Ghana hairdressers group intensifies TB education among members
The Abossey Okai branch of the Ghana Hairdressers and Beauticians Association (GHABA) has embarked on intensive tuberculosis (TB) education among its members.
The programme, which forms part of their awareness week on skin and hair care, was also to sensitise its members to meet their obligation as beauticians and also how to handle the chemicals they use.
Miss Dela Kpodo, Principal Nursing Officer from the Health Promotion Unit of the Ghana Health Service, addressing the hairdressers said majority of women get infected in the course of work through no fault of theirs, so the need to increase their knowledge on TB, its causes and methods of prevention..
“You can be infected in your saloons by the TB bacteria, which is commonly spread from an infected person through coughing, sneezing, spitting and close social contacts,” she explained.
She said infants and young children are protected from developing childhood TB with vaccines (injections) at birth, which include the six childhood killer diseases.
Miss Kpodo cautioned hairdressers who do their business in poorly ventilated rooms, kiosks and containers risk getting TB if there is an infected person amongst them.
She said TB is no longer a dreaded disease and that after three weeks of properly supervised treatment, the patient no longer poses a threat and can lead a normal life in the community.
Madam Patricia Asante, President of the Abossey Okai GHABA, said the association had put in place stringent measures to compel women who desire to offer hairdressing training to register with GHABA or have their shops closed down.
She said the association had established an adult education classes for its illiterate members, to enable them to acquire some knowledge about how to handle chemicals they use.
Madam Asante advised the hairdressers to upgrade themselves to be abreast with modern trends of the profession and advised them to pay their tax and other obligations.
She warned the general public against the dangers of patronising unqualified saloon operators, who are not registered with the association.
Source: GNA