Afariwaa's Health HUB GH

22/08/2024

HANDLING MONKEY POX IS ALMOST LIKE HANDLING COVID-19.
CHECK THIS OUT AND STAY SAFE.
REMEMBER PREVENTION IS DEFINITELY BETTER THAN CURE.✌🏿⚕️

22/08/2024

Monkey pox Is popping up again..

Let's be careful out there

22/06/2024

IF YOU HAPPEN TO SUPPORT (financially) SOMEONE ON DIALYSIS, KINDLY DO NOT STOP BECAUSE YOU HAVE HEARD OF THE NHIS Ghana 'FREE DIALYSIS' PROGRAM.

Since the announcement of the 'free dialysis' program by NHIS Ghana, I have on some occasions engaged with some of the patients on dialysis. The universal chorus they are all singing is the fact that some friends and relatives who used to support them financially for dialysis have either reduced their support or totally stopped giving them the support.

How 'free' it is for the patients is dependent on the category they fall under and their required number of sessions per month.

CATEGORY 1 PATIENTS
Patients under 18 years and those of 60years and above will receive 8 free dialysis sessions per month from June to December 2024.

CATEGORY 2 PATIENTS
Patients aged 18-59 years will receive 2 free dialysis per month from June to December 2024

NOTE
1. Some patients are to do 3x per week dialysis, which is 12 sessions per month.

This means that, patients under category 1 (

23/04/2024

WHAT IS G6PD?

G6PD deficiency is when the body is missing or doesn’t have enough of an enzyme called G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). This enzyme helps red blood cells work correctly. A lack of this enzyme can cause hemolytic anemia. This is when the red blood cells break down faster than they normally would. So instead of circulating for 90 days, the red blood cells are destroyed earlier.

WHAT CAUSES IT?

G6PD deficiency is inherited. It is caused by changes (mutations) to the G6PD gene. The gene is located on the X chromosome and is passed from parents to their children. Boys only get one copy of the X chromosome with the G6PD gene from their mothers, but girls get a copy from their mother and father.

WHO IS AT RISK

G6PD deficiency occurs most often in men. It is rare in women.

The disorder is more common in people of African descent than whites. Ie Africans, Asians, Mediterranean, Middle East.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of this condition can appear in newborns. However, most people don't experience symptoms until they encounter certain triggers that can cause the breakdown of red blood cells in the bloodstream, known as hemolysis. These triggers include infections, specific medications, certain foods, and chemicals.

🏨Yellowing of the skin, eyes, and mouth (jaundice): Your skin, eyes, and mouth turn yellow, like ripe plantains or palm oil.

🏨Dark-colored urine: Your urine looks like the color of strong locally brewed tea instead of its usual light color.

🏨Pale skin (paleness may be best seen in the mouth): Your skin looks lighter than usual, especially inside your mouth, like the color of fresh cassava.

🏨Fever: Your body feels hot, like when you have a fever from malaria.

🏨Weakness and extreme tiredness: You feel very tired and have no energy, like after a long day of working on the farm.

🏨Dizziness: You feel like everything is spinning around you, like when you get dizzy from sitting in a hot car.

🏨Trouble with physical activity: You find it hard to do things like walking long distances or carrying heavy loads, like when you're very weak from not eating.

🏨Shortness of breath or fast breathing: You feel like you can't catch your breath after running to catch a tro-tro.

🏨Confusion: You feel like you can't think clearly or understand what's going on, like when you're confused about which path to take in a crowded market.

🏨Enlarged spleen: Your belly feels swollen or bigger than usual, like when you eat too much kenkey and feel bloated.

🏨Increased heart rate: Your heart beats faster than normal, like when you're excited about attending a big celebration.

🏨Heart murmur: You hear a whooshing or swishing sound in your chest when the doctor listens to your heart, like the sound of a stream flowing over rocks.

09/03/2024

International women's day celebrations in summary with members of Afariwaa Health Hub.

01/01/2024

08/12/2023

DEFINITION

Alcoholism is the excessive and repetitive drinking of alcoholic beverages to the extent that the drinker repeatedly is harmed or harm others. The harm may be physical or psychological , it may also be social, legal or economic. Alcohol use disorder include alcohol intoxication and withdrawal syndrome.

