All Rights Reserved

LIFESTYLE

8 | Is it ADHD or just a Bad Kid? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects an estimated 8%to 10% of school children. Maybe it is time for parents to also pay a little attention.

10 | Get In Shape. Stay In Shape. Developing healthy habits takes a lot more than a New Year’s resolution. Learn how small changes builds a new lifestyle.

11 | What in the world is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? A pain in the . . . . [we mean . . in the hands]. The verdict is still out on breakthrough re-search to help save the tingle in the median nerve.

FAITH 12 | Why JESUS is better than Santa Claus Sleigh and Chimney versus Cross and Eternal Life. Jesus versus Santa, definitely a no-contest.

13 | God or the Stuffed Turkey? Who are we really thanking on Thanksgiving? What Abraham Lincoln's declaration about Thanksgiving Day in 1863 means to us in 2014.

InFOCUS

14 | Issue Number One:

A healthcare professional’s viewpoint of one of the most overlooked, yet dangerous, health issue .

HEALTH & FITNESS 16 | IBM Technology to fight Ebola in Africa Innovative technology from a global giant on a quest to impact Africa’s toughest healthcare challenge.

18 | Rules of Life you won’t Learn in School. Rule #9: No one is interested in helping you “find yourself.” Do that on your own time. Rule #10: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

SPORTS 22 | Soccer in a Time of Crisis African countries debate the tough reality of the 2015

Cup of Nations in Morocco with Ebola virus next door.

What’s next for CAF?

COVER STORY

6 & 7 | All I Want for Christmas . . . How Christmas gifts turned into a chore,

and an almost-no-fun exercise, except for kids, Walmart, and definitely Uncle Sam.

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PUBLISHER

Nana Manteaw Anobah

EDITOR Eric Amoako Edmonds

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Sam Mintah

PARENTING EDITOR Bruwaa Anobah

ADVERTISING / SALES MANAGER

Nicholas Anobah Patricia Kumah

CONTRIBUTORS

Kwasi Awortwi Barima Asare

Priscilla Koranteng Selassie Banerman

Nana Obeng Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri

RESEARCH

Jeremy H. Boateng Kevin Myers-Clendon

Akwaaba Family Magazine is a quarterly publica-tion by Akwaaba News Network. The magazine is distributed free through libraries, community centers, African markets, local church-es, advertisers, and family –oriented businesses in the United States.

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Christmas is the favorite holiday season for many people, and often the most festive time of the year. Even for the party-poopers next door, they can’t help but admire the flowers and music that fill the season.

Here at Akwaaba Family Magazine, it has been an exciting year with an excellent opportunity to share stories of value with our readers around the world. From what started as a simple idea, and gradually morphed into a brilliant opportunity to connect with Ghanaians and Africans with African-related stories, this has been a journey and opportunity we are immensely grateful for.

2015 promises even more excitement as we take the magazine to new heights. We are committed to building strong family units, and that is a vision we joyfully embrace. We love showcasing the heroes in our com-munities, we love stories of families pushing through challenges and winning.

We all love positive stories, we are driven by hope, and our measure of success is the smile in the faces of families who read this magazine. This winter edition features an important conversation with Irene Osei, CEO of Lifeline Home Care in Virginia, USA. This time of the year is filled with all the fun with family, but also is packed with the stress of a holi-day with tons of expectations. Our conversation about stress couldn’t have come at a better time.

All I want for Christmas is our feature article which at first glance gives an almost cynical impression of Christmas, but the author seeks to make a point which we seldom stop to ponder. Christmas is not going anywhere, but I think that doesn’t excuse some of the genuine observa-tions and what we can be doing differently, to avoid wasteful spending.

Santa Claus is no match for Jesus Christ, and just in case you needed an explanation, we found some good ones. For starters, Jesus didn’t ride in a sleigh and definitely won’t be coming down any chimney any time soon.

On behalf of the staff here at AFM, we have been thrilled at the success of the magazine in the past year, and we sincerely appreciate all your feedback that keeps our creative juices flowing. That, for us, is the best Christmas wish, and we thank you.

We wish you and your family a beautiful season. Have a very Merry Christmas, and may the remembrance of Jesus’ birth bring grace and mercy that can only be found in Him to you and your loved ones.

Happy reading and happy holidays.

Sincerely, Eric Amoako Edmonds Editor@akwaabafamilymagazine.com

FROM THE EDITOR

‘TIS THE SEASON TO BE MERRY

COVER STORY

few years ago, I stum-bled onto a fascinating article which asked the question, “Is it time to

ban Christmas presents?” Great question I thought. Many people have actually pondered over this for years, but no one has had enough guts to stand up for that cause. The obsession and the seemingly unnerving obligation to spend mon-ey when most people are scraping cash every day to get along, is al-most silly. The reason why I was intrigued by the article was the very fact that it hit the nail on the head of some of what I had said for years. Buying gifts for people who will never use them, many of whom may not even have the sensitivity to give that “unwanted gift” to someone else who may need it, makes Christmas gifts a bit of a joke.

Every child in America has come to believe that Christmas means nothing more than getting the toy they have been deprived of all year.

No longer do we talk about the meaning of Christmas, the story of Jesus’s birth takes a backseat. The only thing people look out for are the red “sale” stickers on al-most anything imaginable. Even cotton swabs go on sale for Christmas. That very thought is filled with tons of curious questions but there is a pressure to belong, so all of us jump back into the shop-ping carousel.

All I want for Christmas is a gift worth having. That may not be too much to ask. In fact that is precisely what everyone wishes for, but no one gets their wish granted. Is it a case of conditioned responses to the holiday festivities that we as-sume our friends and families can use another fluffy Christmas sweater, regardless of how many times they have shared their opinions on those hideous outfits? Why give a practical gift at Christ-mas when you can leave someone wondering what they must have done to deserve another neck tie or a pair of bright red socks?

Of course when it comes to gifts, and gift giving, there is a school of thought that argues for intent behind the item, not the gift itself. The intent is all that matters, they say. I heard that as a teenager. My uncle showed up with the strangest toy that looks like it had crept out of a Macy’s dumpster and walked into our house on bare foot. As kids, we were taught to not ask any questions, and be grateful for everything you are given at Christ-mas. But seriously, is everything we get as a gift during the holiday season worth some gratitude? Do we even need it?

