People & Lifestyle Drdogood Partners with Yemaachi Biotech to improve access to Cervical Cancer screening in Ghana Drdogood, is pleased to announce a partnership with Yemaachi Biotech, an immunogenomics research company working to reduce the economic burden of cancer in Africa. . This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our mission to enhance access and delivery of healthcare across the country. According to the ICO/IARC Information Centre on HPV and Cancer report for 2023, 10.6 million women aged 15 years and older are at risk of developing cervical cancer. Current estimates indicate that every year 2797 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 1699 die from the disease. Cervical cancer ranks as the 2nd most frequent cancer among women in Ghana and the 2nd most frequent cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable types of cancers, yet it is the 4th leading cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide. Over 99% of cervical cancer cases are due to persistent infection with certain strains of HPV (Human Papillomavirus). With this partnership, Drdogood users can request an easy-to-use and painless HPV self-sampling kit on our mobile application at a fee and return their sample securely to Yemaachi for testing, eliminating the need to visit a hospital or clinic for this important screening test. This will promote preventive healthcare and early detection of cervical cancer, a pressing public health concern in Ghana. When detected early, cervical cancer is very easily treatable in a same-day out-patient procedure. January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and a perfect opportunity to join the world to raise awareness about cervical cancer prevention via screening and HPV vaccination here in Ghana. The Drdogood-Yemaachi partnership will include collaborative campaigns aimed at educating the public about the importance of regular cervical cancer screening and the role of early detection in improving health outcomes and preventing painful treatment or loss of lives. Our online/offline channels, mobile apps, and community health screening popups, will aim to reach a wider audience, foster greater awareness of cervical cancer prevention and the importance of regular screenings. This partnership exemplifies our dedication to forging strategic alliances that amplify the reach and impact of our healthcare solutions. We look forward to the positive outcomes that will stem from this collaboration and remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing healthcare accessibility and delivery in Ghana. Drdogood is a leading mobile health technology company dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare accessibility and delivery in Ghana. Our mobile application service offers easy and convenient access to a growing database of health professionals across various specialties and multiple local languages like Ga, Twi and Ewe. Additionally, our users you can easily manage their medications with refill request/delivery, track healthcare delivery to dependencies like children, and parents across borders. About Yemaachi Biotech: Yemaachi is creating and harnessing the world’s most robust cancer bio-database to develop the next generation of cancer diagnostics and drugs that are effective in diverse populations. Our mission is to save lives globally, while supporting the well-being of communities that inspire and advance this work. Yemaachi believes in a future where African genomic diversity, insights, and expertise are an integral part of precision oncology research, diagnostics, and therapeutics, for the benefit of patients everywhere. People & Lifestyle Cultural Traditions in Sauna Therapy: A Global Wellness Journey No one knows when the first sauna originated, but we know it was sometime around 2000 BC. Since then, sauna therapy has evolved beautifully, making its way into our current world. We have a lot of ancient traditions to thank for it, from Scandinavian smoke saunas to Finnish pit saunas dating back 10,000 years. Besides Northern Europe, sauna therapy has existed in some form or another across North and Central America, Asia, and even the Middle East. Each culture adopts its own unique sauna rituals and customs, but one thread ties them together: the goal of wellness. Today, sauna customs worldwide have become part of a worldwide ritual for holistic sauna wellness. Let’s look at some of the cultures that shaped these practices. Japan Japan has traditionally had bathhouses, aka onsens , but the sauna culture arrived from Finland in Tokyo’s Ginza district around 1957. Over time, Japan adopted many traditions similar to those practiced in Finnish saunas, such as rouryu . Rouryu derives from the Finnish term “löyly,” which refers to the custom of pouring hot water over a sauna’s heating rocks. This produces steam, which aids in relaxation. The Japanese also use a term known as “ totonou.” This word aptly describes the refreshing feeling that washes over while alternating between a sauna session and a cold plunge; again, it is a