment of the court followed an appeal by the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) to the Chief Justice to designate a few High Courts in the Greater Accra Region to exclusively adjudicate industrial relations disputes emanating from the National Labour Commission (NLC).The GFL and other labour unions were of the opinion that the special labour courts would ensure fair and expeditious settlement of labour grievances to forestall industrial peace and economic development.This is viewed against the weakness of the NLC, which has not been able to assert its powers effectively. On many occasions employers have challenged its ruling at the High Courts, which have overturned the cases. They claimed that because the traditional courts are saddled with high volume of civil suits and criminal cases, there is little attention for industrial and labour dispute settlement; resulting in delays in the resolution of such disputes. .Speaking to Public Agenda in Accra Mr. Abraham Koomson, Secretary-General of GFL commended the Chief Justice for honouring her word, adding that the creation of a labour court will help judges to become familiar with the labour terrain. He stressed that the rationale for the creation of the labour court is not for the court to be considerate but to be able to apply the law adequately. Public Agenda has gathered that no fresh labour cases will be handled at the ?mainstream? court while some people are even trying to transfer old cases to the new labour court. Before the coming into force of the Labour Act 2003, Act 651, the Industrial Relations Act, 299 of 1965 and the Labour Decree of 1967, (NLCD 157) were the laws governing industrial relations in the country, as well as other laws scattered in various pieces of legislation. During this time, industrial relations matters and disputes settlement were the preserve of the Ministry of Labour which did this through its Labour Department headed by the Chief Labour Officer. The process of consultation on the development of a new national labour law started in 1995. The Labour Act 651 (2003) was passed with a mission to develop and sustain a peaceful and harmonious industrial relations environment through the use of effective dispute resolution practices, promotion of co-operation among the labour market players and mutual respect for their rights and responsibilities.


Disability law leaves out autistic children
Autism is a new biological disorder that impacts on development on the brain and renders the victim disabled in three areas. First, the victim unable to understand verbal / non-verbal communication. Secondly, they are unable to socialize and lastly they cannot wait to have their turn.Experts term it ?new disorder? because it is developmental and there is no known cause. Most autistic children are non-verbal. Although autism is said to be always on the increase in Ghana, the disability law passed in June 2006 overlooked autism. Indeed, stakeholders involved in Autism Awareness, Care & Training (AACT) made inputs to the draft disability bill but it was not captured.Speaking to Public Agenda, Mr. Mawusi Adiku, Educational Director at the AACT in Accra regretted that Ghana considers the blind, deaf, mentally retarded and physical disability but ignores others such as autism. ?We want autism to be recognized as a disability which is becoming prevalent than any other childhood disorder,? he stressed. He disclosed that women mostly bear the brunt of the victim?s condition. He said that some marriages even break up as men often accuse the women for the condition. He explained that the first symptom is for a mother to observe if a baby focuses on her whenever she is sighted. He said that most of them cry persistently for no apparent reason, weep and burst out laughter, and affects more boys than girls. ?Others too are sound sensitive, tend to be deaf and have no sense of danger. Some will not like to be hugged or touched, are repetitive in choice of food, clothes etc., flap their hands and walk on their toes.?He regretted that parents often after notice of autism in their wards send them to pediatrician who sometimes claims that the child might not be an early developer so they should go back and it will be well. He noted Ghanaians also attribute such disorders to superstitious beliefs and sometimes send such children to ?prayer camps to exorcise the autism spirit in them. Mr. Adiku cautioned that late diagnosis hinders early intervention. He said the condition in the victim ranges from mild to severe because it is developmental. ?In relation to mild victim will be able to talk and symptoms can only be realized in social behavior. The median group has all the three features and consequently has behaviourial problems and throws tantrums.?He said it is not advisable to punish children if he/she exhibits these symptoms. Although not curable, Mr. Adiku said it is treatable and coupled with good and early intervention some of the disorders can be changed. In Ghana, and other developing countries, autism diagnosis is rare. Parents of children with autism are left to seek other explanations for their children?s behaviour. Mrs. Serwah Quaynor, a mother of a child with autism, made it a personal commitment to help children with autism. In search of services to help her child, and with no luck, decided to fulfill her commitment to her son and to autism by founding an organization in 1998. Known as Autism Awareness Care & Training (AACT) it was formed to help children with autism and their families in Ghana to better understand the disorder and to feel that there is a safe place to go for support and help. Today the organization not only supports the parents and families but it also has become a centre for these children to receive quality education. Here they are trained in life-skills, sensory integration therapy, train caregivers, parents, family members, attendants and professionals and provide respite care for families among others. On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, tabled by the State of Qatar, which declares April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in perpetuity. This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days and will bring the world?s attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions. The World Autism Awareness Day resolution encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention. It further expresses concern at the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent developmental challenges. Additionally, WAAD?celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism and is?a day when individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and embraced in community events around the globe. Last Thursday, 2nd April 2009 was World Autism Awareness. The United Nations Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon in a special message to mark WAAD said, ?On World Autism Awareness Day, let us capture and share this spirit, and let us intensify global efforts to ensure that children and persons with autism everywhere can benefit from the supportive environment they need to reach their full potential and contribute to society.?He noted by designating 2 April as World Autism Awareness Day, the United Nations General Assembly has helped to galvanize international efforts to promote greater understanding about autism. He had an advice to kids who have some form of disability, ?Don?t let it stop you. Use it as your strength; don?t use it as your weakness. One red light can lead to a whole bunch of green lights, with a few orange lights thrown in. And the red lights are just a bit of a test. There are definitely more green and orange?.



