This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that ... read full comment
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that a lot of effort and resources should be garnered to push our health care system to the next stratosphere.
Our political leaders don't seem to grab this simple concept because they have all the resources and ability at their disposal to jet themselves and their families over to Europe and North America for the best of health care in the world.
So they pay no heed to the local health care systems in their various countries allowing even the little semblance we have for health care to collapse completely.
Ghana is the worst culprit of this neglect and negligence.
We have taxis masquerading as ambulances on city/town streets.
Earlier this year, a high profile but very corrupt government official died on the street like a common street dog from an alleged asthma attack because of the lack of a properly government- administered ambulatory system. A good samaritan taxi driver took him to a nearby clinic but it was already too late.
Here was a supposedly 'smart' guy who had been on the political scene for over thirty or so years. He never put in any effort to see it fit to improve the health care system under the successive governments he served in, believing that he and colleagues could rush overseas for the best care and that only the ordinary Joes deserve the local health care. So the 'health trap' he was part of setting for the locals ended up trapping him instead. A good riddance if you asked me.
Maybe this EBOLA scare will push our selfish, corrupt and looting brigade of political leaders to mend their evil thieving ways and spend the riches they are looting to enrich themselves, their families and cronies in areas that will benefit all citizens like good educational and healthcare systems, just to mention a few but I very much doubt it. As soon as this ebola issue is over with the western world shouldering the lion's share of the cost, it will be back to business as usual. More looting, corruption, ransacking and pillaging of the individual countries' coffers will begin with more vigour like there's no tomorrow.
On the religious aspect of this argument, I'll think , that will have to be left to the individual because the government doesn't have that much control in that area except when abuses happen in the particular churches. What the governments can do though, is to mount a rigourous educational campaign to teach the citizenry that pastors, prophets/prophetesses, pastors, faith healers, mallams, etc are definitely NOT healers of any diseases or illnesses and that the proper medical care should be sought at the medical clinics and hospitals.
What these religious leaders can do though, is to look after the psychological needs of their church members because as humans we all need assurances from leaders we look up to, once in a while, especially in times of crisis in our personal lives . Unlike overseas, where people go to talk to a 'shrink' if he or she has personal psychological issues, back home those services are non-existent. That's where church leaders can come in and act as counselors. Unfortunately, some very unscrupulous churches and their leaders use that as a green light to defraud and scam the gullible.
The government in a way can also monitor these churches for such abuses.
Military Man 9 years ago
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that ... read full comment
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that a lot of effort and resources should be garnered to push our health care system to the next stratosphere.
Our political leaders don't seem to grab this simple concept because they have all the resources and ability at their disposal to jet themselves and their families over to Europe and North America for the best of health care in the world.
So they pay no heed to the local health care systems in their various countries allowing even the little semblance we have for health care to collapse completely.
Ghana is the worst culprit of this neglect and negligence.
We have taxis masquerading as ambulances on city/town streets.
Earlier this year, a high profile but very corrupt government official died on the street like a common street dog from an alleged asthma attack because of the lack of a properly government- administered ambulatory system. A good samaritan taxi driver took him to a nearby clinic but it was already too late.
Here was a supposedly 'smart' guy who had been on the political scene for over thirty or so years. He never put in any effort to see it fit to improve the health care system under the successive governments he served in, believing that he and colleagues could rush overseas for the best care and that only the ordinary Joes deserve the local health care. So the 'health trap' he was part of setting for the locals ended up trapping him instead. A good riddance if you asked me.
Maybe this EBOLA scare will push our selfish, corrupt and looting brigade of political leaders to mend their evil thieving ways and spend the riches they are looting to enrich themselves, their families and cronies in areas that will benefit all citizens like good educational and healthcare systems, just to mention a few but I very much doubt it. As soon as this ebola issue is over with the western world shouldering the lion's share of the cost, it will be back to business as usual. More looting, corruption, ransacking and pillaging of the individual countries' coffers will begin with more vigour like there's no tomorrow.
