Author: Priscilla Akorfa Fomevor

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…

By Donald Yaw Gaviston, Occupational Therapist Healthcare today depends heavily on technology. Hospitals and clinics use electronic medical records instead of paper files. Doctors and nurses rely on computer systems to view test results, prescribe medication, and monitor patients. Many people also use mobile health apps to book appointments, receive reminders, or track their health. While these digital tools make healthcare faster and more efficient, they also create new risks. This is why cybersecurity is so important in modern healthcare. Cybersecurity simply means protecting computers, digital systems, and health information from unauthorized access or misuse. In healthcare, this includes protecting…

You’ve scrutinized your skincare routine, changed your pillowcases, and eliminated dairy from your diet. Yet, those persistent, inflamed breakouts around your jawline and mouth refuse to budge. If this sounds familiar, it might be time to look beyond your pores and consider a surprising culprit: your gums. We often think of acne as a surface-level issue—clogged pores, excess oil, and dead skin cells. But emerging research highlights a deeper, more systemic trigger for inflammation. The health of your mouth and the bacteria living within it could be secretly wreaking havoc on your skin, leading to a specific type of acne…

Men are not great at going to the dentist. This is hardly breaking news. But what many don’t realise is that even the men who brush twice daily and swear by their electric toothbrushes are fighting biology itself. Testosterone, the very hormone that fuels male strength, libido, and drive, quietly sabotages oral health in ways most men never see coming. It starts with plaque. Testosterone increases the proteins in saliva that oral bacteria feed on, creating a stickier, more hospitable environment for biofilm to form. The result is faster accumulation of plaque, which, if not meticulously removed, hardens into tartar…

Burkina Faso is charting a new course in public health by directly delivering free cervical cancer screening to the heart of its communities, from remote villages to bustling local markets. This nationwide effort is overcoming deep-seated barriers of cost and distance that have long left women unprotected against one of the country’s deadliest cancers. Previously, fewer than eight percent of women had access to screening, with rural women facing journeys of dozens or even hundreds of kilometers to reach a health center. The government’s bold response has been to declare screening and treatment free and to deploy mobile clinics that…

For generations, a woman’s health journey has been closely charted through the lens of hormonal change. Yet, one critical aspect often remains in the shadows: the profound and direct impact of these fluctuations on oral health. While hot flashes and mood changes are widely discussed, the silent erosion of jawbone density or the sudden, unexplained burn on the tongue are whispers of a deeper systemic shift. The link is both direct and undeniable: estrogen is not just a reproductive hormone; it is a guardian of bone and oral tissue, and its decline fundamentally reshapes the landscape of a woman’s mouth.…

A silent epidemic is happening in the mouths of millions of men every night. It’s not a disease of decay, but one of pressure—a physical manifestation of the mind’s unspoken burdens. This epidemic is bruxism, the involuntary clenching and grinding of teeth, and it stands at the critical intersection of mental health and modern dentistry. More than just a “dental issue,” bruxism is increasingly understood as a biobehavioral condition—a tangible sign written in enamel and jaw muscle of our internal stress, anxiety, and psychological tension. For men, who are statistically less likely to report psychological distress and more likely to…

We’ve all been there. Feeling like your teeth need a deep, rigorous scrub, you bear down on your toothbrush with extra force, convinced that more pressure equals a more thorough clean. It’s a logical assumption—if a gentle wipe cleans a counter, surely a good scrub does better. But when it comes to your teeth, this common belief isn’t just wrong; it’s actively harmful. The truth is, brushing harder does not mean cleaner teeth. In fact, brushing too hard is a leading cause of enamel erosion and gum recession, two problems that are irreversible and can lead to serious dental issues.…

A new assessment from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that next-generation influenza vaccines could prevent up to 18 billion cases of the flu and save more than 6 million lives globally over the next 25 years. The findings, published on 18 February 2026, are part of a comprehensive WHO report titled the “Full Value of Improved Influenza Vaccine Assessment” (FVIVA). It evaluates the potential health, economic, and policy impacts of developing vaccines that offer broader and longer-lasting protection than current seasonal shots. Currently, seasonal influenza imposes a massive health burden worldwide. Each year, there are around one billion cases…

In a major step forward for women’s health, the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has officially integrated the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the country’s routine immunisation programme, solidifying its commitment to preventing cervical cancer. The announcement made by the Municipal Health Directorates, follows a successful nationwide HPV vaccination campaign conducted in September 2025. Starting this January, the vaccine will be consistently available to protect young girls against the virus responsible for most cervical cancers. According to a press statement signed by Wilhemia Duah Morttey, the Municipal Director of Health Services in Tarkwa Nsuaem, the new phase targets girls between the…