primarily Finnish tradition that’s practiced globally even today. Besides this “borrowed” sauna culture, Japan has its own sauna-adjacent therapy. Its onsens are built around natural hot springs and inspire time-honored cultural traditions. Bathing in an onsen inspires a closer connection with nature because they are often located in scenic settings. The hot springs have thermal properties, healing many of the same ailments as a sauna. Another sauna-like tradition in Japan is the “Sento,” which has a deeper spiritual and social connection. Built into a temple-like setting to honor Buddha, Sentos are communal bathing spaces where you can relax and socialize with others. Finland Finland is often credited with introducing saunas to the world. It’s no surprise that Finnish saunas were once known as a “poor man’s pharmacy” back in the day. Indeed, saunas weren’t just a medium for relaxation; they were and continue to be a cocoon of holistic wellness. In ancient Finland, saunas were a part of daily life so much that there are over three million of them today (compared to a population of five million)! The earliest saunas in Finland were smoke saunas, aka savusaunas without chimneys. They used a crude stove that took nearly six hours to heat up. Over time, they evolved to cater to modern sensibilities. Today, at the heart of a Finnish sauna is a stove known as “kiuas,” which can heat the room faster and more efficiently. Finnish saunas available these days can be electric or traditional, requiring firewood to insulate the room. Cold plunges are among the most common practices associated with Finnish sauna bathing. Typically, it entails warming up in a sauna for 15-20 minutes before diving into a cold plunge. Traditionally, this would mean rolling around in the snow or leaping into a freezing lake. This drastic difference in temperature helps your body cool off after an invigorating hot sauna session while also boosting immunity. Another brief sauna session then follows the plunge. You can alternate between these until you’re satisfied. Another relaxing practice involves whipping oneself gently with birch branches while in the sauna. This act of gentle tapping on your skin is known as “vasta” or “vihta”. It promotes relaxation, exfoliates dead skin cells, and boosts blood circulation. Today, saunas worldwide follow this age-old Finnish tradition of cold plunges and “vihta” tapping. Russia A Russian banya is a cross between a bathhouse, a steam room, and a sauna. Traditional banyas are wood-fired rooms that operate similarly to Finnish saunas. A stove occupies a corner of a banya, topped off with rocks or heating pebbles for insulation. Russia is home to many public banyas, but unlike northern Europe, they’re usually segregated by gender. The Russian equivalent of the Finnish “vihta” is the “venik.” It refers to a bundle of soft tree branches, generally oak or birch, that you can use in the sauna to gently massage your body. During this process, you gently tap the “venik” across your body, from head to toe. You can also use juniper or eucalyptus tree branches. Instead of cold plunges, the Russians punctuate their sauna breaks with an aromatic beverage like an herbal tea before returning for another session. Middle East The Middle East treasures a long-held tradition of “hammams,” or public bathhouses. They originated sometime during the 15th Century, after the conquest of Constantinople. The Ottoman Empire converted old Roman public baths into these Islamic-style bathing venues, which exist to this day. Hammams are more complex than they seem. They compartmentalize each process in the sauna bathing realm. First, one starts with a steam bath, similar to a wet sauna, which heats the body. Next, you proceed to another room where you wash or cleanse yourself. The next step entails sitting in a room with a lower temperature to cool off. After a round of sauna bathing, you can unwind with a relaxing massage. Germany Have you heard of the German spa ritual known as “Aufguss?” Germany practices this intriguing ritual that has multi-sensory benefits. It transcends the focus on sweat and heat. Instead, the ritual believes in engaging all senses and combining them with thermotherapy for a well-rounded session. The word “Aufguss” translates into “infusion,” which is exactly what this spa treatment entails. There is an “Aufgussmeister” or a sauna master, who conducts the session much like an orchestra. Sauna goers are privy to a sensory treat that includes elements like: Essential oils and hot water poured over sauna rocks (similar to löyly) Therapeutic music Lighting The Aufgussmeister directs the flow of the heat and aroma with rhythmic movements carried out with a spa towel. It’s almost like watching a show while relaxing, making Aufguss a cultural event meant both for entertainment and wellness. Central America and Mexico Sweat lodges, aka “Temazcals,” have been around in ancient Mexico and Central America for thousands of years. They originated as a ceremonial structure significant to Native American culture, where spiritual