Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

Obstructive Sleep Apnea occurs when the throat muscles relax during sleep, causing the soft tissue at the back of the throat to collapse and block the airway. Breathing stops until the brain panics, jerking the body partially awake to gasp for air. This cycle can repeat throughout the night, destroying sleep quality and starving the body of oxygen. The person rarely remembers these episodes, waking only to feel exhausted, irritable, and confused about why rest remains elusive. Men carry a disproportionate burden of this condition. They are two to three times more likely than premenopausal women to suffer from sleep…

Otitis Externa, commonly known as Swimmer’s Ear, is not an infection of the inner ear structures but rather an inflammation of the delicate skin that lines the outer ear canal. For Ear, Nose, and Throat specialists, this condition is as much about dermatology as it is about audiology. The ear canal is lined with some of the most sensitive skin in the human body. When that protective barrier is compromised, whether by excessive moisture, scratching, or underlying skin conditions, bacteria and fungi seize the opportunity to invade. This is why chronic skin diseases often set the stage for recurrent ear…

By Rev. Mrs. Charity Essie Djokoto, Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives Mental self-care is cultivating habits, activities and practices that help nurture emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It’s about recognizing and managing stress, building resilience, and cultivating a positive mindset. Girls are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and eating disorders during adolescence; self-care can reduce these risks. The goal of this write up is to guide adolescent girls develop coping skills and promote healthy relationships and self-image. Mental self-care is crucial for adolescent girls because this is a critical developmental phase characterized by: a period of growth, self-discovery,…

It is a ritual as common as brushing your teeth. That feeling of fullness or an errant itch sends us rummaging for a cotton swab, driven by the deep-seated belief that a clean ear is a wax-free ear. The truth is that earwax, clinically known as cerumen, is far from being a sign of dirt. It is, in reality, a sophisticated and hard-working substance your body produces specifically to protect your ear. Think of it not as a mess to be cleaned, but as a dedicated guardian stationed to protect. Its primary mission is to act as a sticky trap,…

In global health, the traditional model is simple: resources and directives flow from the capital to the countryside. But Uganda is flipping that script, proving that the best person to fix a broken health system is often the person living in it. With guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO), a quiet transformation is taking place across the country’s district health offices. The goal is to move away from top-down mandates and instead build local systems that are resilient, data-driven, and capable of leading their own development. “We are building systems that not only withstand shocks but also deliver consistently,”…

By Emmanuel Gyamfi Ayirebi, Laboratory consultant (Essence clinic and medical laboratory) In the management of ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions, clinical examination is only one part of the diagnostic journey. Behind every confirmed infection, guided antibiotic prescription, or early cancer diagnosis is the work of the medical laboratory. Infections of the ear are among the most common ENT complaints seen in healthcare facilities. When a patient presents with persistent ear discharge or pain, an ear swab is collected and sent to the laboratory for culture and sensitivity testing. Using microbiological techniques, we isolate and identify the exact organism responsible…

By Dr. Susana Somuah, Director, Academics, GCNM ‎Hormones shape far more than reproduction. Across a woman’s life—from menstruation to pregnancy and menopause—fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone quietly influence the ears, nose, throat, and balance system. Yet many of these symptoms are often mistaken for allergies, infections, stress, or simply aging. Recognizing the hormonal link behind certain ENT complaints can improve diagnosis, reduce unnecessary medication, and strengthen patient care. During the menstrual cycle, some women experience nasal congestion, sinus pressure, or postnasal drip just before their period. Estrogen increases blood flow to the nasal lining and promotes swelling, while progesterone contributes…

The human ear is a complex and delicate organ that serves as the body’s gateway for sound and a center for spatial awareness. Often mistakenly thought of as just the visible part on the side of the head, the ear is actually a much deeper and more intricate structure. It is housed partly within the hardest bone of the skull and is divided into three distinct sections that work in perfect sequence. The first section is the outer ear, which includes the visible, curved pinna and the ear canal. This part acts as a natural funnel, collecting sound from the…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a first-of-its-kind guidance document aimed at accelerating the development of novel therapeutics for snakebites, a neglected tropical disease that affects millions worldwide. The new Target Product Profiles (TPPs), published on February 27, 2026, are designed to guide researchers, regulators, and manufacturers in creating safer and more effective treatments for the 5.4 million people who are bitten by snakes each year. The initiative addresses a critical global health crisis. Current statistics indicate that snakebites result in an estimated 83,000 to 138,000 deaths annually. For every fatality, many more victims suffer from permanent disabilities, including…

The Government of Ghana has officially launched the revised National Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Policy (2025–2029) to fortify the nation’s future human capital. The new framework, unveiled under the leadership of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, updates the 2004 policy to create a comprehensive, multi-sectoral roadmap for the holistic development of children from conception to age eight. The policy shift is grounded in neuroscientific evidence highlighting that approximately 90 percent of brain development occurs before the age of five. This positions early childhood investment not merely as a social service, but as a critical driver…