AWDF initiative supports women's reproductive health



Advocates of women's reproductive health rights are encouraging the use of hygienic sanitary towels which are not harmful to the health of women. They are worried that current methods by some women, who tend to use other materials, could be harmful to their health. Several reports on adolescents' sexual reproductive health in Ghana have revealed that female adolescents are exposed to greater reproductive health risks than male adolescents.This is because women are physiologically more vulnerable than men to infection.Through an initiative by the African Women Development Fund (AWDF), selected women's reproductive health organizations are benefiting from personal care products, credit to support from Procter and Gamble, a manufacturer of a broad range of consumer products worldwide under brands such as pampers and always sanitary pads, based in Switzerland. The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) is an Africa wide grant-making foundation for African Women. The vision of the AWDF is for African women to live in a world in which there is social justice, equality and respect for women?s human rights.During a presentation of sanitary pads to the Nana Yaa Memorial Trust Reproductive Health Centre at Ogbojo near Madina, Mrs. Abigail Burgesson, Special Programmes Manager of the AWDF regretted that some girls stay out of school during their menstruation because they are not able to afford and access hygienic sanitary towels. She noted that when young girls feel comfortable, they can move ahead and contribute to national development. "At AWDF we recognize the importance of women's health and reproductive rights. It is our hope that this donation will go some way to ensure proper health conditions and personal hygiene of women and girls." Ogbojo Presbyterian Basic School is among the beneficiaries of the presentation by AWDF. The Nana Yaa Memorial Trust Reproductive Health Centre aims at helping girls and women to have greater awareness of their reproductive health status and thereby help reduce unacceptable high maternal mortality in Ghana. The centre was established in 1998 in memory of 28 year old Nana Yaa Kyeraa Darkwah Dako who died during child birth. It offers free services to the surrounding communities. Mrs. Gladys Okwaning (Col. Lt. Rtd.) of the trust recounted that today there is greater awareness of maternal deaths and a greater commitment by government to improve it, citing the free maternal care policy initiated by the previous administration. "We believe we have made progress. From January 2006 to March 2009 a total number of 1649 visited the centre, 75 were pregnant women, 1388 females and 261 males, as well as 61 referrals to major health facilities." She announced plans by the trust to establish an HIV/AIDS counseling and testing and family planning unit at the centre and also extend its services to Kumasi. The land where the centre is situated was donated by the Chief of Ogbojo and an amount of $8,000 grant from AWDF, supported the purchase of a shipping container, which serves as offices, consulting and treatment room for patients to the Centre. Founder of the trust, Mrs. Felicia Darkwah explained that the major goal is to collaborate with the government and other stakeholders to reduce the high maternal mortality death rate in Ghana.In this regard, the trust has established an association for good quality maternity services.