Research in animals has linked the development of compulsive drinking behavior to a specific circuit in brain that runs between the prefrontal cortex and the brain sterm. This further highlights the significance of individual variance in compulsive alcohol consumption.

STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM

* Pre- Alcoholic stage

* Early stage

*Middle alcoholic phase

* End stage alcoholism

PRE-ALCOHOLIC STAGE

Is a formative stage in which people go in one or two directions. Those who begin using alcohol as a tool Someone uses to unwind after a long day. Bolster themselves in social situations or help them fall asleep process into the next stage of alcoholism.

EARLY STAGE OF ALCOHOLISM

* Regular binge drinking

*”Blacking out “ ( memory loss caused by drinking)

* Difficulties controlling the amount they drink

* Swearing they will cut back or stop but having trouble doing so .

MIDDLE ALCOHOLIC PHASE

Alcoholism is when their drinking problem reaches more serious levels. Clear examples of progressive alcoholism include placing drinking ahead of their family, their job, or their education and physical health.

END STAGE ALCOHOLISM

Paranoia is frequently seen during this phase. Some people- known as functioning alcoholics - can still maintain their life during this phase. This is a rare and likely to lead to liver damage or other alcohol related illnesses.

Join the AfariwaaDEFINITION
Alcoholism is the excessive and repetitive drinking of alcoholic beverages to the extent that the drinker repeatedly is harmed or harm others. The harm may be physical or psychological , it may also be social, legal or economic. Alcohol use disorder include alcohol intoxication and withdrawal syndrome.
Research in animals has linked the development of compulsive drinking behavior to a specific circuit in brain that runs between the prefrontal cortex and the brain sterm. This further highlights the significance of individual variance in compulsive alcohol consumption.

STAGES OF ALCOHOLISM
* Pre- Alcoholic stage
* Early stage
*Middle alcoholic phase
* End stage alcoholism

PRE-ALCOHOLIC STAGE
Is a formative stage in which people go in one or two directions. Those who begin using alcohol as a tool Someone uses to unwind after a long day. Bolster themselves in social situations or help them fall asleep process into the next stage of alcoholism.

EARLY STAGE OF ALCOHOLISM
* Regular binge drinking
*”Blacking out “ ( memory loss caused by drinking)
* Difficulties controlling the amount they drink
* Swearing they will cut back or stop but having trouble doing so .

MIDDLE ALCOHOLIC PHASE
Alcoholism is when their drinking problem reaches more serious levels. Clear examples of progressive alcoholism include placing drinking ahead of their family, their job, or their education and physical health.

END STAGE ALCOHOLISM
Paranoia is frequently seen during this phase. Some people- known as functioning alcoholics - can still maintain their life during this phase. This is a rare and likely to lead to liver damage or other alcohol related illnesses.

Presentation: Mr Benayuo.(Mental health practitioner).

17/11/2023

In a bustling city, there lived a vibrant young woman named Emma. Immersed in her career and social life, she dismissed the persistent whispers of caution about cervical cancer screenings. As the years rushed by, a subtle discomfort in her body began, a quiet plea for attention that she chose to ignore.

One day, the whispers turned into screams, as Emma was gripped by excruciating pain. Rushed to the hospital, she faced a grim reality – advanced cervical cancer had taken root, spreading its ominous tendrils through her body.

As Emma confronted the harsh truth, she realized the high cost of ignoring the signs. The vibrant life she had once known was now overshadowed by the looming shadow of a preventable disease. In the midst of the dramatic twists, Emma's story serves as a cautionary tale, urging everyone to heed the whispers of their bodies, to not let the cacophony of life drown out the crucial messages of health. Regular screenings and timely attention can be the difference between a life well-lived and one haunted by regret.

🛑Cervical cancer is often asymptomatic in its early stages, emphasizing the importance of regular screenings.

🛑Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major risk factor for cervical cancer. Regular screenings, such as Pap smears, can detect HPV and early signs of cancer.

🛑Early detection significantly increases the chances of successful treatment and survival in cervical cancer cases.

🛑Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination against HPV, practicing safe s*x, and attending routine screenings.

