THE Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed concern about the continuous refusal of some of its members to accept posting to the three northern regions.
At the moment, the total number of doctors in the three regions is 99. The Northern Region has 51 while the Upper East and Upper West regions have 33 and 15 doctors, respectively. Figures in respect of other categories of health professionals follow similar trends.
The President of the association, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, attributed the attitude by such members partly to the perception that being posted to the north was punishment.
Dr Winful also mentioned the “enormous protocol pressure brought to bear on managers by ‘big men’ to keep their wards (doctors) in the cities” as another contributory factor to the problem.
These, coupled with the advantages of working in teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi where some doctors supplement their “incomes with private practice and enjoying all the good things that the cities provide,” discourage the doctors from accepting posting to northern Ghana.
On the way forward, the president, who was speaking at the 51st annual general meeting (AGM) in Tamale, suggested that a package of incentives that included a car, 50 per cent of basic salary, free adequate accommodation and utilities be offered members who would opt to work in deprived communities.
“In addition, the period spent working in deprived areas ought to count during selection for post-graduate training,” he added.
The four-day meeting, which is the first of its kind to be held in the Northern Region, was on the theme: “Towards a better health care for Ghana — the human resource challenges and solutions.”
Dr Winful further entreated the leadership of the health administration in the country, majority of who hail from the north at the moment, to collaborate and evolve effective measures to address the imbalance in the system.
He, however, expressed the hope that with the successful hosting of the meeting in Tamale “that has made it possible for many of our colleagues to have a feel of what it is like to travel up north, I hope postings up north will show a significant increase after this AGM”.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Vice President, Mr John Mahama, urged the association to help find ways of addressing the needs and challenges of the health sector to evolve a better healthcare for a better Ghana.
He stated that the commitment by the government to improve the health sector was borne out of their campaign promises to the people.
According to him, the government would not renege on its pledge to increase the budgetary allocation and also improve on infrastructure development for the sector, and therefore, called for the individual commitment of the GMA in that direction.
“Together, through dialogue, the government and the GMA can develop workable synergies for the betterment of the health sector,” Mr Mahama stated.
For his part, the Minister of Health designate, Dr Benjamin Kumbour, urged district assemblies and traditional rulers, particularly those in northern Ghana, to create an enabling environment that could attract and encourage doctors and other health professionals to accept posting to deprived communities.
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Steven Nayina, expressed the preparedness of the regional co-ordinating councils in the three regions to offer accommodation and other incentives to doctors who would accept posting to the area in order to motivate them to stay.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
MURDER IN COLD BLOOD ...PNC's candidate ambushed & shot (LEAD STORY)
STORY: Zakaria Alhassan in Tamale & Lucy Adoma Yeboah in Accra
THE People’s National Convention (PNC) parliamentary candidate in the Nalerigu Constituency in the 2008 elections, Mr Moses Alando Banaba, has been killed by an unknown gunman at Nalerigu in the Northern Region.
The deceased, who worked at the Nalerigu Baptist Medical Centre in the East Mamprusi District as a pharmacist, was allegedly ambushed and shot in the thigh when he was on his way home after work on Thursday evening.
The body of the deceased, who is a Kusasi, has been deposited at the morgue at the Nalerigu Baptist Medical Centre.
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
However, the Northern Regional Police Command is on the heels of two suspects. While the name of one of the suspects is yet to be known, the police mentioned one Salifu Zongo Naaba as the other suspect.
According to the Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr A. Awuni, Zongo Naaba, a Mamprusi, was spotted early yesterday at a lorry station at Nalerigu attempting to flee the town.
He said when the police attempted to arrest Naaba, a crowd went to his defence, thereby preventing the policemen from effecting the suspect’s arrest.
The suspect is believed to be working with Alhaji Yussif, aka Patience, a lotto agent in Bawku in the Upper East Region.
The commander, therefore, appealed to the Paramount Chief of the area, the Nayiri, Na Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, to prevail upon the people to produce the suspect to assist in investigations.