All I Want for Christmas. . . . How Christmas gifts turned into a chore, and an almost-no-fun exercise,

except for kids, Walmart, and definitely Uncle Sam.

If you’ve never received a Christmas present you didn't like or need, you are either in the small minority or don’t have a clue what you like in the first place. What I have come to find is that peo-ple are notoriously weird in giving someone else gifts they wouldn’t want for themselves. We assume our friends would mind having another toaster. This may come as a surprise, but our friends consider those

gifts trash; it just

never makes its way

into the trash can.

I don’t need to embark on an elabo-rate research to uncover how people despise those ridiculous gifts.

What about the joy of giving?

I have read stories of how people get into huge debts and spend the rest of the year stuck with interest on unpaid balances for Christmas shopping items.

COVER STORY

Retail giants [Walmart is not the only usual suspect here] have created a world of useless gadgets to take ad-vantage of this craze, and give buy-ers “discounts” as incentives to buy. To make matters worse, Walgreens adds the sentimental mu-sic to get you in the mood, when all you wanted was a Band-Aid and Ty-lenol PM. I don’t intend on becoming a Scrooge, so let’s leave emotion out of this for a second. When was the last time going around buying gifts gave you a warm and fuzzy feeling, something you couldn’t wake up to go do? In reality, if we could come up with a good reason why the stores were closed and so we couldn’t buy the gifts, all of us would won’t miss that moment one bit. Hence the argument that it’s not about the “joy”, it’s about the “shopping obligation” of Christmas. Christmas, and for that matter, the holiday season is perhaps that time of the year we all get an opportunity to express our affection to one an-other [of course except the in-laws you wonder how they escaped from Hell]. Gifts are only a small part of all the holiday festivities, except for kids who are still enamored with the idea of Santa Claus coming down a chim-ney at midnight; but that’s a differ-ent story for another day.

Until your kids discover that the man in the red fluffy suit was their father, and North Pole was metaphor for “your job”, where you sweat through the year to get them the bicycle they asked for, Santa will always get the credit.

Two years ago, a colleague [who I very well respect a great deal] gave me a beautiful box for Christmas. Inside that tightly [and nicely] wrapped box was a green teapot; - arguably the most useless piece of gift handed to anyone in recent years I didn’t even think those objects are still manufactured, let alone sold in stores. I didn’t have the courage to share my opinion of the gift with the colleague. I reckoned there is a certain deco-rum and inherent agreeableness that comes with the season, and even when you are staring at the most pointless gift ever received by a hu-man being, you are still required to smile. The next Christmas, to my surprise, this same colleague broke the bank, and gave me a box of teacups. The fact that it had the T.J. Maxx clearance sticker on the box was not my immediate concern, but I couldn’t get over the fact that I was staring at a box of teacups.

In his 2009 book, Scroogenomics: Why You Shouldn't Buy Presents for the Holidays, Joel Waldfogel wrote: 'If Christmas were a government program, the Citizens against Gov-ernment

Waste would classify the entire...annual

expenditure as 'waste,' 'The bucket Santa uses...isn't

just leaking, it's gushing.'

Joel Waldfogel, Professor of Applied Economics at the University of Min-nesota, has a point. Most people will be quick to tell you [if they can muster the courage] that they do not want another dog leash, a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey in hardcover, Sand and Sea Salt Shaker Set, Vanil-la scented candles, or a monopoly set . All they want for Christmas is noth-ing, thank you very much.

If you have lived anywhere in Africa as a child, there is the likelihood that you are not sure why some parents easily con-vince themselves their child has ADHD. Of course I am not a medical expert, so please do not misconstrue any opinions here for medical advice.

I recently discussed the subject with a vet-eran school in Jacksonville, Florida, who always marveled at how quickly children are “labelled” in school and assigned to a “specialist”.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 8% to 10% of school-age children. Boys are about three times more likely than girls to be diag-nosed with it. The curveball is that there is not yet a conclusive research evidence to explain this variation.

There is certainly no denying that there are some kids who are a handful, and give their parents migraines just trying to keep them under control. Are they bored, over-active or sick? I don’t know the answer. Strangely, ADHD that often happens in more boys than girls.

That may be a simple coincidence, or that may suggest how some actions come with the “boy package”. When a kid is running through the house like a tornado, shout-ing, and climbing furniture, many parents believe the child needs to sit down some-where.

Occasionally there are the kids that no toy or activity under the sun is enough to keep them from “acting up”. In a school setting where a disruptive kid can affect the rest of the group, it is easier to isolate him or her.

The convenient act is to define such a child to fit a bracket, so that the world goes on without another glitch. This may very well be a wild generalization, but I often think Western society have an unu-sual tendency to medicate anything.

Of course, the drug companies are happy to manufacture pills that calm the kids down a few notches so parents can watch TV and teachers not dread to show up to work on Monday morning.

But with these medications, are we hurting or helping the kids?

Generally, kids with ADHD are prone to hyperactive behaviors, and this manifests itself again in trouble focusing in school or at home. As a young boy, I was overly hyperactive from morning to night.

My parents wished I would sit still most of the time but those wishes never came true. Was it hard for me to pay attention? Abso-lutely?

Did it impair my social interactions at home and even at school? I would imagine so. But my parents never once thought I was sick.

My mother found creative ways to occupy my day with chores and errands that I would often be too tired to do anything except fall asleep afterwards. Perhaps it was their coping mechanism, knowing that sooner or later I would grow out of it. I like to think I turned out fine as an adult, and with 2 kids of my own, I see much of my childhood in them too.

As a general rule, parents ought to be very careful before they sign a child up for the first dose of antidepressants.

Research suggests that ADHD is not caused by poor parenting, too much sugar, or vaccines, but perhaps traces back to some biological origins that aren't yet clearly understood.

Not yet. At least.

Supposedly there are some genetic con-nections that could be made; some experts argue that certain areas of the brain are about 5% to 10% smaller in size and activ-ity in kids with ADHD.

