General News
World Health Organisation has declared loneliness a “global public health concern.”
Loneliness has been named a major global health problem by the World Health Organisation (WHO), with the US surgeon general stating that its death consequences are similar to smoking 15 cigarettes per day.
WHO has convened an international commission on the issue, led by US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba, comprised of 11 advocates and government ministers, including Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s minister of climate change adaptation, and Ayuko Kato, Japan’s minister in charge of loneliness and isolation measures.
It comes after the COVID-19 epidemic interrupted economic and social activities, increasing loneliness, but also amid a renewed awareness of the issue’s significance. The WHO Social Connection Commission will be in place for three years.
“[Loneliness] transcends borders and is becoming a global public health concern affecting every facet of health, wellbeing and development,” said Mpemba. “Social isolation knows no age or boundaries.
According to Murthy, the health hazards are comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes per day and even worse than those connected with obesity and physical inactivity.
While loneliness is frequently viewed as an issue in industrialised nations, Murthy claims that one in every four elderly persons worldwide experiences social isolation.
Loneliness is related to a 50% greater risk of acquiring dementia and a 30% increased risk of incident coronary artery disease or stroke in older persons.
However, it also has a negative impact on the lives of young people. According to studies, between 5% and 15% of teenagers are lonely. In Africa, 12.7% of teenagers are lonely, compared to 5.3% in Europe.
Young people who are lonely in school are more likely to drop out of university. It can also have a negative economic impact; feeling alienated and unsupported at work can lead to lower job satisfaction and performance.
Mpemba stated that in Africa, where the majority of the population is young, issues such as peace, security, and climate catastrophe, as well as high levels of unemployment, are all leading to social isolation.
“We believe it’s important to redefine the narrative surrounding loneliness, particularly for vulnerable populations excluded by the digital divide,” she said.
Murthy added: “These issues don’t affect one country … [Loneliness] is an underappreciated public health threat.”
A terrible accident occurred at the base of Galenkui Mountain in Ho, claiming the lives of nine people, including babies.
The terrifying occurrence occurred as a 207 Benz was transporting goods and passengers from Abotoase to Sogakofe.
The car encountered brake failure while descending the mountain, culminating in a collision with a Zoomlion garbage truck.
Initial reports verified seven fatalities at the disaster scene, including newborns and children.
Following that, Mary Dzifa, a nurse at Ho Municipal Hospital, informed Citi News that roughly ten children had died in the disaster.
“I was at our facility yesterday, November 22, when a car rushed in with dead and injured children and injured adults, especially men. Some were attended to at the facility, and the rest who were severely injured were taken to the Ho Teaching Hospital. The dead children will be about 10.”
Officials at the Ho Teaching Hospital said that 32 people were admitted for injuries incurred, with 9 dying as a result of their injuries.
Amos Jah, the Public Relations Officer of Ho Teaching Hospital, said that the injured patients are receiving medical attention and making progress in their rehabilitation.
“I received a call from a friend yesterday who was going back to town and that he saw the accident, so I quickly informed the nurses to be on alert. Some were brought in with pickups, ambulance, tricycles; the situation was very bad, some had broken limbs, some heads almost being severed, some were bleeding from all parts of the body. After two hours, we were able to calm the situation down.”
“We had a total of 30 accident victims brought here. Two others were brought from the Municipal Hospital this morning, making it 32 in all. My information is that we lost 9 of them, 4 are kids and 5 are adults. For the kids, three were brought in dead. Those injured are responding to treatment.”
Dr Adam Bonaa, a security expert, has requested the Oti Regional Minister to restrict all public events in Nkwanta in response to the riots that have taken eight lives.
The fights, in his opinion, were avoidable.
“The Regional Minister and his men must make certain that this never happens again.” This was avoidable, yet 8 people died as a result,” he remarked on TV3’s Ghana Tonight on Tuesday, November 21.
He further suggested that “It is important to suspend all public activities that are likely to take place by the two factions, this is the surest way of letting them know that there is an authority within Nkwanta and the region.”
The Oti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) will host an emergency security meeting today, Wednesday, November 22, in response to the Nkwanta riots.
Regional Minister Joshua Gmayenaam Makubu, appearing on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on Tuesday, November 21, verified the number of dead and described the pandemonium as “ethnic clashes.”
“Tomorrow we are going to have an emergency security meeting again, ” he further said.
He also disclosed that there had been conflicts in town two weeks earlier between members of two tribes, Adele and Akyode.
Following the conflicts, the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, acted on the advice of the REGSEC and via Executive Instrument to impose a curfew on Nkwanta township.
The curfew will be in force from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 21.
On Tuesday, November 21, an attacker opened fire in the town’s central market area.
Several people have been murdered and others have been injured as a result of the incident.
The Oti Regional Security Council dispatched officers to the region to handle the situation.
“Government wishes to appeal to all to exercise restraint and to use the established mechanisms for the resolution of all their conflicts and disputes.
“Meanwhile, the Government will like to reiterate that, there is a ban on all persons in Nkwanta Township and its environs from carrying arms, ammunition or any offensive weapons and any persons found with any arms or ammunition will be arrested and prosecuted,” the Minister said.
Alban Bagbin, the Speaker of Parliament, has categorically rejected selling his official house to a private developer.
He then stated that his home was “almost sold” to a private developer.
The Speaker of Parliament recently revealed that his Accra home was sold to a private developer while he was still living there.
He said this only came to light when the developer went to the Lands Commission to register the land on Monday at the Speaker’s Breakfast Forum in Accra.
However, the Lands Commission claimed in a statement that “at no time did the Lands Commission sell the said property to a private developer.”
In a recent meeting with civil society organisations, the Speaker emphasised that his official house was on the verge of being turned over to a developer except for the intervention of the Lands Commission.
“I didn’t say my residence was sold. That was not what I said. This was just a comment in passing when I said it was almost sold but luckily, I was in possession. And I said it was when they went to Lands Commission that they realised from the search that it was the residence of the Speaker,” Alban Bagbin clarified.
Harry Maguire accepts Isaac Adongo’s apologies
Argentina’s World Cup-winning coach, Lionel Scaloni, has hinted that he may resign
9 killed, several others injured in an accident at Ho
This was avoidable – Bonaa on fatal clashes in Nkwanta
I never indicated my house was sold – Speaker of Parliament
Akufo-Addo pardons eight Chiana SHS students who insulted him
Audio: Richard Attah’s wife narrates how ‘Aki and Pawpaw’ plotted the sack of Samuel Boadu
Video: I will marry 20 wives and have 10 concubines – Osofo Ajagurajahon Gh One TV with Serwaa Amihere
Reggie Rockstone vs Bongo Ideas on Twitter… Davido sends a DM to notorious Bongo Ideas