rituals were once practiced. Sweat lodges have a low profile and resemble a dome-like structure made from stone. Aside from purifying ceremonies, these lodges served another purpose. They were used to cleanse the spirit and body of impurities like a typical sauna would. Despite their geographical difference, sweat lodges share traditions similar to Finnish saunas. They entail pouring hot water over steaming river rocks, which generates a plume of steam. This steam is integral to the purification process. Historically, this process was believed to liberate a person’s innermost self and help them deliver a message for the greater good. Sessions inside a Temazcal also involve whipping yourself with a bundle of herbs as a type of massage. You can also rub your skin with aloe for a soothing experience. After warming up in the lodge, you can cool off by taking a dip in the ocean or cleansing yourself in the shower. How Sauna Traditions are Practiced Globally Today Today, saunas have evolved dramatically to accommodate changing lifestyles. Many saunas have modern features, from premium electric heaters to lighting technology. Despite these changes, the heart and soul of the sauna remain unchanged. Sauna therapy inspires you to unwind, relax, and be more mindful of your wellness journey. It uses many of the same practices that were privy to the ancient world, whether the art of löyly or cold plunges. To make your modern-day sauna experience more consistent, it’s recommended to practice sauna bathing at home. You can use reputable retailers like My Sauna World to order a home sauna and begin your wellness journey today. People & Lifestyle Guardians of Your Gateway: The Importance of Driveway Bollards Your driveway is an essential element of your property that serves as a main point of access and should be guarded appropriately. The safety and security of your home can be greatly enhanced with a piece of powerful equipment known as a driveway bollard. But what exactly are these tools, and why are they so important? We delve into these topics below. What Are Driveway Bollards? Bollards have been around for centuries, and their usage has evolved over time. Today, they are strategically placed in various locations to control or direct road traffic, and offer a higher level of security. When applied to residential settings, driveway bollards offer peace of mind to homeowners by providing a physical and visual deterrent against unwanted car intrusion. Available in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials, they can seamlessly blend with the aesthetic of your home while still providing robust protection. Protection of Property One of the most apparent benefits of driveway bollards is the security they provide. They act as a strong physical barrier, deterring unauthorized vehicles from entering your property. This layer of protection can also prevent vehicle-related accidents that might damage your property, or worse, put your loved ones at risk. Ultimately, driveway bollards are not just about the security of assets, they contribute to the overall safety of your home. Controlled Access Maintaining control over who can access your driveway is crucial, especially for properties located in busy areas where driveway invasion can be common. Bollards can come with features like manual operation or advanced digital controls for added convenience. These allow homeowners to easily manage who comes in and who stays out, giving an additional assurance of privacy and control. Design Flexibility While their primary role is protection, Driveway bollards don’t compromise on aesthetics. A wide range of designs, from simplistic to ornate, are available to ensure they blend well with the property’s exterior look. So whether you have a modern minimalist design or a rustic country style home, there’s a driveway bollard that would suit your property. Increased Property Value Installing bollards can contribute to the overall value of your property. The added security features could be a strong selling point if you ever decide to put your house on the market. Prospective buyers will regard the added security as a major plus, making your property more appealing. Conclusion Given the security threats faced in the modern day, investing in driveway bollards makes great sense. While CCTV cameras and alarm systems play key roles in home security, driveway bollards add an extra line of defence. They don’t just deter burglars, but also provide physical protection against vehicle intrusion. By acting as the guardians of your gateway, driveway bollards offer not just security, but peace of mind as well. People & Lifestyle Kelvyn Boy captivates audience with stellar performance at Duku Festival Renowned Ghanaian artist Kelvyn Boy took center stage and captivated attendees with an electrifying performance at the highly anticipated Duku Festival held on 7th January, 2024 the festival witnessed a blend of music, culture, and vibrant energy, with Kelvyn Boy’s set emerging as a standout moment of the event. Known for his dynamic stage presence and chart-topping hits, Kelvyn Boy did not disappoint. He delivered a performance that resonated with fans and newcomers alike, showcasing his versatility, passion, and undeniable talent. From soulful melodies to high-energy tracks, Kelvyn Boy’s repertoire kept the audience engaged and enthralled throughout his set. The Duku Festival, celebrated for its commitment to promoting music and cultural exchange, provided the perfect platform for Kelvyn Boy to connect with his audience on a deeper level. His ability to command the stage, interact with fans, and deliver flawless vocals reaffirmed his status as a leading artist in the music industry. “We are thrilled to have had Kelvyn Boy grace the Duku Festival stage. