Removing hair in your nose could be detrimental to your health

Date: Jun - 19 - 2021 , 13:00

BY: By Hadiza Nuhhu-Billa Quansah

Category: General News

Using pointed scissors in such manner must be avoided

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Nose hair is a natural part of the human body.

Although it is normal to have hair in the nose, some people find long hair that protrude from the nostrils a source of embarrassment which they wish to remove.

According to a Medical Doctor at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, Dr Emmanuel Addipa-Adapoe, having long or thick nose hair is not always a bad thing.

“Nose hair serves an important purpose. It catches dust and debris in the air that would otherwise have become trapped in your upper nasal passage. Mucus in your nose lubricates your nose hair. Since the hair is typically lubricated, it also attracts and traps pathogens to keep you from getting sick, so why do you want to get rid of it?” he asked.

In an interview with The Mirror on some bad health practices in the midst of COVID-19, Dr Addipa-Addapoe said it was very common to see people, especially men, using small scissors to cut the hair in their noses because they saw it as a nuisance.

“Some people don’t like the way that long nose hair looks because of the association with ageing. Long nose hair may make you feel like you look older than you are. You may also feel like your long nose hair collects dried mucus and other debris, making hygiene a difficult,” he said.

 

LGBTQI: Be careful! If you like marry animals but leave us out - Joe Biden cautioned

Charles Owusu has commended Adwoa Safo for comments made on the legalization of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Intersex Rights (LGBTQI).

The Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Sarah Adwoa Sarfo during her vetting in Parliament said:

“Mr Chair, the issue of LGBT is an issue that when mentioned, it creates some controversy but what I want to say is that our laws are clear on such practice. It makes it criminal. Section 104 of the Criminal Code prohibits one from having

Fight against LGBTQI is not of the Lord's - Prof. Yaw Gyampo

Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, Ransford Edward Van Gyampo says Ghana's fight against LGBTQI is not of the Lord's.

According to him, the “ordinary people” will themselves fight homosexuals without the involvement of God.

In a post on Facebook sighted by Ghanaguardian.com, Prof. Yaw Gyampo described homosexuality as “animalistic” which will not be supported by the masses.

The comments come after one Alex Dordah queried Prof. Gyampo who is critical of issues of national interest, to openly come out and condemn LGBTQI and their activities in the country.

“So Prof you wouldn't speak against the lgbt? You are too loud in your silence why,” he questioned the UG professor under the comment section of one of his recent posts on Facebook.

In a courteous response, Mr. Gyampo wrote, “Hahahaha.....Ah but who will support excuse me to say “trumu trumu?” Any attempt to make it fester would be crushed by ordinary people. We won’t even allow God to fight this. It is simply animalistic and no one will support it.”

At the moment, there is a nationwide conversation about people practising homosexuality in Ghana.

The allege establishment of an LGBTQI office in the country is what triggered the conversations. While some are calling on the President to immediately hanker down on the said office and their operations, others say, just like every other individual, gays and lesbians are also entitled to the fundamental human rights of this country.

Designing vaccines for people, not profits

 Recent announcements of demonstrated efficacy in COVID-19 vaccine trials have brought hope that a return to normality is in sight. The preliminary data for Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna’s novel mRNA vaccines are highly encouraging, suggesting that their approval for emergency use is forthcoming.

And more recent news of effectiveness (albeit at a slightly lower rate) in a vaccine from AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford has fueled optimism that even more breakthroughs are on their way.

In theory, the arrival of a safe and effective vaccine would represent the beginning of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. In reality, we are not even at the end of the beginning of delivering what is needed: a “people’s vaccine” that is equitably distributed and made freely available to all who need it.

To be sure, the work to create vaccines in a matter of months deserves praise. Humanity has made a monumental technological leap forward. But the springboard was decades of massive public investment in research and development.

