AS FOR THIS PERFUME DEAA....

For the last two months, the main topic of my prayers before I leave the house for church on Sundays has always been about the people I sit next to. Yes, I said the people I sit next to. I’m sure by now you know what I’m getting at but, let me start with a story.

Two months ago, as I entered the fully air conditioned premises of my church at North Industrial Area, looking forward to a great sermon by my pastor (who by the way, cracks the best jokes ever), I didn’t realize that the sermon was going to be a “scented” one for me.

So, I took my seat beside this neatly dressed gentleman and immediately realized my mistake. The kind of perfume that was emanating from his armpits had the distinctive smell of stale sweat combined with a cheap brand of perfume that had probably failed to do the trick (disguise the awful smell). I thought….. great. I have to take two and a half hours of this.

Well guess what? I was totally wrong. Not only did he keep raising his hands unnecessarily throughout the sermon, he decided to give a double dose by opening his mouth and shouting each time he felt “moved by the sermon or, holy spirit”… Ewurade!!!!!

Think about the Korle Lagoon to have a fair idea of what I’m talking about. And don’t even for a moment think “this is just a story.” It is totally and completely true.
So, the service ended with me going home with nothing other than a severe headache (I couldn’t enjoy the service since I kept praying for it to be over).

But seriously, how can people not know that they smell bad? Can’t they examine themselves or ask friends to do so for them?

This story is just one of many that show the experiences that people go through because of others’ ignorance. Can you believe that I don’t take the Metro Mass Buses as a result of a similar experience? (The culprit, who wore a sleeveless blouse, raised her arms to hold a pole for balance and gave us the scent of hell…). Eyee asem oo.
It’s true that nobody is perfect. We all sweat. However, there are a few ways to avoid bad body and oral odour.

Bath regularly
Shave armpits
Please use deodorants that are anti-perspirants. They reduce sweat and mask unpleasant smells.

Try not to sweat too much if you do so easily.
Don’t wear the previous day’s clothes. No matter how clean they are, they will still have the smell of the previous day’s sweat in them.
Brush your teeth frequently.
Use mouthwash if you have to and don’t forget the PKs and other minted gums (They shall never fail you)!!!!

Follow these tips and remember, You have the right to smell heavenly!!!!!

THE PHLEGM, THE SPIT, AND THE ILLS

Every day, as I walk down the street I see several Ghanaians doing so many filthy things but the one act that I cannot bring myself to understand is the hawking up of phlegm.

Seriously, do they have to make that irritating sound all the time? And as if that is not enough, they spit it out and do not even bother to cover up their mess with some sand. AARRGGHH!!

I remember my mother telling me about how someone sitting next to her in a tro-tro stretched his body across her and, spat out of the window. Would you believe that the idiot hawked up some phlegm and wanted to repeat the same action? Unbelievable!! My mom stopped him before he could and asked him to swallow his gob of slimy mucus. Thank God!!!!

Public spitting is a serious issue which is widely seen as a social menace, but rarely condemned! Spitting in Ghana happens in practically every locality, by nearly all levels of society from the labourer at the site to the conductor of a bus/trotro mate. Most of the time, the “spitter” is not even aware that this is a nasty habit, which can annoy or even injure others. Spitting phlegm, along with other habits such as blowing of the nose, and sneezing without covering the nose are harmful to public health. It is quite well proved that diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, pneumonia, chicken pox, diphtheria, endemic fever and whooping cough are spread rapidly by phlegm and spit.

Above all, spitting in the open shows a strong lack of civic sense and a disregard to public property and shared resources. I personally believe that the Ministry of Health as well as other organizations that seek to promote health issues should, structure out a program that would create awareness among public about the diseases spread through this act of spitting in open places, and encourage people to abstain from such habits by practicing oral hygiene and self control.

Oh, and please stop the hawking and spitting if you are guilty of this practice.