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, and it truly elevated the overall experience for attendees,” said by Usher. “His energy, talent, and genuine connection with the audience encapsulate what the Duku Festival aims to celebrate.” Kelvyn Boy expressed gratitude to the people of Tema New Town for their overwhelming support and promised to continue delivering memorable performances for his fans worldwide. As the Duku Festival concludes, organizers, artists, and attendees alike reflect on another successful event, eagerly anticipating future editions and collaborations. Facebook: Duku Festival Instagram: D_u_k_u_P_a_r_t_y People & Lifestyle How to Know if Vape Juice Is Expired A bottle of vape juice typically expires within about a year of manufacture and will usually have a date on it to let you know when you should consider tossing it. Casual vapers who simply buy the same e-liquid flavor all of the time usually don’t have to worry about whether their vape juice is expired because none of the e-liquid that they buy ever lasts that long. If you’re the type of vaper who loves to try something new every time you stock up on vape juice, though, you could easily end up having some bottles that are more than a year old – and if you’ve just found a bottle of old e-liquid in the back of a drawer, you’re bound to have some questions. If the bottle doesn’t have an expiration date, is it still safe to use? How do you know if vape juice is expired? Here’s the good news: Unless the e-liquid in question is extremely old or has a serious quality issue, chances are that it’s completely safe to use. It’s possible, however, that you won’t enjoy the experience very much. In this article, we’re going to explain how you can tell if vape juice is expired. We’ll discuss the changes that happen in a bottle of e-liquid as it ages, and we’ll also explain when you should definitely avoid using an old vape juice. The next time you encounter a bottle of e-liquid that’s been in storage for a while, you should feel much more confident about using it – or tossing it. Let’s dive in. A Color Change Could Signify an Expired Vape Juice If you have an old bottle of vape juice that could be expired and are trying to figure out whether you can use it, the first thing that you should do is check the e-liquid’s color. There are a few exceptions, but almost all vape juice is clear in color when it’s first produced. An e-liquid that starts out clear should remain clear for the entire time in which you’re likely to own it. As vape juice ages, though, it often begins to change in color. This happens largely because of nicotine oxidation, which is a phenomenon we’ll discuss in greater detail shortly. Oxidation causes the e-liquid to change from clear to yellow – and in very long-term storage, the vape juice may take on a slightly brown color. The more nicotine a vape juice has, the more quickly it’ll change color in storage. On its own, the fact that an e-liquid has begun to yellow doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t use it. If it isn’t too much more than a year old, it should be completely safe to use as long as you still like the flavor. Even with the color change, though, the e-liquid should still be translucent. If the bottle contains any visible clouds, specks or blobs, you should avoid using it because those are all potential signs of fungal or bacterial contamination. Expired Vape Juice May Not Taste Good If the e-liquid passes a visual inspection, the next thing that you should do is fill your tank and taste it. If the e-liquid is around a year old, it should still taste basically the same as it did when it was new. When an e-liquid is extremely old, though, the flavor can change dramatically. The flavor of an old e-liquid changes for a number of different reasons. Some of the flavor molecules in the e-liquid interact with one another and form new compounds after being left in a solution for many months. Other compounds are volatile and degrade slowly over time. It’s also possible for some flavor compounds to evaporate if the bottle has ever been opened. People typically report that a bottle of vape juice that’s been stored for a long time doesn’t have quite the same punchy and vivid flavor as a new e-liquid. Some of the flavor notes that used to be in the vape juice will become difficult to