Most of the leading vaccine candidates prime the immune system’s defenses against the viral “spike protein,” an approach made possible through years of research at the US National Institutes of Health. More immediately, BioNTech has received $445 million from the German government, and Moderna has received $1 million from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and more than $1 billion from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine has received more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion) of public funding.

But for technological advances to translate into Health for All, innovations that are created collectively should be governed in the public interest, not for private profit. This is especially true when it comes to developing, manufacturing, and distributing a vaccine in the context of a pandemic.

No country acting alone can resolve this crisis. That is why we need vaccines that are universally and freely available. And yet, the current innovation system prioritizes the interests of high-income countries over those of everyone else, and profits over public health.

The first step toward a people’s vaccine is to ensure full transparency of the clinical-trial results, which would enable independent and timely assessments of safety and efficacy. The publication of scanty, preliminary data through corporate press releases is meant for financial markets, not the public-health community. This practice sets a bad precedent. While pharmaceutical share prices surge, health professionals and the public are left second-guessing the reported results. As more details about the flaws in clinical trial design and implementation for the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine emerge, so do the calls for open science and immediate sharing of protocols and results.

In addition, critical questions about the leading vaccine candidates remain unanswered. Responding to political and economic pressure in high-income countries, pharmaceutical companies are rushing their vaccine candidates across the finish line. Accordingly, they have designed their phase-three clinical trials to deliver the quickest possible positive read-out, rather than addressing more relevant questions such as whether the vaccine prevents infection or just protects against the disease. It also is unclear how long the protection will last; whether a given vaccine works equally well in young and old people, or in people with co-morbidities; and how the top candidates compare to one another (critical for designing effective vaccination strategies).


Moreover, national interests – especially those of developed countries – remain the dominant factor in vaccine rollout. While the international purchase and distribution platform COVAX represents a momentous step forward, its impact is being offset by massive bilateral advance-purchase agreements by rich countries that can afford to bet on multiple vaccines. For example, high-income countries have already bought close to 80% of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccine doses that will be available within the first year.

All told, rich countries have laid claim to 3.8 billion doses from different vaccine makers, compared to 3.2 billion (which includes around 700 million doses for COVAX) for the rest of the world combined. In other words, high-income countries have pre-ordered enough doses to cover their populations several times over, leaving the rest of the world with potentially too few to cover even their most at-risk communities.

At the same time, because the vaccine race is focused primarily on Western markets, some candidates are scarcely viable outside of a developed-country context. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine must be kept at -70ºC, which is colder than an Antarctic winter. Distributing this vaccine will create costly and complex logistical challenges, especially for low- and middle-income countries. Although other candidates – such as the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine – are stable at higher temperatures, it is notable that such glaring features of market discrimination are built into the first product to reach the approval stage.

Beyond national interest lurks the problem of even narrower private interests, which stem from an over-financialized biopharmaceutical innovation model. The business model for future vaccine development is already being sized up now that the pandemic has revealed the potential windfall for investors. But while they benefit from sky-rocketing stock prices, soaring capital gains, and dumping a company’s shares the same day it announces promising preliminary results in a clinical trial, delivering a people’s vaccine has become an afterthought.

The COVID-19 crisis is a perfect test of whether a more public-health-oriented approach to innovation and production will prevail in the years ahead. While Pfizer is sticking with the model of maximizing shareholder value, AstraZeneca has at least pledged not to profit from its vaccine “during the pandemic.” Yet, despite all the public investment that underwrote these innovations, the process will remain opaque, leaving one to wonder if AstraZeneca is actually ready to prioritize public health over profit and offer its vaccine at cost.

While the recent vaccine news has brought hope, it also has exposed the pharmaceutical industry’s broken business model, casting doubt on the prospects of delivering a people’s vaccine and achieving Health for All. Business as usual may allow us to scrape by in this crisis. But there is a better way to do things. Before the next pandemic arrives, we must recognize vaccines as global health commons, and start to reorient the innovation system toward symbiotic public-private partnerships governed in the public interest.