American Academy of Pediatrics don’t yet have any research findings here, but they strongly advise that children under 2 years old should not have any "screen time" (TV, DVDs or videotapes, comput-ers, or video games) and that kids 2 years and older should be limited to 1 to 2 hours per day, or less, of quality televi-sion programming.

Maybe what we call ADHD has a lot more to do with environmental factors than genetics. Unfortunately the former is much harder to delineate, so the debate never ends. In 1994, ADHD found new wings when it was broken into three subtypes, an inat-tentive type, a hyperactive-impulsive type, and a combined type all with unique pat-tern of behavior.

Sounds good for a thesis, but I have to admit I still don’t understand any of it. Some of the symptoms including inability to pay attention to details or a tendency to make careless errors in schoolwork or other activities, or difficulty with sus-tained attention in tasks or play activities are not reasons why kids need medica-tion.

I think there is a dangerous trend in par-ents dragging their child to the doctor at the first sign of apparent listening prob-lems, difficulty following instructions or difficulty remaining seated.

That is what kids do, and frankly these are things you expect kids to do. Because there's no test that can determine the presence of ADHD, a diagnosis depends on a complete evaluation.

That’s where it gets tricky.

If is a child is disruptive or disobedient, wondering whether the child has Opposi-tional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Con-duct Disorder (CD) is a path no doctor can definitely steer you on.

Medications can affect kids differently, and a child may end up dependent on pills when they didn’t need to.

Become an advocate for your child and remember there is probably nothing like a bad kid, only kids who need direction. I won’t say there is nothing like ADHD, but those kids also need direction too.

||| LIFESTYLE

Is it ADHD or just a Bad Kid? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects an estimated 8% to 10% of school-age children.

Maybe it is time for parents to also pay attention.

LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

Get In Shape. Stay In Shape

A healthy habit shouldn't start and end with a New Year’s resolution. Small changes can turn into a new lifestyle

One of the most beautiful and comforting things about the New Year is the chance to start over, at least figuratively. There is no bank in the world that will

call you on January 1 with the news of total debt cancellation, and a chance to start all over. The truth is, we wish for a reset, and it is in our human nature to

do so.

Staying in shape, or getting back in shape is one that gets honora-ble mentions at the dawn of every new year. 24 Hour Fitness and

every other gym in America makes the most money in enroll-ment fees in the new year. In fact companies deploy extra cus-

tomer service associates for the first 3 weeks in the new year because they are acutely aware of the reality.

“This is the year that we get back in shape”, we say. Sounds very good, and we convince ourselves to believe that this year will be much different from the last 5 , and that we can stick

to this resolution this time around.

Losing 50 pounds in 2 months is not only impractical, it is borderline ridiculous. No one is saying that with a drastic

regimen and complete turn-away from any food of any kind, a person cannot lose 50 pounds in 2 months. The reason why many of the dreamy resolutions never see the light of

day is because they are almost out of this world.

Experts suggest setting a realistic goal. The key to any such realty check is to ensure that your goal is sustainable. Of

course it will be much nicer if we could roll around in bed all weekend , watch the unending marathons of Real Housewives of Atlanta, and still lose 10 pounds. Unfortunately if that was the case, 24 Hour Fitness would be out of business. After the

resolutions, the real work begins. At the end of the day, the age-old formula till applies; take in

fewer calories, burn more calories. There are millions of self-help books that will be filing online shopping carts in the com-ing weeks, but you also know that most diets and quick weight-loss plans don't work as promised. The only surefire strategy is to pick a plan that works for you, and most importantly some-

thing you can reasonably incorporate into your lifestyle. When it comes to getting back in shape [or staying in shape] the devil truly

lives in the details. The little steps makes a difference. Finally, you’ve heard of self-fulfilling prophecies. If you keep your fo-

cus on all the reasons why you cannot make the change, you can’t. Set your mind on small changes, encourage yourself to meet those simple goals, get excited about your progress, and

keep pushing ahead. Something worth noting,- it takes 4 weeks for you to see your body changing; it takes 8 weeks for

your friends and family; and it takes 12 weeks for the rest of the world to see any change.

Have a happy new year, and begin your journey today.

LIFESTYLE

I didn’t know much about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome until my fingers tingled one afternoon and went numb. Dr. Google came in handy and explained that it often is an irritation of the median nerve in the wrist that leads to

numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness in the hand.

It doesn’t sound too painful until you’ve felt your fingers feel like its dangling off the bone in the middle of the night. It feels like a horror movie, and the only thing worse is that you’re in it too.

I found that the median nerve travels down the forearm and enters the hand after passing through the wrist tunnel (carpal tunnel) that is located in the central part of the wrist. Hence the nagging pain. Enough of the biology education.

The unnerving part of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is that there is not a definitive test of the cause so the diagnosis is often initiated by the person feeling the pain.

The science to understand the causal relation-ship between vocation types and carpal tunnel syndrome has no easy answers. Positions of extreme wrist flexion and exten-sion are known to increase pressures within the carpal canal and apply pressure on the nerve.

This was the case in workers in factories who spend all day doing the same function with a particular body part. .

I have heard people call Carpal Tunnel Syndrome the Assembly Line disease, and this nickname came from the prevalence among people who performed repetitive functions daily.

This is particularly true with repetitive strain injury to the wrist. Intensity, frequency, and duration of work activity and their rela-tionship to carpal tunnel syndrome are unclear.

Typically Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can be cause by pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis and other causes of inflammation of the wrist, and even alcoholism.

Alcholism is bad for almost anything you can imag-ine, but that’s a different story for another day.

Numbness, and tingling in your thumb, index, and middle fingers may be a sign of a bigger problem, but the good news is that several slight changes in lifestyle can help before the situation gets worse.

While we wait for proven preventative medicines, the best anyone of us can do is to minimize stress on your hands and wrists with some simple precautions.

Relax your grip when performing manual tasks. Most people use more force than needed to perform many manual tasks. Take fre-quent breaks from repetitive functions, and alternate tasks when possible.

