Several pandemics have been reported throughout history. The Black Death, Spanish flu, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) among many others have received attention by both earlier and recent scholarships due to their impact on humanity. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, scholars had anticipated future outbreaks with the same or greater impact. The coronavirus which spread from Wuhan from December 2019, across nations has already decimated over 2 million lives with the Americans and Europeans scoring higher in mortality rates. Since its outbreak, scholars have reported cases and measured its impact concerning nations and the international economy. From a historical political economy approach, we add to the corpus of information on pandemics by using the theories of globalizations to discuss pandemics and COVID-19 in particular. We have highlighted the economic history of earlier pandemics and related same to the current burden. We discuss how resources have been distributed to address health systems of Africa and Ghana in particular. Also, the current contribution pays attention to critical questions on COVID-19 in Africa. Evidence from the study suggests that African nations shall do better when they combine their efforts and resources to fight the pandemic and others that might erupt in the near future. From the discussions, we draw lessons for stakeholders and policy makers.

While the genesis of the drone technology is not clear, one thing is ideal: it emerged as a military apparatus and gained much attention during major wars, including the two world wars. Aside being used in combats and to deliver humanitarian services, drones have also been used extensively to kill both troops and civilians. Revolutionized in the 19th century, the drone technology was improved to be controlled as an unmanned aerial devices to mainly target troops. A new emerging field that has seen the application of the drone technology is the healthcare sector. Over the years, the health sector has increasingly relied on the device for timely transportation of essential articles across the globe. Since its introduction in health, scholars have attempted to address the impact of drones on healthcare across Africa and the world at large. Among other things, it has been reported by scholars that the device has the ability to overcome the menace of weather constraints, inadequate personnel and inaccessible roads within the healthcare sector. This notwithstanding, data on drones and drone application in Ghana and her healthcare sector in particular appears to be little within the drone literature. Also, few attempts have been made by scholars to highlight the use of drones in African countries. By using a narrative review approach, the current study attempts to address the gap above. Using this approach, a thorough literature search was performed to locate and assess scientific materials that focus on the application of drones in the military field and in the medical systems of Africa and Ghana in particular. With its sole responsibility to deliver items, stakeholders of health across several parts of the world have relied on drones to transport vital articles to health centers. Countries like Senegal, Madagascar, Rwanda and Malawi encouraged Ghana to consider the application of drones in her mainstream healthcare delivery. Findings from the study have revealed that Ghana’s adoption of the drone policy has enhanced the timely delivery of products such as test samples, blood and Personal Protective Equipment to various health centres and rural areas in particular. Drones have contributed to the delivery of equity in healthcare delivery in Ghana. We conclude that with the drone policy, the continent has the potential to record additional successes concerning the over-widened gap in healthcare between rural and urban populations.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human interactions deeply affected the sense of humour of individuals. Using a social media research approach, this article analyses social media data in order to understand how social media users related with COVID-19. We sought to address the various events that generated humour among Ghanaians during the pandemic. The study reveals that the various instances of humour revolved around nose and/or face masks, terminologies and various social media posts. People neutralised their tensions and raised their humour with posts that flooded social media. This stemmed from the idea that people were mainly surprised at what they saw, watched or heard as they sought to release stress. We conclude that, owing partially to the creation of humour, the fear and tension associated with COVID-19 decreased with time among Ghanaians.

Forest conservation is a very important concept across the world. It is not only crucial for climate change but also very critical for the survival of humanity.  In Africa, forests have always been an important aspect of nature that is regarded with uttermost reverence and care. Importantly, discussions  on health, healthcare, culture, economics and other factors have been associated with forests. Part of this benefit is the use of herbs from the forests for local medicinal purposes. The current study sought to ascertain the value of conserving forests resources for indigenous herbal medicine  among the Akyem Abuakwa people of Ghana. Among other things, it aimed at exploring the indigenous means or methods of conserving forests in  Africa. The study adopted a purely qualitative research approach, with a blend of interviews and secondary materials. From the current discourse, it was  revealed that African traditional medicine, both spiritual and physical, make very good use of the forests. From earliest times, several strategies and  indigenous knowledge systems were deployed to ensure a proper means for the protection of herbal plants, trees and animal parts to enhance the  practice of traditional medicine in Akyem Abuakwa. Based on the findings and discussions arising from the research, we argue that rigorous education  and orientation programmes toward the protection and sustenance of the forest environment should suffice. Howbeit, the discussions and debates  surrounding African indigenous forest conservation and its contribution to African medicinal resources appear to be complex. Such puzzlement must be  resolved with continuous research beyond this current contribution.

From economic, through politics to domestic support, women have been the major engineers of valuable roles towards the development of every culture. Historically, their impacts in medicine and healthcare in general have been evident across time and space. Prior to European influx and the modernization of healthcare in Ghana, women delivered such roles that simulate that of modern midwives, nurses, herbalists and priestesses. Although, denied access to formal education in the colonial days, because of cultural reasons, women have risen to occupy central stages in biomedical services. Regardless of their numerical strength and contributions towards the provision of healthcare, they have been neglected and marginalized both within the society and by scholars. Significantly, the place of Obuasi, in particular, within the literature on women’s contribution to healthcare delivery has received little attention. Dwelling on a qualitative research approach grounded in both primary and secondary data, the current study attempted a prime discourse on the contribution of women in the biomedical spheres using the Obuasi community as a case study. The current study has revealed that women as nurses and midwives work toward reducing child mortality and improvement of maternal health. Also, we have analyzed the challenges women face within the biomedical sphere as nurses and midwives.