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3.1 million Ghanaians suffering mental disorders- Health Minister

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An estimated 3.1 million Ghanaians, representing 10 percent of the estimated 31 million population of Ghana, have one form of mental disorder or the other, with 16,000 having severe cases.

Sourcing the data from the WHO and the Ghana Mental Health Authority, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Health Minister, told Parliament that:

“It is clearly established that 41 percent of Ghanaians have psychological distress – mild, moderate, severe – and this costs the nation 7 percent GDP loss”

He was responding to a question by Mr Christian Corletey Otuteye, the MP for Sege, who wanted to know what plans the Ministry had to address the plight of persons with mental health problems in Ghana.

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The Minister categorised persons with mental health problems into four: those on the street, those at treatment facilities, which include psychiatric and general health facilities, those in the traditional and faith healing centres, and those in their houses and organisations who do not recognise their mental health illness or who recognise but are not doing anything about it.

”The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 10 percent of the population of Ghana has one form of mental disorder or the other. Thus, with an estimated 31 million population in Ghana, we have an estimated 3.1 million with mental disorders,” he said.

“The Mental Health Authority did a rapid assessment, a mini census of persons with severe mental illness on the streets a few years ago and they got 16,000 people in our cities, towns and villages all over the country.”

Mr Agyeman-Manu assured the House that the Ministry and its allied institutions including the Mental Health Authority, the Ghana Health Service and others, knew the size of the problem and had the human resources to address it.

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“What we are doing now is to spread mental health services nationwide, integrate into the general health care such that wherever we treat malaria, brain fog and other conditions related to mental health can be treated. This will help to access care,” he said.

Mr Agyeman-Manu said under the Agenda 111 programme of government, two new psychiatric hospitals were to be built in the northern and middle belts, adding that the sites had been identified, drawings made, and contractors being chosen.

He said until recently, psychiatric medications were not readily available, but they were now available through budgetary allocations and donor support adding that more psychiatrists had also been trained, from 10 to 45 at the moment.

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He solicited the support of the Speaker to find more money to address mental health issues, and announced that the Ministry was working on how to establish a Mental Health Levy.

The Minister advocated an increase in budgetary allocation to enable mental health patients on the streets to be taken in small numbers at a time for treatment and sent back home to their communities.

In relation to a question on anti-snake serum asked by Mr Daniel Nsala Wakpai, MP for Kpandai, Mr Agyeman-Manu announced that the Ministry had included Anti-Snake Serum in the Framework Contract for Essential Medicines.

Under the Framework, qualified firms are selected to supply Anti-Snake Serum, which are allocated and distributed to regional medical stores (RMS) and teaching hospitals across the country.

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“The Ministry allocates the quantities to the RMS and the teaching hospitals based on their consumption and replenishes as the stocks reach their reorder level,” he said.

Source: GNA

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Kira Forex: The Ghanaian woman setting the pace in the Forex Trading business

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The advent of new media and digital money-making platforms has provided a plethora of opportunities for people to earn money and transform their life stories through legitimately acquired wealth and affluence.

One such life-changing and lucrative opportunity presented by new media is the forex trading business, which has surged in the past decade, leading to the creation of millions of new millionaires and billionaires worldwide.

Forex Trading is essentially the art of studying the global currency market and leveraging information about currency rates to buy and exchange currencies on a forex marketing platform.

The popularity of Forex Trading has soared in the country over the past half-decade, with several Ghanaians studying currency trends and making significant financial gains from it. However, only one name stands out in the business.

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Amid the growing interest in the Forex Trading business in the country, only one name has emerged as the pioneer and pacesetter: Lamidi Sikira, better known by her brand name, “Kira Forex.”

Just as Yaa Asantewaa is synonymous with feminine bravery in Ghana, Kira Forex has become the prime face of Ghanaian and African excellence in the forex trading business.

With over ten years of experience, Kira Forex has rightfully earned the reputation of a forex trading luminary, with several awards in Ghana and across the continent validating her position as one of Africa’s leading forex traders.

Her success in the field is so profound that she revealed in 2023 that she turned down a $20,000-a-month job to continue leading the pack in the forex trading industry.

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A trait of Kira Forex that endears her to many Ghanaians is her selflessness and willingness to guide others, particularly Ghanaian women, out of poverty. Having established herself in the field, Kira Forex founded the Kira Forex Academy with the goal of enlightening Ghanaians, especially women, about the forex trading industry, enabling them to earn money from the comfort of their homes.

A staunch advocate for the independence and growth of women, Kira Forex believes that financial freedom is the most crucial condition for independence and is thus leading many Ghanaian women on the path to financial freedom and wealth.

She also established the Kira Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization committed to enlightening, enriching, and empowering individuals in Ghana and across Africa. Through this foundation, she actively supports programs and social causes aimed at improving the lives of youths and the elderly, exemplifying her commitment to serving humanity.

Her outstanding work as a Forex Trader and philanthropist has earned her several awards, including Most Influential Trader and Best Forex Trader in Singapore, Outstanding Service Award in Nigeria, Africa’s Under 40 CEOs Award in Uganda, and Best Female Forex Trader of the Year in South Africa, among others.

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YouTube is what is feeding filmmakers now – Ruth Kadiri

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Well-known Nollywood actress and movie producer, Ruth Kadiri has detailed reasons for uploading her movies on YouTube. (more…)

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Mahama made us feel good, vote for him for more – Mercy Asiedu to creative industry

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Renowned Kumawood actress, Oheneyere Mercy Asiedu has publicly endorsed former President John Dramani Mahama for the upcoming presidential elections. (more…)

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I have no issues with King Promise despite not responding to his congratulatory message on X – Stonebwoy

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Reggae/ dancehall musician, Stonebwoy has addressed recent speculations regarding his lack of response to a congratulatory post from his fellow artiste, Gregory Bortey Newman, otherwise known as King Promise on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. (more…)

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I didn’t disrespect nor threaten Baba Sadiq’s wife; all the claims are preposterous lies – Stonebwoy.

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Ghanaian Reggae/dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy, known in private life as Livingstone Etse Satekla has vehemently denied accusations that he disrespected or threatened the wife of aspiring politician and entertainment critic, Baba Sadiq. (more…)

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I was arrested every week – Dr. Likee Reflects on His Past as a Drug Trafficker

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Ghanaian actor and skit maker, Ebenezer Akwasi Antwi, popularly known as Dr. Like, has recently shared shocking details about his previous life. (more…)

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