On the religious aspect of this argument, I'll think , that will have to be left to the individual because the government doesn't have that much control in that area except when abuses happen in the particular churches. What the governments can do though, is to mount a rigourous educational campaign to teach the citizenry that pastors, prophets/prophetesses, pastors, faith healers, mallams, etc are definitely NOT healers of any diseases or illnesses and that the proper medical care should be sought at the medical clinics and hospitals.
What these religious leaders can do though, is to look after the psychological needs of their church members because as humans we all need assurances from leaders we look up to, once in a while, especially in times of crisis in our personal lives . Unlike overseas, where people go to talk to a 'shrink' if he or she has personal psychological issues, back home those services are non-existent. That's where church leaders can come in and act as counselors. Unfortunately, some very unscrupulous churches and their leaders use that as a green light to defraud and scam the gullible.
The government in a way can also monitor these churches for such abuses.
Military Man 9 years ago
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that ... read full comment
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that a lot of effort and resources should be garnered to push our health care system to the next stratosphere.
Our political leaders don't seem to grab this simple concept because they have all the resources and ability at their disposal to jet themselves and their families over to Europe and North America for the best of health care in the world.
So they pay no heed to the local health care systems in their various countries allowing even the little semblance we have for health care to collapse completely.
Ghana is the worst culprit of this neglect and negligence.
We have taxis masquerading as ambulances on city/town streets.
Earlier this year, a high profile but very corrupt government official died on the street like a common street dog from an alleged asthma attack because of the lack of a properly government- administered ambulatory system. A good samaritan taxi driver took him to a nearby clinic but it was already too late.
Here was a supposedly 'smart' guy who had been on the political scene for over thirty or so years. He never put in any effort to see it fit to improve the health care system under the successive governments he served in, believing that he and colleagues could rush overseas for the best care and that only the ordinary Joes deserve the local health care. So the 'health trap' he was part of setting for the locals ended up trapping him instead. A good riddance if you asked me.
Maybe this EBOLA scare will push our selfish, corrupt and looting brigade of political leaders to mend their evil thieving ways and spend the riches they are looting to enrich themselves, their families and cronies in areas that will benefit all citizens like good educational and healthcare systems, just to mention a few but I very much doubt it. As soon as this ebola issue is over with the western world shouldering the lion's share of the cost, it will be back to business as usual. More looting, corruption, ransacking and pillaging of the individual countries' coffers will begin with more vigour like there's no tomorrow.
On the religious aspect of this argument, I'll think , that will have to be left to the individual because the government doesn't have that much control in that area except when abuses happen in the particular churches. What the governments can do though, is to mount a rigourous educational campaign to teach the citizenry that pastors, prophets/prophetesses, pastors, faith healers, mallams, etc are definitely NOT healers of any diseases or illnesses and that the proper medical care should be sought at the medical clinics and hospitals.
What these religious leaders can do though, is to look after the psychological needs of their church members because as humans we all need assurances from leaders we look up to, once in a while, especially in times of crisis in our personal lives . Unlike overseas, where people go to talk to a 'shrink' if he or she has personal psychological issues, back home those services are non-existent. That's where church leaders can come in and act as counselors. Unfortunately, some very unscrupulous churches and their leaders use that as a green light to defraud and scam the gullible.
The government in a way can also monitor these churches for such abuses.
STONER KOBYLYNTON 9 years ago
Mr. Igwe, the summary of your piece comes to sanitation which most people in Africa and else where lacks. This is a human problem everywhere around the globe with exception of people who adore their whole being. You cannot b ... read full comment
Mr. Igwe, the summary of your piece comes to sanitation which most people in Africa and else where lacks. This is a human problem everywhere around the globe with exception of people who adore their whole being. You cannot bring God or Jesus into this discussion for not helping the affected areas to eradicate this disease. Take your time, pray for wisdom of understanding and read the entire book of Leviticus which God in his infinite wisdom instructed Moses to write it down for the Jews when they were in the wilderness about sanitation.
