31 May: No Tobacco Day
Thousands of people today, including teenagers, are heavy smokers due to various reasons such as nervousness, pressure, frustration, and stress.
Smoking has claimed and continues to claim thousands of lives yearly, that it become an urgent issue to the World Health Organization (WHO) to institute a "No Tobacco Day" on May 31, 1987, to discourage and eradicate cigarette smoking.
Despite the warning on cigarette boxes, smokers choose to satisfy their desire unconcerned. The cigarette has been known to contain eighteen different poisons.
The two most destructive are tar, a carcinogenic or cancer-producing substance, and nicotine. Some of these attack the delicate membranes of the windpipes, and those that find themselves in the bloodstream interfere with its normal circulation.
It's now like a fashion to see teenagers between the ages of 10 and 15 holding cigarettes at hideouts or in public places. It's like a competition. When you ask any teenager the reason for smoking, they smile away.
Those capable of giving you an answer say, "They called you a baby when you didn't join the group". Tobacco smoking is said to cause many ailments as emphysema, tuberculosis, night sweats, chest pains, wheezing, loss of weight, cancer, and complications in pregnancy.
Since the campaign against smoking began, the WHO has introduced many measures to prevent smoking in buses, airplanes, trains, restaurants, and other public places. But many see this campaign against smoking as a bother or nuisance.
They only realize the mistakes they had made when a disease is diagnosed. Cigarette smoking is not an expensive luxury but a slow, silent murderer.
A person who gives up smoking does something worthwhile for their health. But many smokers have a real battle to conquer when it comes to stopping the habit. Here are a few recommended steps to refrain from smoking.
Staying away from other smokers as much as possible will reduce the temptation to smoke and strengthen your resolve not to start again.
Instead of smoking, a heavy smoker should rather become a vigorous campaigner against the use of tobacco in any form. This may change the attitude of friends toward smoking.
Taking plenty of exercise, including deep breathing and long walks in the open air daily, will clean the lungs and improve one's sense of well-being.
Eating regularly and not attempting to lose weight will gradually break the tobacco habit. A smoker who wants to quit must avoid highly seasoned foods, alcohol, tea, and coffee. These can easily influence one to crave smoking.
Drinking enough water, at least ten glasses a day, helps to reduce the craving for tobacco. Many may not believe this, but try and see that prayer is the answer to many problems. The power of Jesus is stronger than the hurricane. It is the same power that can change your life.
If you can try all or of these recommendations, you will see yourself as a different person. After your bitter experience in the dark, there is a bright light waiting for you at the end of the tunnel.
Tourists at Kakum National Park, Cape Coast
The Kakum National Park is a semi-deciduous rainforest that covers 360 square kilometers, north of Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana.
The park, which is now a center of tourist attraction, was formally managed by the Forestry Department for timber extraction.
Thanks to the Scientific Research Group, which conducted wildlife research and found the place quite satisfactory for tourism. Hence, timber extraction came to an end.
Beautiful fauna likely to be seen are elephants, bongos, duikers, antelopes, and a wide variety of birds. Natural scientists in the country have counted close to four hundred different species of butterflies, with the discovery of two that can't be found in any part of the world.
Be part of those walking through the forest on the Kuntan trail. The trail leads one to the park of traditional medicines, trees, and plants. Some of the trees found are the Kuntan tree.
The skin of the tree is used to treat fractured bones. Its biological name is "Uapacca Guiniensis". Others are Kaku, the wood used for constructing railway lines,, and "Bediwunia"(incest) for pomade and fumigation.
The two-kilometer guided walk through the park is painstakingly explained by the guides, the significance of each tree as you walk through the trail. When tired and exhausted, please do not be worried about where to relax.
There are two rest points, spaciously built and designed with some of the woods from the forest. One important factor is that, no matter how beautiful one finds anything on the trail, it is forbidden to take it out. Due to the explanation by the guides to the tourists, the trail walk usually takes about two hours.
At the administration block, the skull of the elephant, the horn of the bongo, and various samples of species of butterflies are beautifully displayed. Available for tourists are restaurants and the African gift shop, which has indigenous artworks.
Going to the Kakum National Park is not a difficult drive. Straight ahead after Jukwa, a small rural place, the giant signboard reads "You are welcome to Kakum National Park."
Child killers at war in Sierra Leone
The war in Sierra Leone is over, but the result is disastrous. A grim picture of victims of war with physical and psychological scars is all over the provinces. As said by one of the victims, calling for international help.
"If you can permit me, I can send some photos of war victims still on the streets of Freetown and other big towns, having no proper care, no shelter, and no food. They only survive by begging on the street for their daily lives."
In 2008, when I visited Freetown, what I saw was really sad to narrate. How could people be so cruel? What crime has the baby or child committed to deserve amputation of both wrists? The victim's mind is still filled with sad emotions of bitterness about what happened to them.
They can forgive but can't forget what exactly took place in Sierra Leone. The war victims are all over the provinces with amputated hands and legs. Sad to say that the less fortunate ones had both hands amputated.
This is the biggest problem the government of Sierra Leone is presently facing. The people need international help in terms of feeding, shelter, clothing, medical, and education for children roaming on the streets without a certain future.
This horrific war that claimed thousands of lives and maimed both children and adults could have been prevented. The developed countries were very slow to respond to the cry of the Sierra Leoneans, until they observed how serious the war was becoming.
To halt the brutal war, many musicians, including Lucky Dube, the South African reggae star, and the great Joseph Hill of Culture-Jamaica (both deceased), sacrificed their lives to play peace concerts in the capital, Freetown. Joseph Hill told the rebels to put down their weapons, and they obeyed.
At one point, the rebels told the government of Tejan Kabbah that "You are lucky that Paa Hill is here (referring to Joseph Hill), else we shall destroy this city within twenty-four hours".
Even though the government is working to promote the welfare of the people, especially children, youth, and women in their quest to achieve Social Justice, Advocacy, Human Rights, and Social Improvement in a participatory approach, irrespective of Tribe, Race, Gender, and Religion, Sierra Leone still needs international help.
