Ghanaian Pharmacist launches book on Healthy secrets

Accra, April 28, GNA - Dr Alex Dodoo, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana, on Wednesday unveiled a book on "Healthy Secrets- a layperson's guide to health issues," in Accra, spanning basic health issues like flatulence and bad human odour. The 322-page book, which was a by-product of articles the Author wrote in the Weekly Spectator from 2005-2007 also tackled issues like erectile dysfunction, bed wetting, snoring, vaginal thrush, menopause, drug overdose, shyness, panic attacks, condoms, breast feeding and malaria.

Health Secrets was launched in February in Geneva, Switzerland, followed by Tanzania, Morocco, Mauritius, Seychelles, the Netherlands, UK and US. It will be launched in Sweden and South Africa in May. It comprises 50 chapters and six sections, which touched on Medications, Ailments, Medicines and Drug Interactions, Medicines and Gender, Healthy Professionals and Lifestyle, and Health Promotions. The book, which was published by Creative Trends, a Ghanaian Marketing, Advertising and Event Management Company, is targeting the sale of million copies in a year, to make it a best seller. Mr Yonny Kulendi, Solicitor and Advocate, who gave the keynote address, described the book as 93well researched, articulate and a product of Dr Dodoo's patriotism and commitment to the well-being of the general public".

"Service to community and country is a legacy to thrive beyond us," he stressed.

Mr Stephen Yaw Asamoah, Chief Executive Officer of Trends said Healthy Secrets was a world class book that would help reduce the mortality rate, drug abuse and empower patients to ask critical questions about their treatment. Dr Dodoo said the book demystified medicine, explaining that his motivation for writing it emanated from saving lives and not for profit.

Mr Kabral Blay Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission, who chaired the function, expressed satisfaction that a Ghanaian writer had a story to tell. He said Ghana had a lot to celebrate since a number of Ghanaians were joining world acclaimed writers.

Mr Blay Amihere described Healthy Secrets as 93easy to read and amusing", and commended Dr Dodoo for simplifying issues of medicine. He noted that beyond the politics there was the need for publishers to highlight enlightening issues.

Mr Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, former Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, bought the first copy of the book for GH¢3,000, which he dedicated to his daughter; Sylvia, who died through cancer. Dr Dodoo was a product of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Alberta, Canada, and Kings College, UK. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Tropical Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School.

He is currently the President of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance and President of the Pharmacy Information Section of the International Pharmaceutical Federation.

Dr Dodoo is the Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Advocacy and Training in Pharmacovigilance and the Head of Global Outreach for WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring, the Uppsala Monitoring Centre of Uppsala, Sweden. He is also a member of the WHO Advisory Committee on the Safety of Medicinal Products.