Whether or not the ergonomic solutions can be a cure is a separate discussion, but needless to say, it is a good start

What in the world is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome? THE SCIENCE TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VOCATION TYPES AND CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME STILL LEAVES UNANSWERED QUESTIONS.

Positions of extreme

wrist flexion and exten-

sion are known to in-

crease pressures within

the carpal canal and ap-

ply pressure on the

nerve.

Soon you will hear Christmas carols blasting in every Walgreens you walk into, and you will know Christmas is around the corner. It may surprise you how many people think Walgreens start Christmas too soon, and maybe they just can’t wait to unleash the amazing deals on cotton swabs and travel-sized toothpaste.

But they are not alone. Like Walgreens, kids are not the only demographic who eagerly look forward to Christmas.

In fact many adults have a mental countdown to usher in Christmas, but they just won’t admit it. Christmas is a time to enjoy the company of friends and family (that is assuming we like all of them), and an excuse to eat in excess without any guilt.

For kids, Santa Claus will come down a chimney and deliver gifts under a tree, at least for the ones who has been good. It is not my job to tell kids whether or not Santa exists, I will leave that wonderful task to every parent to shatter their kids’ one fancy illusion.

Jesus is the reason for the season. As we celebrate the Christmas season, your friends and family members will be exposed to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and find eternal joy through Christ’s saving grace.

Christmas will be a perfect opportunity to tell our friends and family about the forgiveness and love through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

So while you eat, and drink, and laugh, and eat again, hope-fully we don’t miss the opportunity to share why we cele-brate Christmas.

We searched the earth (and North Pole) for some great reasons why Jesus was better than Santa Claus, and this is what we found.

Santa lives at the North Pole; JESUS is everywhere.

Santa comes but once a year; JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited; JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invit-ed.

You have to wait in line to see Santa; JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap; JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"; JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa says "You better not cry"; JESUS says "Cast all your

cares on me for I care for you." Santa puts gifts under your tree; JESUS became our gift and

died on a tree. . . the cross. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have ever-lasting life" (John 3:16). Have a very Merry Christmas, and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Why JESUS is better than Santa Claus FAITH

FAITH

Thanksgiving Day coincidentally or by design has now become about fried turkey. A little history lesson here, in his Thanksgiving proclamation, Washing-ton wrote: 'It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Al-mighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits and humbly to implore His protection and favor.'

Later, during the very heart of the Civil War, in October 1863, President Abra-ham Lincoln created an annual day of thanksgiving. That is what brought us to where we are today.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we stopped for a moment to wonder just who it is we are thanking?

Maybe if people had any idea that in celebrating Thanksgiving, we ought to be thanking God for the many bless-ings, we would treat the occasion with a little more reverence and awe.

This is why I doubt that most people sitting down at Thanksgiving tables across the nation realize that the prima-ry purpose in joining together is to ex-press gratitude to God.

God is certainly the centerpiece for Thanksgiving Day, so I will take a guess that it is Him we thank, not the turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving.

T hanksgiving is a national holi-day celebrated primarily in the

US and Canada as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. That is the original in-tent, but maybe we forgot all about it.

Everyone enjoys the turkey-day but what will make the day even more meaningful is if we took the time to ponder over the message.

Thanksgiving takes us into a tradition that stretches back hundreds of years. The Pilgrims in early American years set aside to offer thanksgiving to God for their ability to survive in a strange new land.

America was devoid of the comforts they had left behind when they ventured across the vast Atlantic to begin a harsh new life in a new world.

Fast forward to hundreds of years later, words like ‘survive’, ‘strange land’, ‘harsh new life’ and ‘new world’ doesn’t mean much to people in modern societies.

WHO ARE WE REALLY THANKING ON THANKSGIVING? God or the Stuffed Turkey?

||| In FOCUS

AFM: So have you also advised patients to manage anxiety and stress?

IO: Yes. I recommend that people learn what triggers anxiety. Is it work, family, school, or something else you can identify? Look for a pattern and deal with the issue one at a time.

AFM: Is it true that stress is the same for everybody?

IO: [Chuckles] No not at all.

AFM: Are some of us more prone to stress?

IO: General opinions are seldom based on facts. Because all of use live with unique circumstances, we make some inferences along those lines. It’s simply because eve-ryone experiences stress in their own way. What is stressful for one person may or may not be stressful for another.

If the environment is unhealthy, a person is certainly more likely to be exposed to stressful conditions.

AFM: You think stress is always bad thing?

IO: I read something interesting about this same subject years ago. According to this logic, the absence of any stress makes us happy.

But this is far from the truth, — stress is to the human condition what tension is to the violin string: too little and the music is dull and raspy; too much and the music is shrill or the string snaps.

AFM: When we talk about being burned out, or “losing it”, is it simply because we are unable to control the events that cause stress, or it is something more?

IO: one thing we all know is that the results of not controlling our reactions to stress. I think the biggest issue is that so many of us are unaware of the many other emotion-al, cognitive and physical consequences of unmanaged stress. For instance, and 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress, 75 to 90% of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. So as the research indi-cates, the effect of stress is a bit more than just having a bad day at work.

AFM: I have to admit I didn’t take it so seri-ously at first, but obviously stress is noth-ing to take lightly?

IO: Not at all. What we know from years of research is that stress is linked to the six leading causes of death–heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and even suicide. This is a big issue, and what makes it worse is the fact that it doesn’t make a splash in our health so we leave it unchecked for years.

Issue Number One: STRESS A healthcare professional’s viewpoint of one of the most overlooked, yet dangerous,

healthcare issues in our community.

It is that time if the year; just when you survived the horrors of Halloween, planning for Thanksgiving and Christmas is on the horizon. This season, despite the many joys it brings, is saddled with tons of stress.

From managing difficult neighbors to weird in-laws, to spending tons of cash on gifts and toys children, the season can be any-thing but merry.

The frenzy leads to stress, a silent killer in our communities, a crisis none of us is immune. Akwaaba Family Magazine (AFM) caught up with Irene Osei (CEO of Lifeline Homecare, a Virginia-based healthcare company) to discuss a topic every one ought to be paying attention to: stress. We hope to crush a few myths along the way.

Akwaaba Family Magazine (AFM): In your line of work how prevalent is stress at this time of the year?