“Even though the motive for the shooting is yet to be ascertained, this incident is an indication that the feuding factions in Bawku now want to export the conflict to the Northern Region,” ACP Awuni indicated.
“We will not sit unconcerned and allow some few disgruntled persons to take the law into their own hands. We will deal drastically with such people when apprehended,” he warned.
He emphasised the readiness of the police to go after the sponsors of the internecine conflicts in the north and urged the people to report any suspicious characters in their respective communities to the police.
When contacted in Accra, the Leader of the PNC, Dr Edward Mahama, said he received a phone call about Mr Banaba’s murder from members of the deceased’s family around 10 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2009.
He expressed his deepest condolence to Mr Banaba’s family and friends and advised them to stay calm as the security agencies conducted investigations into the matter.
He also expressed confidence in the security agencies and appealed to them to do everything within their power to apprehend the culprits to ensure that justice prevailed.
Dr Mahama said the late Mr Banaba had been with the PNC since early 1992.
The late Mr Banaba, believed to be in his late 40s, was married with six children. His wife, who is said to be pursuing a course in Accra, left for home immediately the news got to her.
THE People’s National Convention (PNC) parliamentary candidate in the Nalerigu Constituency in the 2008 elections, Mr Moses Alando Banaba, has been killed by an unknown gunman at Nalerigu in the Northern Region.
The deceased, who worked at the Nalerigu Baptist Medical Centre in the East Mamprusi District as a pharmacist, was allegedly ambushed and shot in the thigh when he was on his way home after work on Thursday evening.
The body of the deceased, who is a Kusasi, has been deposited at the morgue at the Nalerigu Baptist Medical Centre.
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
However, the Northern Regional Police Command is on the heels of two suspects. While the name of one of the suspects is yet to be known, the police mentioned one Salifu Zongo Naaba as the other suspect.
According to the Northern Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr A. Awuni, Zongo Naaba, a Mamprusi, was spotted early yesterday at a lorry station at Nalerigu attempting to flee the town.
He said when the police attempted to arrest Naaba, a crowd went to his defence, thereby preventing the policemen from effecting the suspect’s arrest.
The suspect is believed to be working with Alhaji Yussif, aka Patience, a lotto agent in Bawku in the Upper East Region.
The commander, therefore, appealed to the Paramount Chief of the area, the Nayiri, Na Bohugu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga, to prevail upon the people to produce the suspect to assist in investigations.
“Even though the motive for the shooting is yet to be ascertained, this incident is an indication that the feuding factions in Bawku now want to export the conflict to the Northern Region,” ACP Awuni indicated.
“We will not sit unconcerned and allow some few disgruntled persons to take the law into their own hands. We will deal drastically with such people when apprehended,” he warned.
He emphasised the readiness of the police to go after the sponsors of the internecine conflicts in the north and urged the people to report any suspicious characters in their respective communities to the police.
When contacted in Accra, the Leader of the PNC, Dr Edward Mahama, said he received a phone call about Mr Banaba’s murder from members of the deceased’s family around 10 p.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2009.
He expressed his deepest condolence to Mr Banaba’s family and friends and advised them to stay calm as the security agencies conducted investigations into the matter.
He also expressed confidence in the security agencies and appealed to them to do everything within their power to apprehend the culprits to ensure that justice prevailed.
Dr Mahama said the late Mr Banaba had been with the PNC since early 1992.
The late Mr Banaba, believed to be in his late 40s, was married with six children. His wife, who is said to be pursuing a course in Accra, left for home immediately the news got to her.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
SORCERY — SCHOOL CLOSED DOWN (MIRROR, LEAD STORY, OCT 31, 2009)
Story: Zakaria Alhassan, Shelinvoya.
THE Shelinvoya L/A Primary School in the West Mamprusi district of the northern region has for the past one and half years been closed down following the practice of sorcery that has allegedly claimed the life of a female teacher in the school.
And for the fear of their lives, the rest of the teachers requested for transfer and have since been posted to other schools in the district compelling majority of the pupils to stay at home for the past one and half years.