With a population of 10.6 million women aged 15 and older at risk, Ghana faces an annual burden of 2,797 cervical cancer diagnoses and 1,699 deaths, making it the second leading cause of cancer in women, following breast cancer.

November 17th marks the Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, celebrating the anniversary of the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Strategy launch to accelerate cervical cancer elimination as a public health problem.

10/10/2023

🌍 Mental Health: A Universal Human Right 🌍

On this World Mental Health Day, we declare loud and clear that mental health is a universal human right. 🧠💫

No matter who you are, where you're from, or what you've been through, your mental well-being matters. It's not a privilege; it's a right.

🤝 Let's unite to break down the barriers that prevent access to mental health care. Let's create a world where no one is left behind in their journey to wellness.

💚 We must challenge stigma and discrimination, and promote understanding and empathy. Together, we can build a society that values mental health just as much as physical health.

🌟 Share your stories, your experiences, and your support. Your voice can make a difference and inspire others to seek help when they need it.

💙 Remember, seeking help is a sign of strength, and reaching out to others can change lives.

Mental health is a universal human right. Let's work together to ensure that everyone has the support and care they deserve.



Together, we can create a world where mental health is celebrated, protected, and cherished for all. 💪💙

06/10/2023

On the chest of a woman lies comfort
On the chest of a woman lies warmth
On the chest of a woman many kings, great rulers, and leaders rest to govern you, and I

Since time immemorial, our existence, fate, and survival have depended on the chest of a woman!
It’s always been the chest of a woman who nurtured, loved, and cared for us.

So how do you not show love to the chest of a woman? All I wanna say is breast is life, breast is hope, breast is love ❤️

A fortress of wellness, where life begins, and a bed rock of our survival and existence the moment we find ourselves in this dimension.

To err is human but to forgive is divine how do we forgive a man who doesn’t Love, Cherish, Press, and Caress the Breast of a woman?

The breast could be standing firm like the Statue of Liberty or flat but still show some love ❤️

It’s breast cancer awareness month so dear men, let’s join hands in fighting this cancer that kills and brings low self-esteem to our women because, without breasts, men won’t find rest and babies can die of thirst!

Geniuz👽 Highstar 💫

28/06/2023

Wishing us all a healthy Eid celebration 🎉

19/06/2023

TODAY 19TH JUNE, 2023, IS WORLD SICKLE CELL DAY so let's take time and learn something about HEMOGLOBIN GENOTYPES and INCOMPATIBILITY.

NB: This is for the purpose of childbirth (to prevent you from giving birth to a child with sickle cell disease).

WHAT IS GENOTYPE?
A genotype is the entire genetic constitution of an individual, which is passed (inherited) on to offsprings from parents. The inherited genes give the traits of the offspring.

WHAT IS HEMOGLOBIN (HB) GENOTYPE?
Hb genotype indicates one of the genetic makeups of an individual’s blood.
There are 5 major pairs of hemoglobin genotypes namely, AA, AS, AC, SC, SS.
This means that for each pair, either of both parents gave a type. Example, AS means that the person inherited A from one parent and S from the other parent.

Out of the above named types, SS and SC are termed as the abnormal hemoglobin genotypes or sickle cell disease which results from incompatibility.

HOW DOES HB GENOTYPE INCOMPATIBILITY OCCUR?
Hb genotype incompatibility (for the purpose of conception) is when both parents have Hb S or C in their HB genotypes. Example, AS+AS, AS+AC, SS+AS, etc. This means that there is the likelihood for such people to give birth to a child with sickle cell diseases (exactly what we don't want).

If you are reading this and you still don't know your genotype, kindly visit any hospital or genuine laboratory and request to do HB ELECTROPHORESIS.

Knowing this is very important in safeguarding the lives of your children.

Someone who is AA, for the purpose of childbirth can be with anyone irrespective of that persons genotype.

On the other hand, a person with HB S or C in his or her genotype like AS, SS, SC, AC, (for the purpose of childbirth) is ADVISED TO NOT BE WITH another person also with HB S or C in his or her genotype. THE CHOICE IS STILL YOURS TO MAKE THOUGH.

REFER TO THE COMPATIBILITY TABLE ATTACHED

Kaakyire Qwabyna Asiedu
Your Concerned Nurse
General Health Advocate