These days when I hear people say; “I love your accent, where is it from?” I wonder if I should say “thank you” or run for my passport just in case ICE will be in pursuit soon. My English is as good as my genetics will allow (you see both of my parents come from … Continue reading English? Sil vous plait!!, by Dr. Yaw Berko
The battle of the sexes continues to rage on across societies and has taken many casualties over time. In Election 2016 many believe the preference for Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton was driven by male preference mixed in with a significant dose of misogyny, as to whether this is true is a matter for debate. … Continue reading The Battle of the Sexes: Which sex Achieves Emotional Maturity Earlier?
In Election year 2016, forty-two percent of Americans did not vote, a significant proportion of them like myself were recent immigrants from "shithole" countries! I guess most of them believed their votes won’t matter or sway anything here in the United States of America! Before they make any such fatal decisions not to vote on … Continue reading Shithole Folklore: The Tortoise the rope plant and the beautiful bird, by Dr. Yaw Berko
What if I told you I am afraid to attend church services in America today! With the Sutherland Springs and Charleston church massacres, I am now afraid of being shot in church, you would definitely say Yaw is that not an overgeneralisation? And I would agree with you because the vast majority of Christian Evangelicals … Continue reading When Ignorance dares!! By Dr. Yaw Berko
In the past few weeks there has been a lot of interest on the breast as different organizations advance various initiatives to help reduce risk of Breast Cancer in Ghana. These activities attracted a lot of attention and have been very successful in raising awareness about this disease. With all that good publicity there is … Continue reading Breast play and breast cancer risk
As any self respecting Baltimore resident I sometimes see business deals in terms of street culture. I must admit though that I am no expert in street culture however a conversation that I had with a Baltimore Street homeboy who claims to have personally known the real Nathan "Bodie" Barksdale the inspiration for the street … Continue reading What can the Saudi Crown Prince learn from Russell Bell?
I believe some issues are definitely first world problems. Women's reproductive rights, unfortunately falls into that category. I have been amused at how abortion rights has so paralysed this nation to the extent the division it is creating can potentially lead to disastrous consequences on this great nation that needs to be “made great again.” … Continue reading How my Views on Abortion Evolved! By Dr. Yaw Berko
Over the past two decades the United States has experienced an uncontrollable epidemic of drug related deaths. In 2016 sixty-three thousand Americans died of drug overdoses, two out of three of these deaths were due to opioids. In times like this whilst law enforcement and public health services grapple for solutions most may ask the … Continue reading A Nation in Pain
The whole of last week most of us have been debating or considering one way or the other if an individual accused but never convicted of attempted rape should be allowed to sit on the highest judicial bench in the land. That decision is a really big decision and would eventually be decided by our … Continue reading Should convicted felons be allowed to vote in elections ?
A recent World Health Organization ranking of the world's health systems puts the United States at number 37 between Costa Rica at 36 and Slovenia, first lady Melania Trump's birth country at number 38. This situation is all the more surprising since the United States spends more than twice as much per capita for health … Continue reading Why the US ranks so low in WHO (World Health Organization) Health System Rankings?
Here in the United States, a group of people has appropriated upon themselves the sole responsibility of determining when America was great, that America had always been great but America needs to be made great again! I call them the “much touted self-righteous holier than thou sole custodians of America’s greatness and patriotism.” For them … Continue reading The ludicrousness of “Make America Great Again”
For me my most favorite place in this world is my home, this does not hold true for my son though; he loves hotels. A few days ago I got the shock of my life. My whole world was turned upside down. As a black man in the US your safety is always a big … Continue reading Black Brother, are you safe?
My country of birth has been described as one of the most religious countries in the world. This is a crown that most Ghanaians wear proudly, whilst others would gladly avoid any mention of that. On that account one can understand why an elected president of Ghana would consider building a national cathedral to be … Continue reading Secularism and Separation of Church from State; where do we draw the line? by Dr. Leonard Sowah
In a prior post I had dreamed of claiming my gun which I rightfully acquired as a citizen of this great nation. Unfortunately life always just appears to get in the way of the greatest ideas and like all great ideas that fateful journey to Arkansas for my gun has still not materialized. However, for … Continue reading How can we keep our friends and families safer whilst protecting the Second Amendment?
With the passing of my school mate by several decades Mr. Kofi Annan I had to do some thinking on my own obituary. Everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die, not me! You see for me “it’s the depth of life that matters not the length.” Like the saying goes ”let the … Continue reading My Updated Obituary, by Dr. Yaw Berko
In the US most patients who require PrEP (HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) get coverage for Truvada by their insurance companies. Patients with medicaid coverage have copays ranging from $3 - 25, however individuals with commercial insurance may have to pay up to $800 a month towards medication cost. This has proven to be a barrier for … Continue reading Generic Truvada; why it is still not available on the US market?
More than 20 years ago I entered University of Ghana as a preme student in the Faculty of Science. One important thing about having the opportunity to spend time on the University Campus rather than starting right out in the medical school in Accra was the opportunity afforded us to interact with students pursuing other … Continue reading The Joys and Perils of Free Speech, is it really worth it?
This article is dedicated to the memory of Prof. Bongani Mayosi, a world renowned South African cardiologist who died by suicide from depression this week. As I sat in front of the couple trying to be stoic and listen to and diagnose their model teenage child with lupus, at this point I regret being a … Continue reading Physician burnout by Dr. Dzifa Dey
When I look at what is happening around me these days in America, I get deja vu feelings about my childhood. Sometimes it causes me extreme tummy upset and nausea and here is why! My mom and I lived in a compound house in a low middle-class neighborhood called Adabraka in Accra, Ghana! A compound … Continue reading A Masseuse for a Boob Job
As the summer enters its full force and many plan their vacations to the beach and other sunny places, I remembered that not all of us are going to be enjoying the sun equally. There are a few who would avoid the sun like the plague, and this is not from fear of skin cancer. … Continue reading Black is beautiful, or is it?