The school that had a population of 179 pupils is the only basic education facility in the community with a population of 1,750 people. Shelinvoya is 21 miles from Walewale, the West Mamprusi district capital.
The school is made up of a kindergarten up to class six. The closer’s school from that community is a distance of nine miles at Kparigu.
At the moment, the community has taken its own initiative by engaging the services of some non-formal education teachers in the area who have volunteered to organise temporary classes for the pupils. It begun about two weeks ago.
According to a former teacher of the school who declined to mention his name, traces of concoctions including cow milk and mixtures of assorted grains and blood had been found near the class of the deceased several times after her death.
“Several appeals by the chief and his elders to perpetrators of the act to put a stop to it failed. A fowl that was slaughtered by the chief and buried on the school compound as part of a sacrifice to cleanse the area was exhumed the next day,” the teacher claimed.
“Since all efforts and interventions by the chief and his elders including the district directorate of education to stop the acts failed, we the teachers, for the fear of our lives decided to appeal to our employers to repost us which was granted,” he added.
The chief of Shelinvoya, Na Yakubu Issifu, confirmed the story and claimed that the father of the deceased teacher, Zakari Jabuni and his new wife were behind the death of the deceased teacher, Madam Ramatu Zakari as alleged by the people. The accused and the mother of the deceased have been divorced for some years now. Na Issifu further claimed that the accused was also behind the sprinkling of concoctions on the school compound, because “since the death of his daughter, Zakari has known no peace; he was doing all these things to chase away the pestering ghost of his daughter.”
He said this came to light after he and his elders had consulted a shrine at Bugia in the Kparigu area. At the Shrine, Jabuni was allegedly implicated in the death of his daughter. His new wife was however exonerated. The accused was therefore asked to pay an undisclosed sum of money and also provide some animals to pacify the gods. The accused has however denied the allegations even though he acknowledged sending the money and sheep to the shrine attendant as demanded. Since Zakari’s implication in the matter, he has almost become an outcast in the community.
It is in the light of this disturbing situation that, the Shelinvoya Community Children’s Club have therefore appealed to the Chief of the area, Na Yakubu Salifu, the Ghana Education Service and other stakeholders in education to ensure the timely re-opening of the school.
Members of the club, that was formed by the Regional Advisory, Information and Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale based NGO expressed concern that, “we cannot continue to be in the house without attending school while our colleagues in other communities are attending school regularly.”
A class five pupil of the school, Issifu Alhassan said, “I am now shepherding my grandfather’s cattle; I may not go back to school even if it is re-opened today.”
When contacted, the newly appointed West Mamprusi district director of education, Alhaji Haroon Cambodia said he was yet to be briefed on the matter. He however promised to act with dispatch to ensure the re-opening and reposting of teachers to the school as investigations continue.
THE Shelinvoya L/A Primary School in the West Mamprusi district of the northern region has for the past one and half years been closed down following the practice of sorcery that has allegedly claimed the life of a female teacher in the school.
And for the fear of their lives, the rest of the teachers requested for transfer and have since been posted to other schools in the district compelling majority of the pupils to stay at home for the past one and half years.
The school that had a population of 179 pupils is the only basic education facility in the community with a population of 1,750 people. Shelinvoya is 21 miles from Walewale, the West Mamprusi district capital.
The school is made up of a kindergarten up to class six. The closer’s school from that community is a distance of nine miles at Kparigu.
At the moment, the community has taken its own initiative by engaging the services of some non-formal education teachers in the area who have volunteered to organise temporary classes for the pupils. It begun about two weeks ago.
According to a former teacher of the school who declined to mention his name, traces of concoctions including cow milk and mixtures of assorted grains and blood had been found near the class of the deceased several times after her death.
“Several appeals by the chief and his elders to perpetrators of the act to put a stop to it failed. A fowl that was slaughtered by the chief and buried on the school compound as part of a sacrifice to cleanse the area was exhumed the next day,” the teacher claimed.
“Since all efforts and interventions by the chief and his elders including the district directorate of education to stop the acts failed, we the teachers, for the fear of our lives decided to appeal to our employers to repost us which was granted,” he added.