Wenchi Constituency ambulance involved in accident

The Wenchi Constituency ambulance, under the One Constituency One Ambulance initiative by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, has been grounded following a road crash in

20 Nigeriens arrested in Ghana amid coronavirus fears

Ghana is finalizing processes to repatriate 20 Nigeriens who were arrested by the country’s immigration officers at Juaso in the Asante Akim South District of the Ashanti Region.

They include eight females, 11 males and a toddler.

The foreign nationals have been screened by health officials in the Ashanti Region as concerns over the deadly Coronavirus pandemic grow in the

Karela United 0-1 Asante Kotoko - Porcupines win on Independence day

William Opoku Mensah's first-half strike helped Asante Kotoko earn a slender 1-0 victory over Karela United in the Ghana Premier League on Independence Day.

The Porcupine Warriors claimed all three points at the Akoon Park in Tarkwa to go

The essence of ethics in our lives

Crime rates keep increasing day in and day out and it looks like there is nothing one can do apart from government’s efforts made to curb the situation at hand but pause, take a deep breath and open your eyes to reality. Before a person does wrong, he or she might have been triggered by something or has a problem recognizing wrongdoings from the right ones. With the reasonable amount of attention given, this could be put to a drastic reduction.

That’s where the question

Archer demolition: You, your descendants will pay for your abuse of power - Manasseh to government

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has vehemently criticised President Akufo-Addo and his government for "seeing nothing wrong" with the demolition of some factories at the Trade Fair Centre.

In an open epistle to government, the journalist who has on countless occasions expressed disappointment in the government he voted for said the move to destroy the factories was inappropriate.

While suggesting the demolition was politically motivated, Mr. Azuri reminded the president and his party that posterity will judge them.

"They are in power and have the power to do anything. And they had to teach that arrogant brat a lesson he would never forget. After all, who in this country does not know Raymond Archer has links with the opposition NDC?," he asked.

"Kudos to those behind this decision and action. Kudos to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his ministers and everyone who saw nothing wrong with this wickedness and are justifying it.

"...remember power will not always be in your hands. One day, you will leave this stage. You or your descendants may pay for what you do with the power you have today."

The Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited (GTFCL) on Sunday evening took tenants and owners of factories situated at the Trade Fair by surprise when it embarked on a demolition exercise backed by “orders from above”.

The affected included Raymond Archer who was once a journalist.

According to GTFCL, the exercise was to pave way for the redevelopment of the area. A statement from the outfit refuted suggestions it has targeted some businesses for demolition at the International Trade Fair Center in Accra due to political reasons. It added that occupants were given enough and prior notice.

"The GTFCL wants to make it categorically clear that, contrary to what is being speculated in the media, no business or businesses have ever been targeted for demolition because of their political or other affiliations," portions of the statement read.

Regardless, Azure is of the view the decision to destroy the factories was draconian.

Read Manasseh’s full article below:

That kind of mining was illegal. Those doing it knew it. They were warned, but they did not stop. The government set up a task force made up of the military, police and other security agencies. The illegal miners were given an ultimatum to vacate their sites.

When that well-publicised ultimatum expired, the task force went into the forests. They caught the recalcitrant illegal miners engaging in their illegal activities. Were the excavators, vehicles and other equipment of the miners destroyed?

No. They were seized.

Let’s come to a fairly decent and legitimate business being undertaken on government land that was rented to businesses. The government wanted to put the land to a different use so those operating there were served notices to move out.

One of them went to court to challenge the decision and secured an injunction on the government’s threat to demolish the businesses that did not move.

According to the government, it got the injunction lifted on February 12, 2020. The businessman says his lawyers filed further processes to stay the execution and those processes were duly served on the government agency threatening to demolish his businesses. The agency denies receiving any such legal processes. In Ghana, strange things are normal so this confusion is not new.

Four days after getting the injunction lifted and purportedly not receiving the other processes filed by the businessman, the government agency went to the site of the business at midnight with armed state security and demolished two factories belonging to the businessman. Other businesses were pulled down, but let’s focus on this particular businessman with the two factories.