Irene Osei (IO): The holiday planning and what seems like an endless rush add a lot of stress to an already tough environment for most people.

I recently read an article that pointed out how stress levels for Americans have tak-en a decidedly downward turn— except for young adults, whose stress is higher than the national norm.

AFM: You work with older people mostly, do you find them more stressed than younger people?

IO: Actually the reverse is true. I think most older people have learned to take a time-out and not worry about things they cannot control. They manage stress much better usually.

In FOCUS

AFM: How do you effectively balance being a parent and managing your business?

IO: Every parent gets stressed and can sometimes get overwhelmed. Our line of work can be stressful also,

AFM: When we talk about being burned out, or “losing it”, is it simply because we are unable to control the events that cause stress, or it is something more?

IO: One thing we all know is that the re-sults of not controlling our reactions to stress. The big issue is that so many of us are unaware of the many other emotional, cognitive and physical consequences of unmanaged stress. For instance, and 43% of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress, 75 to 90% of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. So as the research indi-cates, the effect of stress is a bit more than just having a bad day at work.

AFM: I have to admit I didn’t take it so seri-ously at first, but obviously stress is noth-ing to take lightly?

IO: Not at all. What we know from years of research is that stress is linked to the six leading causes of death–heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and even suicide. This is a big issue, and what makes it worse is the fact that it doesn’t make a splash in our health so we leave it unchecked for years.

AFM: How do you effectively balance being a parent and managing your business?

IO: Every parent gets stressed and can sometimes get overwhelmed. Our line of work can be stressful also, especially be-cause we are committed to provide the best service to our clients. My only coping mechanism is finding a balance. I take time for relaxation, and it also helps be-cause I end up setting an example for your children.

AFM: You mentioned a violin, that may help calm anxiety?

IO: If you know how to play it, and it you font playing it therapeutic. Otherwise I strongly recommend not to, because you will be stressing your neighbor.

Seriously, I think it is about finding balance, and doing what you enjoy to help you relax.

AFM: If you have one crucial advice for our readers, especially with the holiday frenzy around the corner, what will it be?

IO: I tell parents that children bring happiness and fun, but also can be exhausting.

Staying calm all the time is not an easy target to reach but we have to be very deliberate in managing the stressors on our daily routine.

Adjust your priorities; and don’t take on unnecessary duties and responsibilities, after all you are not Santa Claus.

AFM: Great advice. Thank you for making time to chat with us.

IO: You are welcome. Thanks a and happy holidays to you also.

5 Innovative Apps Reshaping

Healthcare In Africa

As mobile penetration and smartphone proliferation continues its unprecedented surge in Africa, its beneficiaries are spreading beyond the confines of social interactions and brand development.

The number of health solutions, exploit-ing this growth, are also on the rise.

From combating malaria to detecting counterfeit drugs, the emergence of mobile health solutions is saving more lives than international aids. A 2013 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) projects that such initi-atives in Africa could save a million lives by the year 2017.

Here are 5 health apps that are saving millions of lives within Africa.

mPedigree mPedigree is a phone-based anti-counterfeit ICT software application which allows pharmaceutical retailers and users verify the authenticity of a drug. This is done for free by text-messaging a unique code found on the product to a universal number.

Matibabu Matibabu is a smartphone app that help to diagnose malaria without a blood sample. Using a custom-made piece of hardware (matiscope), which consists of a red LED and a light sensor, it can pierce beyond the skin to reach the Red Blood Cells. A finger is inserted into the device to diagnose and the results are viewed via a smartphone. This provides users with their malaria status in the shortest possible time.

MedAfrica Launched by Kenyan developers, Shimba Technologies, MedAfrica acts as a pocket clinic. It helps people in rural areas diagnose and monitor symptoms of diseases.

The app also provides directories of Doctors and hospitals, gives advice on treatment, validates doctors, authenticates possible counterfeit drugs and direct users to the nearest hospital.

mRamadan Launched during the Ramadan season in Senegal, mRamadan is an app that helps diabetic patients manage their health while fasting. Users receive free, daily text messages with recommendation before fasting during the month of Ramadan.

Sehatuk The Sehatuk, meaning “Your Health” in Arabic, provides a huge data base of drugs available in Morocco, along with their prices and dosages. It also provides useful information calling up an ambulance as well as news on the medical insurance.

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RULE 1: Life is not fair—get used to it! RULE 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something be-fore you feel good about yourself. RULE 3: Television is not real life. In real life, people actual-ly have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs. RULE 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss. RULE 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flip-ping—they called it opportunity.

RULE 6: If you mess up, it’s not your parents’ fault. So don't whine about your mistakes; learn from them. RULE 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as bor-ing as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes, and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. RULE 8: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are RULE 9: No one is interested in helping you “find yourself.” Do that on your own time. RULE 10: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Rules of Life that you WON’T Learn in School

ENTERTAINMENT

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that An Evergreen

Christmas is intended to be an uplifting

holiday movie, strongly promoting simple

values of family, community, and personal

responsibility... and showcasing its star,

Charleene Closshey, a composer, musician,

and singer.

The well-worn concept of big-city shallow-

ness and self-absorption versus the authen-

ticity and integrity of small-town living is at

the heart of this film.

Serious themes -- the death of a parent,

racism, and abandonment -- emerge as a

young woman reevaluates her life and her

purpose. The opening scene shows a man

collapsing and dying; his funeral follows

soon after.

Then much of the story concerns his fami-

ly's grief, adjustment, and the economic

turmoil surrounding that death.

A brutal father with a racist agenda threat-

ens his teen daughter with violence in sev-

eral scenes, one of which later results in

bruises on her arms, though the actual

abuse is not shown. The film has a racially

diverse cast and contains a few scenes with

drinking and drunkenness.

Is it any good?

The story is familiar; the resolutions (and

there are several of them) are predictable.

Some good actors have their work cut out

for them when there's no subtlety in either

the storyline or dialogue.

As a result, one-dimensional stereotypes

include a wannabe Hollywood actor, a diva

pop musical star, a greedy businesswoman,

an ignorant racist bully, and a prickly but

loving grandfather who relies heavily on his

faith and on his gun.