detect, changing the e-liquid’s overall flavor profile. As long as you’re still happy with the vape juice, though, these changes aren’t problematic. As nicotine degrades, though, it tends to take on a bitter flavor – and in a very old e-liquid, the bitter flavor may overpower the original flavor profile. If you don’t like the way an old bottle of e-liquid tastes, you definitely shouldn’t use it. Expired Vape Juice Is Less Satisfying In both of the previous two subsections of this article, we discussed the degradation of nicotine that takes place when a bottle of vape juice has been in storage for a long time. It’s important to understand how nicotine degradation affects e-liquid because nicotine is one of the more volatile ingredients in vape juice. If degradation of the nicotine causes an old bottle of vape juice to taste and look a little different, that’s not a serious problem as long as you’re still happy with the flavor. When a bottle of vape juice has been stored for a very long time, though, the degradation may become so severe that the e-liquid actually has very little active nicotine remaining. If you use an e-liquid that has reached this point, you’ll notice that it never seems to satisfy your cravings no matter how much you use. It’ll usually take well over a year for an e-liquid to reach this point – so if you feel as though an old bottle of vape juice doesn’t seem to have any nicotine, it’s definitely time to throw the bottle away. How to Store Your Vape Juice Even if you store an e-liquid absolutely perfectly, it’s going to expire eventually. There are some things that you can do, though, to ensure that it retains its peak flavor and performance for as long as possible. You should always store vape juice in a cool, dark place where it’s protected from heat and sunlight. You also want to minimize an e-liquid’s exposure to air, and you can do that by keeping the bottle closed until you’re ready to use it. If you buy e-liquid in bulk with the intention of storing it for a long time, consider keeping it in your refrigerator or freezer to slow the degradation as much as possible and keep your vape juice at its peak. People & Lifestyle How Long Do Lost Mary Vapes Last? The Lost Mary brand of disposable vapes has really taken the world by storm over the past year or so. Marketed by EB Create – the maker of the extremely well-known Elf Bar brand – Lost Mary vapes have quite a bit in common with Elf Bar. The model names are similar across the two brands, and many of the devices look similar as well. Between the two brands, though, Lost Mary is definitely the choice for people who like creative and inventive e-liquid flavors. With flavor options like Strawnana Blackcurrant and Triple Mango, the Lost Mary brand has really carved out a niche for itself as the top option for people who want to enjoy unusual flavor experiences that aren’t available anywhere else. In short, Lost Mary should definitely be high on your list if you’re new to vaping and are thinking about getting a disposable vape as your first device. Before you start shopping for Lost Mary vapes, it’s important that you know how many you need to buy. before you can know the answer to that question, though, you need to know how long you can expect the devices to last. That’s what we’re going to answer in this guide. As you’re about to learn, the question of how long Lost Mary vapes last doesn’t have a simple answer because it depends in part on how you vape. The quick summary is that it’s always a good idea to buy more devices than you think you’ll need because you wouldn’t ever want your last device to run out of e-liquid unexpectedly. If you need to know more, though, you’ll have to read on. A Lost Mary Vape Always Has an Estimated Puff Count on Its Box To get an idea of how long Lost Mary vapes will last, the first thing that you should do is look at their boxes. You’ll find that, like most disposable vapes, every Lost Mary device has an estimated puff count on the package. The puff counts that you’ll see on the boxes will depend on the region in which you live. In the United States, for instance, it’s common to see advertised puff counts extending well into the thousands because there are no restrictions on how much e-liquid a vaping product can contain. In the United Kingdom and the European Union, on the other hand, no pre-filled vaping product with nicotine can have more than 2 ml of e-liquid – so in those regions, virtually every disposable vape has an advertised life of up to 600 puffs. What Does the Puff Count on a Lost Mary Vape Mean? To understand what the puff count means when you shop for Lost Mary vapes, it’s helpful to compare vaping to smoking. Taking the numbers from about two dozen studies conducted primarily during the 1970s and 1980s, an average smoker puffs on a cigarette 11 times before putting it out. With that in mind, you can conclude that a 600-puff Lost Mary disposable provides the same number of puffs as about two and a half packs of cigarettes. Before you assume that a 600-puff disposable vape will last through almost