New project launched to equip rural youth with ICT skills

Ghanaian youth have been advised to desist from using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for fraudulent purposes. They have been encouraged to equip themselves with skills in ICT to improve the quality of their lives so that they can become role models for others to aspire higher. Minister of Communications, Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, gave the advice at the launch of a project in Accra dubbed 'ICIVISION', an initiative of Virtue World Foundation aimed at establishing and teaching ICT in rural and deprived areas in Ghana. He cautioned that government will soon come out with a framework for cyber security to protect the internet and also build confidence in its use for education, commerce, governance and health. Speaking on the theme, "Defining African Youth Role in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Through ICT", Mr. Iddrisu noted that the youth of every nation represent at any moment, the stock of human capital upon which the survival and growth of the nation depends. "For us in the developing world, the youth must be appreciated as partners in the socio-economic development agenda of every government and therefore to be sufficiently empowered to play their roles in the society." He deduced that for a very long while, the country has been bedeviled with youth unemployment with attendant declining self-confidence in the abilities of the youth to contribute to the country's development. Therefore, he said that if Ghana is to achieve the MDGs within the stipulated time frame, 2015, then government and all stakeholders should give special attention to skills training and other empowering support scheme to bring out the best in our youth. Mr. Iddrisu advocated right opportunities and tools for the youth to empower them to contribute to the attainment of the MDGs. "I can assure you that through ICT, the youth can be sufficiently empowered, and be independent and responsible to accept any challenge that they would encounter in life."The Minister invited youth organizations such as Virtue World Foundation (VWF) to play active roles in the design and implementation of national action plans to ensure that the youth play active role in the progress of their communities. VWF is a network organization of tertiary students in community development, committed to empowering the marginalized in society through education and community outreach programmes. William Andam, Executive Director VWF, stressed that Africa and for that matter Ghana cannot be left out in the current ICT age.He explained that ICIVISION will engage computer science students during vacations to impart knowledge in ICT to those in deprived areas. He therefore appealed to all and sundry who have the interest of the youth at heart, to assist them financially so they can sustain the project.



French Embassy supports OrphanAid Africa

OrphanAid Africa has within the framework of the Care Reform Initiative (CRI) closed its children's home / orphanage at Ayenyah, near Dodowa in the Dangme West district. Majority of the children who were at the orphanage have been resettled with their relatives in the various regions. However, for those with special needs that could not go back to their homes, OrphanAid has established specialized facilities with foster parents available to care for these children in safe and permanent family homes. The CRI is an initiative by the Department of Social Welfare that seeks to de-emphasize over reliance of care systems for children based on institutions and move towards a range of integrated family and community based care services for such children without appropriate parental care.The French Embassy in Ghana has thus through its government's small grant scheme, the Fund for Social Development (FSD), presented an amount of GH?37, 498 to OrphanAid to be used to support the implementation of the CRI. Consequently, OrphanAid's vacant building has been handed over to the office of Ghana Education Service in the district for use as school. Research has shown that orphaned and vulnerable children without parental care have long trail of painful experiences characterized by economic hardship, lack of attention and affection and psychological distress. Other problems include loss of inheritance, increased of risk abuse, malnutrition and illness, stigma, discrimination and isolation and drug use and crime. Speaking at the commissioning of the OrphanAid's Foster Family Village at Ayenyah, near Dodowa, the French Ambassador Mr. Francis Hurtut regretted that too often adults use children for inappropriate tasks such as workers and soldiers some do not go to school; in other words they are not allowed to live their lives as children.He said some of them are abandoned by their families who cannot take good care of them, because of insufficient resources and bad living conditions and are then send to an orphanage."We are thinking that children who still have a living family, should better live with their parents, grandmother or uncle instead of any other solutions. Orphan Aid is systematically looking for the family of lost children and is giving them the capability to educate their children, by delivering training, micro-credit or tools. I am sure that this method will be successful and I hope other organizations will also use it."The Founder of OrphanAid Africa, Ms Lisa Lovatt-Smith, was grateful to the Ambassador and his team for the support saying that it will go a long way to support the 40 different families caring for de-institutionalized children rescued from former orphanages. "Children need to grow up in families not orphanages, as only a family can ensure their proper transition into society," she stated. She added that her organization believes in the rights of families and the right of the child to grow up in a family and that OrphanAid approach was based on strengthening families to care for their own children, and that the money would be used to provide furniture, fittings and start up grants for families of these children.