According to him, the machines and other factory equipment alone cost more than $10 million. He had employed 120 people. He said even if the government had wanted to act on the court injunction that was lifted, he would have needed more than four days to remove the factory machines and equipment. Those who installed them had come from four different countries.

So could the government and the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre have done things differently even if they had to enforce the law?

Yes.

They could have served the businessman a notice:

“You were challenging us in court. We have got the injunction lifted so we have the power to demolish your structures now. We, however, know that your business is not just made of blocks and roofing sheets. You have very expensive equipment and you have operated these factories for 10 years. So we are giving you a month to dismantle your equipment and we will demolish the structure.”

This was not what happened. They moved in at midnight and pulled everything down. They were acting with instructions “from above”.

They are in power and have the power to do anything. And they had to teach that arrogant brat a lesson he would never forget. After all, who in this country does not know Raymond Archer has links with the opposition NDC?

Kudos to those behind this decision and action. Kudos to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his ministers and everyone who saw nothing wrong with this wickedness and are justifying it.

It takes a lot of courage to move in at midnight and destroy a more than GHC50 million worth of investment when that same government is desperately giving tax holidays to existing companies owned by foreigners and claiming them to be 1D1F.

If you could save the galamsey excavators, why could you not save Raymond Archer’s factory equipment? Was it because you could not appropriate the factory equipment to yourselves as you did with the galamsey equipment?

There’s one important fact you must remember. These actions poison the soul of the nation. Their psychological effect on the people and their sense of patriotism goes beyond the damage caused Raymond Archer.

Also, remember power will not always be in your hands. One day, you will leave this stage. You or your descendants may pay for what you do with the power you have today.

Beyond that, you should be concerned about the legacy you’re leaving behind ask yourselves the most important question of life.

What memory will your name evoke on the day you are lowered into the grave?

Angola buries rebel leader Jonas Savimbi

Angola on Saturday prepared to bury rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, in his home village at a public funeral, an important sign for national reconciliation, seventeen years after the end of a bloody civil war.

As early as Friday evening, hundreds of people accompanied his remains to the village of Lopitanga in the centre of the country, where they will be buried.

“For 17 years, we waited” for this funeral, said Isaias Samakuva, a former commander of the rebellion waged by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), which has since transformed into a political party.

Jonas Savimbi, known as the “black rooster”, was

Asamoah Gyan preaches unity ahead of AFCON

General captain of the Black Stars Asamoah Gyan believes that unity among the playing body and technical team is crucial in the team's quest to end Ghana's trophy drought

Last week, Gyan was named general captain of the side, with André Ayew appointed as his successor.

Despite losing the armband, Gyan is gearing up for the

2019 AFCON: Three technical experts to join Black Stars - Kwesi Appiah

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This was revealed by Coach Kwasi Appiah at the presidential reception held for the Black Stars at

Energy Minister takes on PDS over ‘nonsense’ Odumase billing

The Energy Minister says residents of Krobo Odumase in the Eastern Region, were justified in protesting the outrageous electricity bills they had been receiving from the power distributors company.

“I support the people of Krobo Odumase 100% for demanding their rights because I will not tolerate such nonsense,” John Peter Amewu stated Monday when he visited the family of the little boy who lost his life when the protesting youth clashed with the police last week.

The 14-year-old Thomas Partey was hit by a stray bullet after

Watch Teacher Kwadwo's hilarious interview with Shatta Wale about scuffle with Stonebwoy

The pandemonium which occurred at the Accra International Conference Centre (Dome) during the 20th Vodafone Ghana Music Awards has undoubtedly received wide condemnation with many seeking answers to why reggae/dancehall artistes Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy marred the occasion.

There was complete chaos shortly after Stonebwoy was announced winner of

Stonebwoy explains why he pulled a gun on stage

Reggae and Dancehall artiste, Stonebwoy, has released a statement explaining why he pulled a gun during the brawl between his camp Shatta Wale's at the 20th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMAs).