If God will, you may have your mind open to learn that God is holy and pure which literally not spiritually translates that God adores cleanliness and abhors filthiness. E&OE.
Dennis Kyere 9 years ago
Great and thought-provoking analysis of our religious inclination towards health care in Africa.
Good job Leo!
Great and thought-provoking analysis of our religious inclination towards health care in Africa.
Good job Leo!
tegare 9 years ago
to some extent you are right. ebola didnt exist before 1976 thereabouts. ebola didnt exist in the affected countries until recently. nothing much is known sceintifically about ebola. if a high tech country like us responds to ... read full comment
to some extent you are right. ebola didnt exist before 1976 thereabouts. ebola didnt exist in the affected countries until recently. nothing much is known sceintifically about ebola. if a high tech country like us responds to ebola, an infectious disease, by sending in soldiers, i guess our local folk could be excused for looking to religion for answers.
??? 9 years ago
Religion is a dread deadly virus for the brain and for the intellect and reasoning.
God and all religions are whoremaster, brain-sucker and slavemaster which treat the human consciousness to degeneration and suppressed any ... read full comment
Religion is a dread deadly virus for the brain and for the intellect and reasoning.
God and all religions are whoremaster, brain-sucker and slavemaster which treat the human consciousness to degeneration and suppressed any positive development.
Igwe, well done for boldly speaking the truth. anytime i see signboards and propaganda from churches along the line "REPENT, JESUS CHRIST IS COMING" or "REPENT, THE END OF THE WORLD IS AT HAND" i shiver not because of the end ... read full comment
Igwe, well done for boldly speaking the truth. anytime i see signboards and propaganda from churches along the line "REPENT, JESUS CHRIST IS COMING" or "REPENT, THE END OF THE WORLD IS AT HAND" i shiver not because of the end of the world ( which is nonsense) but because this propaganda makes men lazy and fearful. after all if the world is going to end why live for tommorrow?? why improve your situation on earth???
many christians do not admit that this nonsense of the demise of the earth is psychollogically powerful and creates a spirit of fear and ignorance among its adherents.
religion breeds ignorance and unfortunately Africa is ignorant and poor because we give so much of our time and resources to religion and fear. africans should study the history of europe over the last thousand years to appreciate the difference between a theocratic europe and a secular europe. theocratic and monarchical europe was a wasteland of ignorance, war, fear, death and poverty, it was only when they shed the ignorance of christianity and embraced science and started using their brains did they reach superior levels of health, life expectancy, education and fulfillment. unfortunately Africa is still in the grip of slavery, slavery to religion and ignornace, that is why we die by the thousands of a simple disease like malaria and enjoy living in filth and poverty. after all "blessed are the poor"
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that ...
read full comment
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that ...
read full comment
Leo,
This is the second time I'm reading a piece from you and I think you've already won me over with your thought-provoking "hard hitters".
There should be no argument that scientific research is the way to go and that ...
read full comment
Mr. Igwe, the summary of your piece comes to sanitation which most people in Africa and else where lacks. This is a human problem everywhere around the globe with exception of people who adore their whole being. You cannot b ...
read full comment
Great and thought-provoking analysis of our religious inclination towards health care in Africa.
Good job Leo!
to some extent you are right. ebola didnt exist before 1976 thereabouts. ebola didnt exist in the affected countries until recently. nothing much is known sceintifically about ebola. if a high tech country like us responds to ...
read full comment
Religion is a dread deadly virus for the brain and for the intellect and reasoning.
God and all religions are whoremaster, brain-sucker and slavemaster which treat the human consciousness to degeneration and suppressed any ...
read full comment
Igwe, well done for boldly speaking the truth. anytime i see signboards and propaganda from churches along the line "REPENT, JESUS CHRIST IS COMING" or "REPENT, THE END OF THE WORLD IS AT HAND" i shiver not because of the end ...
read full comment