Small town life is idealized; big government

wants to destroy the farmer and his family

by extracting that last dollar from a dead

man.

BEHIND THE REEL There are close-ups of a bloody and beaten Jesus, as well as the two thieves crucified beside him. There are also scenes of dead Israelites killed by Roman guards, a child who is

crushed and killed by a cart, and Judas hanging himself. Families must decide whether their kids are ready to see some of the more disturbing and bloody aspects of Jesus' story.

What's the story?

To release SON OF GOD, husband-and-wife film producers and devout Catholics Mark

Burnett and actress Roma Downey have

repackaged the Jesus-centered portions of

their wildly successful The Bible miniseries,

which aired on the History Channel in 2013.

Son of God isn't exactly like the four epi-

sodes in the miniseries that chronicle Jesus'

life -- instead the film skips over Jesus'

childhood and baptism and goes from birth

to his finding his disciples.

The movie chronicles how Jesus (Diogo

Morgado) performed miracles, preached

about forgiveness and love, was persecuted

by the high priests and Pontius Pilate, was

crucified, and then was resurrected.

An Evergreen Christmas Rated: PG Genre: Drama

F or a season filled a chance to spend time with family and friends, movies are bound to fall at the center of it all. What we

watch, and the lessons we learn, impact us all a great deal.

Our friends at Commonsense Media give parents an in-depth snapshot [almost a paradox] of the big movies every child will be talking about this holiday season.

Akwaaba Family Magazine editors picked our top big screen selections, including Son of God.

We agree that it is impossible to recount the life of Christ and paint a complete portrait of the fullness of his divinity, or the fullness of his humanity, all in 2 hours. But at least it does give us a great snapshot of the life and work of Jesus.

Visit www.CommonSenseMedia.com for more reviews.

Son of God Rated: PG-13 Genre: Drama

What parents need to know Parents need to know that Son of God is re-purposed material from the History Channel's The Bible miniseries concen-trating on the story of Jesus' ministry years, death, and resurrection.

Although it's not quite as bloody and vio-lent as The Passion of the Christ, the mov-ie still features the violence of the cruci-fixion, like Jesus' flogging, the crown of thorns, and the nailing to the cross.

ENTERTAINMENT

Music Spotlight: BENYA FRANCIS (PAAPA) NYARKOH

Tony Roy, Storm, Stryker’s Posse, Revival by Kofi Thompson and more. Paapa has an undeniable passion for music which led to his endorsements with Sonar and Yamaha.

Paapa Nyarkoh’s signature one-drop drum style brings a rousing energy to crowds at every show

This Music Borders on Pop, R&B, Dance, Blues, Hip Hop, Rap, Hi Life, Soca & all forms of Modern Day Music.

This Project took many years to come together & all involved feel very Happy with the outcome.

Enjoy BENYA & Rejoice in you Soul. Give Thanks & Praise. One Love to Everyone, My People. Paapa Nyarkoh

F rancis (Paapa) Nyarkoh was born in Elmina -Ghana, West Africa and emigrated to the US in 2002.

As a self-taught musician, Paapa’s style combines African rhythms with hardcore authenticity, Jamaican reg-gae sounds, Calypso, and Soca beats from around the Caribbean to pro-duce high energy pulsating rhythms that hit you and make you want to dance.

Having toured South America, Aus-tralia, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and The United States, Paapa has worked extensively with many major artists including Hugh Mesekela, Jun-ior Marvin, Glen Washington, Everton Blender, Chico DeBarge, Leroy Sibbles, The Original Wailers (of Bob Marley & The Wailers), Magic System, Kenyatta “Culture” Hill, Corey Harris, Bonnie Mac, Frankie Paul, and Tinga Stewart just to name a few.

His local band affiliations include Strykers Posse, Mama Jama, Storm, Rebel Vibes and more. Amongst Paapa’s album credits are The Origi-nal Wailers 2013 Grammy Nominated album - Miracle, Sasha Marley, Dede Mbiaku (Fela Kuti’s saxophonist),

This CD contains Music with powerful rhythms of life and songs that will leave you breathless and hypnotize. it will move you to shake your body and dance with Joy. The Music hails from Ghana, West Africa & is Classified as World Music.

Genre: World: African-West Release Date: 2014

Grammy nominated drummer Francis (Paapa) Nyarkoh showcases remarkable talent in new release, BENYA

THE GENIUS BEHIND SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST CAPTIVATING MUSICAL SOUNDS.

Platinum-selling South African singer/model/actress Lira has already conquered South Africa and much of Europe with her irresistible blend of R&B, Jazz and African styles.

Like Sade before her, she is now set to conquer America with the release of her debut U.S. sin-gle "Feel Good" and her debut U.S. album re-lease Rise Again.

Grammy Award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo is known for her electrifying voice and fearless advocacy work.

In this intimate memoir, she reveals how she escaped Communist Africa to make her dreams a reality, and how she's prompting others all around the world to reach for theirs as well.

Born in the West African nation of Benin, Angélique Kidjo grew up surrounded by the rich sounds, rhythms, and sto-rytelling of traditional Beninese culture.

In Spirit Rising: My Life, My Music, Angélique reveals the details of her dangerous escape into France, and how she rose from poverty to become a Grammy Award–winning artist and an international sensation at the top of Bill-board's World Albums chart.

Newsmakers & Headliners

Soccer in a time of Crisis SPORTS

T he quagmire of staging the 2015

African Cup of Nations is a tough

proposition on either side.

Whether or not the environment is

conducive for such international event is the

big story front and center throughout Africa.

Morocco, hosts of next year’s Africa Cup of Nations initially scrapped plans to host the

event due to Ebola health concerns. Other

African countries considered taking over the

hosting duties, but the spotlight grew a little too bright for any serious reflection.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF)

is adamant that there would be no changes

to the event schedule, despite calls and mild

protests around the continent to host the

event.

The Ebola virus ravaged through

West Africa’s Liberia and shoved

the country’s plight onto a global stage. Panic ensued after thou-

sands of Liberians lost their lives

to the disease.

