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Progressive Youth & Welfare Club,Ghana is inviting interested registered youth clubs in Ghana to form a network of
youth clubs in Ghana.For a long time in the history of Ghana,the voice of the youth is not been heard regarding national issues.Its
time to Speak Out and let our Voices be heard.This network will promote youth welfare,education,entertainment,advancement
and development
Opportunities include participating in youth conferences both local and foreign,international cultural
exchanges,entertainment programs,have access to sponsorship and funding for youth related activities.
Only registered youth clubs should join this network,clubs which are not registered can seek advice from us as to how they
can register with the youth clubs regulatory bodies.All youth clubs in the the various regions are welcomed.
The first meeting of the Network will take place in September,2005 in Accra.
Interested clubs should send their full mailing address to the E-mail Address for registeration forms and other related
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Announcements
Updated APRIL 2005
Are you a member of a committee?Are you interested to join a committee?Which committee are you interested to join?Join
a committee and have your view heard in the decision-making of the club.Contact the Heads of the various committee.We
need your contributions and suggestions to help the running of the club.
NEW
MEMBERSHIP I.D CARDS
Registration of members for the year
2005 is in progress,members or new members who have not yet registered should do so before the end of july.However,new
Membership I.D Cards will be issued upon registration.Mmebrs are advised to two passport pictures with full personal details
to the publicity committee.Submission of passport pictures can be made to the various heads of committees.Remember ONLY registered
members will be recognised as PYWC members.
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What is Malaria? |
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Malaria is an infectious disease caused by the parasite
called Plasmodia. There are four identified species of this parasite causing human malaria, namely, Plasmodium vivax,
P. falciparum, P. ovale and P. malariae. It is transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito. It is a disease
that can be treated in just 48 hours, yet it can cause fatal complications if the diagnosis and treatment are delayed. It
is re-emerging as the # 1 Infectious Killer and it is the Number 1 Priority Tropical Disease of the World Health Organization.
Transmission of Malaria
The female anopheles mosquito is the vector for
human malaria. Some 60 species of this mosquito have been identified as vectors for malaria, and their distribution varies
from country to country. When a mosquito bites an infected individual, it sucks the gametocytes, the sexual forms of the parasite,
along with blood. These gametocytes continue the sexual phase of the cycle and the sporozoites fill the salivary glands of
the infested mosquito. When this female mosquito bites the man for a blood meal, which it needs to nourish its eggs, it inoculates
the sporozoites into human blood stream, thus spreading the infection.
The female anopheles mosquito bites man between 5 PM and 7 AM, with maximum intensity
at midnight.
Other modes of transmission: Rarely malaria can spread by the inoculation of blood
from an infected person to a healthy person. In this type of malaria, asexual forms are directly inoculated into the blood
and pre-erythrocytic development of the parasite in the liver does not occur. Therefore, this type of malaria has a shorter
incubation period and relapses do not occur.
1. Blood transfusion (Transfusion malaria): This is fairly common
in endemic areas.
Following an attack of malaria, the donor may remain infective for years (1-3 years
in P. falciparum, 3-4 years in P. vivax, and 15-50 years in P. malariae.)
Most infections occur in cases of transfusion of blood stored for less than 5 days
and it is rare in transfusions of blood stored for more than 2 weeks. Frozen plasma is not known to transmit malaria.
The clinical features of transfusion malaria occur earlier and any patient who
has received a transfusion three months prior to the febrile illness should be suspected to have malaria.
Donor blood can be tested with indirect fluorescent antibody test or ELISA, and
direct examination of the blood for the parasite may not be helpful.
In endemic areas, it is safe to administer full course of chloroquine to all recipients
of blood transfusion.
In transfusion malaria, pre-erythrocytic schizogony does not occur and hence relapses
due to dormant hepatic forms also does not occur. Therefore, treatment with primaquine for 5 (or14) days is not indicated.
2. Mother to the growing fetus (Congenital malaria): Intrauterine transmission of infection from mother to child is well documented. Placenta becomes
heavily infested with the parasites. Congenital malaria is more common in first pregnancy, among non - immune populations.
3. Needle stick injury: Accidental transmission can occur among drug
addicts who share syringes and needles. (Therapeutic inoculation of malarial parasites, so as to induce fever, was a mode
of treatment for neurosyphilis!)
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Malaria the disease was known of and treated even in ancient times, but it was centuries before the true
causes of the disease were understood. In the past, Malaria was thought to be caused by "miasma" (bad air
or gas from swamps. Malaria is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus plasmodium . The following four
species of plasmodium can produce the disease in its various forms:
- plasmodium falciparum
- plasmodium vivax
- plasmodium ovale
- plasmodium malaria
P. falciparum is the most widespread and dangerous of the four: untreated it can lead to fatal Cerebral
Malaria.