The chief of Shelinvoya, Na Yakubu Issifu, confirmed the story and claimed that the father of the deceased teacher, Zakari Jabuni and his new wife were behind the death of the deceased teacher, Madam Ramatu Zakari as alleged by the people. The accused and the mother of the deceased have been divorced for some years now. Na Issifu further claimed that the accused was also behind the sprinkling of concoctions on the school compound, because “since the death of his daughter, Zakari has known no peace; he was doing all these things to chase away the pestering ghost of his daughter.”
He said this came to light after he and his elders had consulted a shrine at Bugia in the Kparigu area. At the Shrine, Jabuni was allegedly implicated in the death of his daughter. His new wife was however exonerated. The accused was therefore asked to pay an undisclosed sum of money and also provide some animals to pacify the gods. The accused has however denied the allegations even though he acknowledged sending the money and sheep to the shrine attendant as demanded. Since Zakari’s implication in the matter, he has almost become an outcast in the community.
It is in the light of this disturbing situation that, the Shelinvoya Community Children’s Club have therefore appealed to the Chief of the area, Na Yakubu Salifu, the Ghana Education Service and other stakeholders in education to ensure the timely re-opening of the school.
Members of the club, that was formed by the Regional Advisory, Information and Network Systems (RAINS), a Tamale based NGO expressed concern that, “we cannot continue to be in the house without attending school while our colleagues in other communities are attending school regularly.”
A class five pupil of the school, Issifu Alhassan said, “I am now shepherding my grandfather’s cattle; I may not go back to school even if it is re-opened today.”
When contacted, the newly appointed West Mamprusi district director of education, Alhaji Haroon Cambodia said he was yet to be briefed on the matter. He however promised to act with dispatch to ensure the re-opening and reposting of teachers to the school as investigations continue.
CAMFED SUPPORTS CENTRAL JHS AT CHEREPONI (PAGE 11, OCT 21)
STORY: Zakaria Alhassan, Chereponi.
THE Campaign for Female Education, (Camfed) an international NGO in Tamale, has constructed a classroom block including a computer laboratory for the Central Junior High School at Chereponi in the Northern Region.
The three classroom block that has also been furnished by the organisation, replaces a dilapidated structure that has housed the school over the years.
The project was funded by Credit Suisse, a Swiss Bank. The sponsors have also supporting Camfed in the supply of computers, educational materials and mobile science laboratories and the organisation of Maths and science camp for girls in some selected schools in the northern region over the years.
In a speech read on her behalf, the executive director of Camfed, Ms. Dolores Dickson, explained that, “it is at the heart of our organisation to bring joy and hope to children in Africa.”
According to her, nothing is too expensive to provide for a child if it is necessary to give the child quality education and a safe environment to enable the child grow up to turn the tide of poverty in his or her family.
She indicated that, the project was the first of its kind to be embarked upon by her outfit since it was established in 2007. And that the choice of Chereponi was based on the degree of need among their operational districts in the northern region.
The fourteen beneficiary areas are Nanumba North and South, Karaga, Gushiegu, Tolon/Kumbungu, West and East Mamprusi, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo and Bole. The rest are Chereponi, West Gonja, Savelugu/Nanton, Yendi municipal and the Tamale metropolis.
Ms. Dickson observed that the high poverty levels in the north can only be eradicated if the girl-child was offered quality education and women are given access to economic resources.
She expressed Camfed’s commitment to these objects for which reason 4000 needy girls in 128 JHS and 22 SHS in the region have been enrolled on the organisation’s bursary programme.
The bursary support covers school fees for SHS, exam fees for JHS, notebooks, bags, footwear, uniform, sanitary towels, mathematical sets and pens. And in this academic, a food package for sponsored girls in hostels has been included in the programme.
“Our termly cash transfers to 123 primary schools in the region is also aimed at providing a safety net for vulnerable children who are at risk of dropping from school due to lack of basic needs,” she further explained.
The Chereponi district director of education, Mr. Paul Konde, noted that the presence of Camfed in the area has impacted positively on the fortunes of education.