POLICE PLAY HIDE & SEEK WITH WOMEN ...Over Prof. Mills' failed 40% promise
What was expected to be a peaceful demonstration by women's groups in protest at the apparent failure of President John Evans Atta Mills to honour his campaign promise to allot 40 percent of public appointments to women failed to take off. Public Agenda has gathered that the demonstration was aborted due to intense lobbying behind the scene to prevent what would have been a major test of the NDC government's tolerance level , five months into its four-year tenure. The political lobbying aside, the Accra Regional Police claimed it could not prepare adequately to be able to provide needed security for the unarmed women. Meanwhile as the women were being dissuaded from embarking on the demonstration about 200 police men and women had positioned themselves at the Castle ready to combat any offensive move of the women.This paper learnt that the new Regional Commander, DCOP Rose Bio Attinga, had requested that since she only assumed office on 27th May 2009, she was not aware of the letter from WiLDAF presented on 14th May 2009 and could not have ample time to prepare. Consequently, at a meeting between the police and WiLDAF, it was agreed that the march be postponed to a later date. However, a four member delegation was allowed to the Castle to present their petition to the Attorney General who received it on behalf of the president. In attendance were all female ministers.Whether by design or coincidence, Prof. Mills was on an official tour of the north and was not available to receive the petition in person. Nonetheless the women said they were just happy to deliver the petition at the Castle, hoping it would reach the President.Far from the political meanings some people were reading into the demonstration, the women said their action was meant to encourage President John Evans Atta Mills to use his powers to address the apparent neglect of women in his administration, since they cannot see that emerging so far. The statistics made available by WILDAF indicate that so far that only 15 (20%) out of 75 ministers are women, three out of 25 members of the Council of State, one woman on the Police Council and none on the Economic Advisory Council. It would be recalled that the manifestoes of the various political parties during last year's electioneering campaign, contained different sections on gender and women empowerment. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) specifically targeted 40% of females in public position, New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised an increase of women in position substantially and Convention People?s Party (CPP) desired to improve women empowerment and gender equality. Whereas the NDC gave a specific 40 percent target, the NPP, CPP and PNC were not blunt on the percentage. Most of the women said they hoped that more women would be found up there when the appointments began, especially with the initial nominations of Attorney General, Acting Inspector General of Police and Chief Justice from the previous administration. With high hopes, the organizers said they congratulated the NDC government for giving women such key positions. But with almost all public office appointments, including board members gone, the women?s groups say they have been disappointed by President Mills and his advisers."At the Metropolitan, Municipal and District level we thought we would get 40% because that where governance actually takes place. But out of the 170 appointments only 11 are women, representing 6.47%. Three were rejected, leaving eight with one pending in Shama. Obviously we are not getting there," said Mrs. Bernice Sam, National Programme Coordinator of WiLDAF-Ghana.Ghana is not faring better either regarding female representation in Parliament. Information provided by National Parliaments to the Inter-Parliamentary Union as at 31st May 2008 compares data from 188 countries put in perking order taking into account the number of seats in the parliament; the number occupied by women and expressed in percentages. Rwanda tops the list with 48.8% of the parliament constituting women followed by Sweden 47%, then Cuba 43.2%. Ghana comes a distant 99th with 10.9% of our parliament made up of women. According to Mrs. Sam, President Mills assured them that he would indeed honour his commitment in the NDC manifesto; during a visit they paid him at the castle to congratulate him on his victory. Further, she said the president during his state of the nation address stated that the NDC was gender sensitive and would revise and adopt its policy on affirmative action and present it to parliament for action. She dismissed claims that the march was a political gimmick, saying that people were entitled to their views an emphasized that WiLDAF was a non-partisan NGO and presented the same petition to all parties last year at different forums. "It just happened that one has won so irrespective of who is in power, once you have made pronouncements in your manifesto nationally and internationally, we will hold you accountable." Mrs. Sam noted that democracy involves issues of participation, transparency and accountability. She cautioned that "As women of Ghana if we don't consistently remind the government in power that they just can't make promises we will have ourselves to blame." Some gender rights advocates say that if Ghana should implement the quota system by ensuring that women are represented on the boards of educational institutions, ministries, department and agencies they would definitely have the chance.According to the gender activists, there is ample opportunity to ensure representation of women through several national and international conventions such as CEDAW and Beijing Platform. They believe that if Ghana has signed onto all these protocols then it should have the political will to implement them.