Malaria Parasites are transmitted from one person to another by the female anopheline mosquito.
The males feed only on plant juices and thus do not transmit Malaria. There are over three hundred species
of anopheline mosquito; however, only sixty or so are able to transmit the Malaria Parasite.
Malaria is diagnosed by the clinical symptoms and microscopic examination of the blood. It can normally
be cured by antimalarial drugs. Consider the following symptoms:
- fever
- shivering
- pain in the joints and headache
In certain regions, however, the parasites have developed resistance to certain antimalarial drugs, particularly Chloroquine.
Patients in regions such as Latin America , Africa , and Asia require treatment with other more advanced drugs. Hospital care
must be provided in certain severe cases of Malaria.
Surprisingly, some ancient Malaria treatments were remarkably effective. Artemesia Annua
has been used for at least the last 2000 years in China , its active ingredient Artemisinin was only recently
scientifically identified.
The significance of malaria as a health problem is increasing in many parts of the world. Epidemics are even occurring
in and around areas that traditionally had been known as Malaria zones before transmissions had been eliminated.
These new outbreaks are generally associated with deteriorating social and economic conditions. The main victims are underprivileged
rural populations.
Malaria is complex but it is a curable and preventable disease. Lives can be saved if the disease is detected
early and given adequate treatment. Consult with a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
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We give thanks to the Almighty God who engulfed us through the year 2004.It was very difficult in the beginning as
a young upcoming club but with God's guidance we succeeded and still in existence.We achieved most of our targets and the
various programmes organised was very successful.Here is the review of the programs for the year 2003;
1.Registeration of the Club.
2.Election of New Executives,Amendments of the Club constitution,Special trip to Kokrobite Beach Resort,Marathon,Club Entertainment,End
of year Party etc.
3.New members joined us and were registered.
4.The website of the club was inaugurated.
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Classified Ads
Send us your Short Stories,Greetings to friends on any occassions,Social issues which need to be addressed,job
vacancies,any educative programme you wish to organise for the youth.This website is open to all Sister Youth Clubs who share
our aimes and objectives.Items will be published on this site free of charge which last for two weeks.Let Us Hear From
You!
UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION AMONG THE YOUTH
For all young people in Ghana, they face
key challenges in making the transition from childhood to adulthood, from dependence to independence. They need to negotiate
their way through a web
of relationships and across a range of
obstacles to become confident, active and fulfilled members of society. They need to be involved to their own development,
and to contribute to their own communities and wider society. Depression is a major challenge to the development of the youth.
We all have moments when we feel
unhappy; it's a normal response to unpleasant events. Clinical depression tends to be more severe than simple unhappiness,
and it lasts longer. Learn how to recognize depression and
deal with it here.
The
signs
Depression affects one in four people at some stage in
their lives. Sufferers feel hopelessly sad. Sometimes it is even possible to be depressed without having the usual 'miserable'
feelings. There are lots of different signs which may point to depressive illness - the main ones are listed below. Keep in
mind that most depressed people only suffer from a few of these feelings.
Changed feelings
- Persistent sadness, lasting two
weeks or more
- Loss of interest in your favourite
things
- Finding no fun or enjoyment in life
- Loss of self-confidence
- Feeling guilty, bad, unlikeable,
or not good enough
- Feeling empty inside
- Feeling useless or unable to cope
with life
- Feeling bored all the time
- Increased feelings of anxiety
- Can't see a future for yourself
- Thinking everything is pointless
- Thinking life is not worth living
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Wanting to go to sleep and never
wake up again
- Especially low mood in the mornings
- Feeling more irritable, frustrated,
or aggressive than usual
- Trouble concentrating on things,
poor
- Memory
Causes
Depression can be caused by factors like
bereavement, events in childhood, stress and relationship difficulties, or internal problems linked to hormone imbalance,
changes in brain chemistry or blood sugar levels.
Other symptoms include fatigue, sleeping problems, irritability and
weight loss. Most cases are successfully treated with medication plus some form of therapy such as counselling.
Treatments
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Antidepressant drugs work by boosting
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Natural brain chemicals levels which can take
a nose-dive during depression. Give at least two weeks for antidepressants to kick in, but go back to your doctor if there's
no change after four to six weeks.
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Counselling can help you get to grips with
the root of your depression. Your doctor can recommend a psychotherapist or self- help group.
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Cognitive therapy teaches you to question
negative thoughts while developing a more realistic outlook on life.
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Relaxation techniques can help beat the stress
and anxiety often linked to depression. Try exercise, yoga, meditation or massage.
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A change of lifestyle can help. Reduce your
workload, and cut out 'props' like alcohol and drugs.
Written By: Master Prince Arkoh Clayman
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