It’s Time to #ChangeDirection on Mental Health
The World Economic Forum estimates that mental illnesses will account for more than half of the economic burden of disease over the next two decades – more than cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases combined. In high-income countries, more than 35% of people with mental disorders receive no treatment. This rate can increase to 85% for those in low- and middle-income countries. Statistics from the Mental Health Authority in Ghana indicates that about four million Ghanaians, out of the estimated population of 28million are suffering from mild to severe mental illnesses, with treatment gap hovering around 98% of the total …
Safeguard The Rights of Children Now!
It is not easy to define “violence” or ‘abuse’ against children because children’s rights is violated in so many different ways depending on the context and culture. Children may suffer physical, emotional or sexual abuse and their rights may be violated through social media/Internet, in a family, an institution, a school, community or faith setting. The perpetrators of abuse vary from an individual adult, adults working together, another child, to a group of children. UNCRC 30TH ANNIVERSARY It is important to recognize that children are not one homogenous group but have varying levels of maturity and understanding. Article 3 of …
Slash off 20% Tax on Sanitary Pads to Ensure Balance-for-Better.
The award winning writer Vera Narzarian once said; “A woman is human. She is not better, wiser, stronger, more intelligent, more creative, or more responsible than a man. Likewise, she is never less’’. The existence of male supremacy and female inferiority however is the sad reality in most societies today, especially in Africa. In many sectors including education, statistics show that more males enrol and participate than females. Girls who get to attend school tend to face a number of disruptions due to various factors including the natural phenomenon of menstruation. Menstruation has been proven to be a strong barrier …
How To React To Harmful Online Content
It is worrying to note that most people especially parents have been alarmed at the Momo Challenge on YouTube. Two weeks ago we published an article about the importance of the 21st Century Digital Literacy skills which includes News Literacy: ability to determine between fact and fiction and not to take news on face value (also known as fake news phenomenon). The fundamental truth about media literacy is that one can determine how to direct traffic to a particular website for effect which was the case in the so-called Momo challenge where one social media post sparked the discussion about …
Reading For Progress: Text vrs Digital?
One of the five pillars of the Year of Reading concept being promoted by the Ghana Library Authority is LITERACY. The Oxford dictionary defines literacy as the ability to read and write. The key to literacy is reading development, a progression of skills which begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and which culminates in the deep understanding of text. It is necessary we take into consideration how today’s changing technological landscape offers both promise and challenges to literacy instruction. But it is critical to fit technology into education and discuss how literacy education can meet society’s increasing …
Child Online Africa Supports GHLA To Promote Online Safety Among Children
Child Online Africa, a child focused non-governmental organization has donated about 800 online safety booklets to Ghana Library Authority. This forms parts of efforts to promote the awareness of online safety and privacy among children. Presenting the booklets, the Executive Director of Child Online Africa Awo Aid Amenyah said, “we are in a technological age and children must be aware of dangers the internet can pose. We therefore deem it a duty to develop this safety material for children.” The Executive Director (Ag.) of Ghana Library Authority Hayford Siaw who received the booklets noted, “Libraries are information hubs for all …
Keep Your Online Profiles Anonymous
The Internet is increasingly becoming a dangerous place for children and young people whose online profiles often attract sexual predators, scammers and pedophiles, a reason for which Child Online Africa – COA promotes child protection, child wellbeing and digital literacy. The essence of what we do is to warn that personal information posted or used in a third party applications online can lead to abductions and sexual exploitation of children and young people. What we need not take for granted as a country is that predators and pedophiles are finding new ways and new opportunities to network with each other …
J Initiative Launches New Identity
Child online safety advocacy organization, J Initiative has changed its identity to Child Online Africa (COA). The change is to reflect its continental focus and multi-country agenda, as well as to reflect the growing demand and interest in its services in the area of child online protection, child well-being and Digital literacy on the African continent. There is the need to encourage each African country to put in place a deliberate effort at protecting children online like it is the case in Ghana. J Initiative, an organization which has spearheaded the call on stakeholders to protect children and young people …
Tax on Sanitary Pad is Violence Against Girls
“We must remain committed to preserving the rights and dignity of our adolescent girls because ignoring their menstrual hygiene needs is a violation of their rights: leaders need to find practical, holistic and cost-effective solutions that would ensure even the least fortunate have access to clean and safe sanitary solutions” Margaret Kenyatta – The first Lady of Kenya. From 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December, Human Rights Day, the campaign on 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence will galvanize action and support from gender rights advocates and social justice movements …
Make Sanitary Pads Zero Tax
“We must remain committed to preserving the rights and dignity of our adolescent girls because ignoring their menstrual hygiene needs is a violation of their rights: leaders need to find practical, holistic and cost-effective solutions that would ensure even the least fortunate have access to clean and safe sanitary solutions” Margaret Kenyatta – The first Lady Of Kenya. The maintenance of an active lifestyle, devoid of stress and tension during periods, and its culminating effect on school dropout and attendance has become a huge concern to girls, parents, education sector players, Civil Society Organizations and development partners. Interaction with a …
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