To add insult to injury, the Duncan

fiasco in Dallas Texas scraped

away any bastion of hope that

when all else fails the US can save you. Nigeria, Sierra Leone

and Senegal all had cases of Ebo-

la virus and deaths, but none on

the scale of Liberia.

The argument remains, that a tournament

like next year’s Africa Cup of Nations would open the floodgates to potential cross-

continent outbreak if the worse happens.

Of course no one is interested in painting a

grim picture, but that is a scary possibility.

Why not postpone the event altogether?

January 18 to February 8 is not etched in stone, after all.

The problem is European club teams prepare in

advance for a mass exodus of their African

players to participate in African Cup of Nations

for their respective countries. Football is huge business across Europe, and the thought of

missing key players at any other time during

the season may be a bit unsettling.

Of course that argument discounts the amount

of money CAF stands to reap during the event.

That’s a pile of cash it cannot live without.

But let’s be fair, it can’t be all about money.

The last thing any player wishes for would be

to return to a club team in Europe only to be

met with hostile receptions of allegedly infect-

ing a country with Ebola.

Black players like Mario Balotelli have been the

poster child for racial slur against black play-

ers and FIFA is still struggling to arrest that

issue. A new Ebola fear will have a domino

effect, the likes of which FIFA wouldn’t even know where to begin addressing the issue.

I am sure somewhere in the background Euro-

pean football federations are chiming in. If I had a crystal ball, I would bet they are urging

CAF to call off the event altogether.

There is a flip side. Countries like South Africa,

Ivory Coast and Zambia has been on the fringes

of African football for the last few years. In

the not too distant past, they were all power-

houses and favorites, until they unraveled

from within.

They are desperate for a return to prominence,

and not to mention their best stars are not

getting any younger.

Countries like Togo and Sudan may find a

semi-boycott of international stars as a per-

fect opportunity to stake their claim on the continent’s biggest game.

Cancelling the game, or even postponing it to

a more suitable time essentially reduces their odds of playing in the tournament beyond the

group stages.

One may argue that countries in

that latter bracket may have an

axe to grind.

I do not particularly think that

postponing the African Cup of

Nations or even cancelling it

altogether will leave a dent on the tournament.

Will Guinea stay home, or be

allowed to participate in the tournament; in the least to keep

a nation battered by Ebola virus

something to cheer about?

These are all questions that no one has a

magic wand to pick the best answer choice.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation is in a tough position, and it won’t be any different

if the shoe was on another country’s foot.

In a recent Akwaaba Family Magazine poll, an

overwhelming 68% of respondents consider a

postponement of the tournament a sensible

choice. 10% of respondents thought cancel-

ling the tournament would be a gesture to the

world that Africa takes Ebola seriously,

(continued on Page 24)

AFRICAN COUNTRIES DEBATE THE 2015 CUP OF NATIONS WITH EBOLA VIRUS NEXT DOOR

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(continued from Page 22)

and go a long way to squash the assertion

that Ebola’s spread through West

Africa has been in part due to the continent’s

lackadaisical attitude f epidemics and value

for life.

In the same poll, 15% would play the tourna-

ment at all costs, with a subset of the group

sharing the opinion that any act of despera-tion could ignite fears across the continent

that Ebola is here to stay.

The rest of our respondents didn’t care or

have an opinion on the matter.

At the end of the day, this is bigger than

football. CAF media director Junior Binyam

said, 'Any change of dates would be to the

detriment of the CAF calendar, which must

follow FIFA's international calendar.'

The issue at stake is much larger than calendars and FIFA expectations.

The decision to host or participate in the

2015 African Cup of Nations should be a very informed and calculated one, not a self-serving agenda to look good.

Just like Ebola, that may very well be a disaster

of epic proportions.

All of Africa was colonized

by foreign powers during the

“scramble for Africa”, except Ethiopia and Liberia.

Before colonial rule Africa com-

prised up to 10,000 different states and autonomous groups with dis-tinct languages and customs.

There are over 1 million Chinese citi-

zens on the African continent. Angola alone has a population of over

350,000 Chinese.

Check out these businesses and community establishments for printed copies, and be sure to tell them you saw their ad in Akwaaba Family Magazine

MARKET PLACE

OUTLETS - AFRICAN CHURCHES IN UNITED STATES

VIRGINIA African Market 8673 Sudley Rd Manassas, VA 20110 (703) 365-8760

Makola Market Inc 7856 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, Va 22306 (703)799.3865 Rahama African Restaurant & Catering Woodbridge 12744 Darby Brooke Ct Woodbridge, VA 22192 Woodbridge International Market 14350 Jefferson Davis HWY Woodbridge, VA 22191 (703) 491-9291 Adum Tropical Market 8332 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA 22309 (703) 799-2550 MARYLAND Accra International Foods 10051 North 2nd Street #12 Laurel, MD. (301) 317-4440 Adom African Int. Market 10400 Shaker Dr. Columbia, MD 21045 Kantanka African Market & Int'l Foods 1354 Travis View Court Gaithersburg, MD 20879 (301) 519-9712 Red Apple Farmers Market 7645 New Hampshire Ave. Langley Park, MD. (301) 434-1801 Kemi African International Food Store 7116 Darlington Dr Parkville, MD 21234 (443) 495-0127

NEW JERSEY Makola African Market Imports 375 Lyons Ave. Newark, NJ. (973) 926-3919 Sands African Imports, Ltd 923 Frelinghuysen Ave. Newark, NJ. (973) 824-5500

NEW YORK African Market Bronx Terminal Mkt. #48A New York, NY. (718) 1665-6524

West African Grocery 524 Ninth Avenue New York, NY. (212) 695-6215 Kaneshie African Market 95 Mcclellan St Bronx, New York 10452 Phone (347) 597-9452 Adom African Market 1263 Edward L Grant Highway Front 1 Bronx, NY 10452 Phone: (718) 681-7065 NORTH CAROLINA Oja Village International Market 3114 summit ave Greensboro, NC. (336) 358-8260

Sankofa Int. Market, Inc. 3209 Yanceyville Street Greensboro, NC. (336) 375-4111

OHIO North Hill African Market 212 E Cuyahoga Falls Ave Akron, OH. (330) 374-1168