According to the artiste, attacks on him and his loved ones, especially on his wife during the 2017 Ashaiman to The World concert heightened his sense of security.

The artiste revealed being “a victim of incessant vilification and physical attacks” caused a trauma he is yet to escape from.

“My past trauma and my heightened senses are however no excuses for my behaviour – no matter the provocation. Other lives were at stake and Ghana’s reputation was also at stake,” the statement read.

A brawl erupted between Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale camps on stage after Stonebwoy was announced the winner of ‘Reggae/Dancehall Artiste of the Year’, at the VGMA on Sunday which caused the former to pull out a gun.

It’s unclear what Shatta Wale’s intentions were considering the fact that the two, over the years, have hardly seen eye to eye.

Although Stonebwoy apologised when he return to the stage after the brawl, he has once again apologised in his statement for denting the image of Charter House and the VGMAs.

“It is my ardent hope that the show will be remembered for the showcase and appreciation of talents and not the few minutes of regretful madness. I will continue working with Charterhouse and hope this won’t in any way affect my relationship with them,” he added.

The artiste stated he is taking precautions to ensure his personal fears do not put other lives in danger ever again, “such unfortunate incidents have clearly had an impact on me.”

He revealed he would be going for counselling sessions to deal with past violent incidents and also improve on security measures within his team.

Read full statement below.

I would like to extend my sincerest apologies and deepest regrets for my conduct at what should have been the biggest celebration of Ghanaian music last night.

In seeking to entertain Ghanaians, I have been the victim of incessant vilification and physical attacks in recent times. My own dear wife has in the past suffered a knife attack at a concert – an attack that had been meant for me and which resulted in her being

AFCON 2019: Asamoah Gyan named in 29-man provisional squad

Kayserispor forward Asamoah Gyan has been named in Kwesi Appiah’s 29-man provisional squad for the AFCON in Egypt.

Gyan retired from international football on Monday after a dispute with Head Coach Kwesi Appiah over the team’s captaincy, only for the 33 year old to old rescind his decision 48 hours later after President Akufo-Addo intervened in the matter.

The 29 consists of three goalkeepers, ten defenders, eleven midfielders and

My wife and child died shortly after my 'best friend' sent me to jail - Man shares his story

Eric Kwesi Marfo, a former inmate of the Nsawam prison lost his child a few days after he was sentenced to 18 months in prison for unsettled debts.

Eric who shared his sad story with Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng on Crime Check TV further revealed that his beloved wife also died two weeks after their child’s death and he didn’t have the opportunity to bid either of them a proper farewell.

According to Eric, his daughter fell off a swing in school and broke her neck and he didn’t have money to foot the hospital bill at the time so he turned to his close friend for help.

The friend who had helped Eric secure a job as a driver at Access Bank was

Asamoah Gyan to rescind retirement decision after presidential intervention

Ghanaweb.com can exclusively reveal that Black Stars striker Asamoah Gyan has rescinded his earlier decision to retire from the national team after a lengthy chat with President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday.

An official Press Release confirming his comeback into the national team is expected in the next few hours.

Gyan will, however, be the

Asamoah Gyan was ill-advised to retire - Joseph Yamin

Former Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Joseph Yamin has expressed his disappointment to the decision by Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan to retire from International Football whiles insisting that the player was ill-advised.

According to him, the surprise announcement from Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer is not the best especially when the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2019 is set to

President Akufo-Addo invites Appiah over Gyan's resignation

Under-fire Black Stars coach, James Kwasi Appiah, has been summoned to an emergency meeting at the Jubilee House over the sudden resignation of the captain of the senior national team, Asamoah Gyan, on Monday afternoon.

Gyan stirred controversy by announcing his unceremonious retirement from the Black Stars via Twitter on Monday at a time Ghanaians were eagerly waiting the announcement of