three days of use, though, it’s important for you to understand that the advertised puff count on a disposable vape isn’t always quite what it seems to be. We’ll discuss that next. A Disposable Vape May Not Reach the Advertised Puff Count As helpful as it is for disposable vapes by Lost Mary and other companies to have puff counts on their packages, it’s important to realize that a device’s advertised puff count is only a general guideline, and the device may not actually deliver that number of puffs before running out of e-liquid. In fact, it’s very unlikely that a disposable vape will deliver the advertised number of puffs unless you’re able to maintain an average puff length of exactly one second when you vape. That’s the puff duration that manufacturers use when they calibrate their devices with automatic smoking machines. A one-second puff is quite short, and your puffs will probably be longer than that. If your average puff is two seconds in length – which isn’t really that long – you can essentially take the number of puffs stated on the package and cut it in half to get an idea of how long a Lost Mary vape will last. Nicotine Content Is a Key Factor Affecting How Long a Disposable Vape Lasts When you’re trying to understand how long a Lost Mary vape should last, the puff count isn’t the only thing you should consider; you also need to pay attention to the nicotine content. In regions that don’t have restrictions on the nicotine strengths of e-liquids, a disposable vape may have a strength as high as 50 mg/ml. At that strength, a vaping device will deliver about as much nicotine as a conventional cigarette on a puff-for-puff basis. In the United Kingdom and Europe, however, nicotine-containing e-liquid is limited to a maximum strength of 20 mg/ml. Since an e-liquid with that strength won’t deliver as much nicotine per puff as a tobacco cigarette, you may need to take more puffs per session in order to feel satisfied. Considering the limits on e-liquid capacity and nicotine strength, you can usually expect a disposable vape purchased in the UK or EU to last one or two days. How to Make a Lost Mary Vape Last Longer Now that you understand how long you can expect a Lost Mary vape to last, you’re probably left with one additional question: How can you make sure that a device will last as long as it possibly can? The answer is that you need to monitor your usage closely. Instead of keeping your disposable vape in your hand all day long, try to think in terms of having periodic vaping sessions in the same way that you might occasionally stop what you’re doing to smoke a cigarette. After about 10-15 puffs, pause and evaluate how you feel. If you’re feeling satisfied, stop there and put the device down for a while. If you only use your Lost Mary vape when you would have smoked a cigarette, you’ll get the maximum possible use out of the device. Buzz GPRTU hints at increasing transport fares by 60% The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has reiterated its decision to enforce a 60% increase in transport fares in 2024. (more…) Berla Mundi gets hitched in super private “no phones allowed” ceremony “It was meant to be”- Berla Mundi shares “how we met” story at her wedding Hold Davido responsible if anything happens to me- Tiwa Savage files police report against the “30 BG” boss Nadia Buari welcomes 5th child? Watch: Newly weds, Berla Mundi and David Tabi on the dance floor at their Thanksgiving lunch Hangout Festival Announces Zach Bryan, Lana Del Rey, ODESZA, The Chainsmokers, Cage The Elephant, Dominic Fike, Sexyy Red + More for 2024 Lineup Cultural Traditions in Sauna Therapy: A Global Wellness Journey SuperSport makes U-turn, to air all AFCON 2023 matches Tiwa Savage’s debut movie ‘Water and Garri’, filmed in Cape Coast, to premiere on Prime Video Guardians of Your Gateway: The Importance of Driveway Bollards Trending Buzz5 days ago Berla Mundi gets hitched in super private “no phones allowed” ceremony Buzz4 days ago “It was meant to be”- Berla Mundi shares “how we met” story at her wedding Buzz1 day ago Hold Davido responsible if anything happens to me- Tiwa Savage files police report against the “30 BG” boss Buzz3 days ago Nadia Buari welcomes 5th child? Buzz3 days ago Watch: Newly weds, Berla Mundi and David Tabi on the dance floor at their Thanksgiving lunch Buzz6 days ago ‘I’ve been working behind the scenes’ – Kaakie announces musical comeback Buzz4 days ago Watch: Berla Mundi and David Tabi’s first dance Buzz1 week ago Photos from the plush wedding ceremony of Bishop Dag Heward-Mills’ daughter Buzz4 days ago Watch: Video from Berla Mundi’s private wedding surfaces despite privacy measures taken Buzz1 week ago Yul Edochie demands a refund of bride price paid for his estranged wife. Buzz6 days ago My wife and kids don’t celebrate Christmas but I do- Okyeame Kwame on embracing his multiple-faith household World News6 days ago Ghanaian Woman charged with “child neglect” after son was found partially clothed wandering on the streets of Woodbridge
This content was originally published here.