Woodlawn United Methodist 1425 NE Dekum Street Portland, OR. 1-503-289-0284 Royal House Chapel 3600 East West Hwy #300 Hyattsville, MD 20782 Philadelphia Ghana SDA Church 7501 Frankford AVE Philadelphia, PA Church of the Lamb of God 7030 S. Lewis Tulsa, OK. 1-918-481-6557 Jesus House DC 919-921 Philadelphia Avenue Silver Spring, MD. 301-650-1900 African Evangelical Baptist Church 770, East Warrior Trail Grand Prairie, TX. Ghana United Methodist Church 617 Reiss Place, Bronx, New York 10467 Ghana Presbyterian Church 15128 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77083 Tel: 1-832-278-3024 Email: info@pcghuston.org The Apostolic Church 6721 Commerce Street Springfield, Va 22150 Ebenezer Presbyterian Church 14508 Telegraph Rd Woodbridge, VA 22192 Ebenezer Presbyterian Church 14508 Telegraph Rd Woodbridge, VA 22192 Faith Harvest Chapel 21557 Blackwood Court Suite 100 Sterling Va, 20166 The Church of Christ-Ghana Inc. 1211 Brook Ave Bronx, NY 10456 347-725-8271

TEXAS African Food Store 11332 Fondren Road Houston, TX. (713) 728-8308 African Village Market 10217 Club Creek Houston, TX. (713)541-1060 Afrikiko Restaurant 9625 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77036 (713) 773-1400 WISCONSIN African Market & Beauty Supply 805a South Gannon Rd. Madison, WI 53719 (330) 374-1168 WASHINGTON DC Obeng International Grocery 300 Morse St NE Washington, DC (202) 544-8255 Sam Product Marketing 5772 2nd Street NE Washington, DC. (202) 248-2856 PENNSYLVANIA Hajmas African Market 1921 Derry St Harrisburg PA 17104 (717) 233-2513 Clementon Grocery Afri. Market 611 Blackwood Clementon Rd Lindenwold, NJ 08021 (856) 504-6809 Baba's African Market 6039 Woodland Ave Philadelphia, PA 19142 (215) 729-1200 General African Market 6408 Woodland Ave Philadelphia, PA 19142 (215) 724-2192

1. More than one-third of Africa lacks clean water. That’s nearly the population of the United States and Canada combined. 2. The value of Africa’s exports of oil, gas and minerals was nearly 8x the value of international aid the continent received in 2011. Which begs the question… where is the money going? 3. Diarrhea and pneumonia together kill more kids than AIDS, malaria and TB combined. The sad part is that these are all preventa-ble, treatable diseases that no one should have to die from. 4. A child born to a mother who can read is 50% more likely to survive past the age of 5. This stat is crazy and I can hardly believe it, but it’s true. 5. Less than 1 percent of the US budget goes to fighting extreme poverty. I know lots of you know that one, but it still surprises people. 6. Between 1/4 and 1/3 of the 4 billion metric tons of food produced is lost or wasted That’s a lot of food… in the trash. 7. Only 2 African countries publish suffi-cient budget information for citizens to know what their governments are spending money on. Hey, government: how much are we spend-ing on public education? Oh, you have no idea? Never mind. 8. If unchecked, the Ebola epidemic is expected to infect 1.4 million people by January 2015. This is more than twice the number of peo-ple killed and wounded in the US Civil War. 9. Americans spend more on Halloween than the entire world spends on malaria in a year. Now this fact is just straight up scary. We can turn these facts into fic-tion. Join ONE’s global movement of over 6 million people working together to end extreme poverty.

SHOCKING GLOBAL POVERTY FACTS

IBM will use its engagement and analyt-ics technology to help curb the spread of Ebola in West Africa, company execu-tives announced today.

Combining expertise from IBM's global network of research labs with its experi-ence in humanitarian disaster response, the computing giant will apply mobile

technology, data analytics and cloud computing to help governments and relief agencies contain the deadly virus.

The technology will be in play in Sierra Leone, enabling communities affected by Ebola to communicate their issues and concerns directly to the government. Also, a donation of IBM Connections technology in Nigeria is aimed at strengthening the Lagos State govern-ment's preparedness for future disease outbreaks. The effort also includes a platform for sharing Ebola-related open data.

The work benefits from contributions from a number of partners including Sier-ra Leone’s Open Government Initiative, Cambridge University's Africa’s Voices project, Airtel and Kenya's Echo Mobile.

Citizen engagement IBM's new Africa research lab, in collabo-ration with Sierra Leone's Open Govern-ment Initiative, has developed a system that enables citizens to report Ebola-related issues and concerns via texts or voice calls. It provides insight to the gov-ernment about the day-to-day experienc-es of communities directly affected by Ebola to help improve its strategy for containing the disease.

Tapping supercomputing and analytics capabilities via the cloud, the system is able to rapidly identify correlations and highlight emerging issues across the entire data set of messages.

"As Africa's first technology research lab, we are uniquely positioned to use innovation to help tackle some of the continent's biggest challenges," said Uyi Stewart, chief scientist, IBM Research – Africa, he said in a news release. "We saw the need to quickly develop a sys-tem to enable communities directly af-fected by Ebola to provide valuable in-sight about how to fight it. Using mobile technology, we have given them a voice and a channel to communicate their experiences directly to the government."

The system uses radio broadcasts to encourage people to get in touch and express their opinions. Cambridge Uni-versity’s Africa's Voices project has helped to develop a radio engagement model, incorporating questions into pub-lic service announcements to elicit feedback from citizens in both English and Krio – one of Sierra Leone's most widely spoken languages.

"We are working with IBM to offer people across Sierra Leone a channel to voice their opinions and, crucially, to ensure that the data is rapidly analyzed and turned into valuable insight about the effectiveness of public service an-nouncements and possible public mis-conceptions about Ebola."

Credit: www.healthcareitnews.com

IBM tech to fight Ebola in Africa FOR US TO TACKLE EBOLA, IT IS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAIN AN OPEN DIALOGUE

BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF SIERRA LEONE.'