He mentioned the bursary and safety net fund interventions as some of the programmes which he said had enabled deprived children to access education and their expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Camfed for their invaluable support.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Sumani Nayina emphasised the preparedness of the Regional Coordinating Council to collaborate effectively with development partners to help in accelerating the socio-economic advancement of the area that is one of the most deprived regions in the country.
He urged other NGOs to emulate the example of Camfed by contributing towards reversing the downward trends of education in the area.
THE Campaign for Female Education, (Camfed) an international NGO in Tamale, has constructed a classroom block including a computer laboratory for the Central Junior High School at Chereponi in the Northern Region.
The three classroom block that has also been furnished by the organisation, replaces a dilapidated structure that has housed the school over the years.
The project was funded by Credit Suisse, a Swiss Bank. The sponsors have also supporting Camfed in the supply of computers, educational materials and mobile science laboratories and the organisation of Maths and science camp for girls in some selected schools in the northern region over the years.
In a speech read on her behalf, the executive director of Camfed, Ms. Dolores Dickson, explained that, “it is at the heart of our organisation to bring joy and hope to children in Africa.”
According to her, nothing is too expensive to provide for a child if it is necessary to give the child quality education and a safe environment to enable the child grow up to turn the tide of poverty in his or her family.
She indicated that, the project was the first of its kind to be embarked upon by her outfit since it was established in 2007. And that the choice of Chereponi was based on the degree of need among their operational districts in the northern region.
The fourteen beneficiary areas are Nanumba North and South, Karaga, Gushiegu, Tolon/Kumbungu, West and East Mamprusi, Bunkpurugu/Yunyoo and Bole. The rest are Chereponi, West Gonja, Savelugu/Nanton, Yendi municipal and the Tamale metropolis.
Ms. Dickson observed that the high poverty levels in the north can only be eradicated if the girl-child was offered quality education and women are given access to economic resources.
She expressed Camfed’s commitment to these objects for which reason 4000 needy girls in 128 JHS and 22 SHS in the region have been enrolled on the organisation’s bursary programme.
The bursary support covers school fees for SHS, exam fees for JHS, notebooks, bags, footwear, uniform, sanitary towels, mathematical sets and pens. And in this academic, a food package for sponsored girls in hostels has been included in the programme.
“Our termly cash transfers to 123 primary schools in the region is also aimed at providing a safety net for vulnerable children who are at risk of dropping from school due to lack of basic needs,” she further explained.
The Chereponi district director of education, Mr. Paul Konde, noted that the presence of Camfed in the area has impacted positively on the fortunes of education.
He mentioned the bursary and safety net fund interventions as some of the programmes which he said had enabled deprived children to access education and their expressed appreciation to the management and staff of Camfed for their invaluable support.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Sumani Nayina emphasised the preparedness of the Regional Coordinating Council to collaborate effectively with development partners to help in accelerating the socio-economic advancement of the area that is one of the most deprived regions in the country.
He urged other NGOs to emulate the example of Camfed by contributing towards reversing the downward trends of education in the area.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE POOR — Christian Council (PAGE 20, NOV 11)
THE Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has entreated the Government to show more commitment towards improving the living conditions of the poor, particularly those in communities in the northern parts of the country where poverty is endemic.
“While we appreciate the Government’s efforts at ameliorating poverty in the country, we are reminding her that we have just six years left to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s),” the council stated.
The Northern Sector Co-ordinator of the CCG, Mr James A. Nahyi who addressed separate audiences in some selected mosques and churches in the Tamale metropolis, also expressed concern over the lack of employment opportunities for the youth.
He was speaking in connection with the campaign, “Stand up and take action against poverty and the MDGS,” under the auspices of the MDGS and the Ghana Coalition Against Poverty (GCAP).
The advocacy is part of a worldwide call to show support to end poverty and achieve and exceed the eight MDGs.
According to Mr Nahyi, the programme provides an opportunity for African citizens to show solidarity with millions of poor and excluded groups by demanding that Governments become more accountable by improving their governance practices and develop and implement pro-poor policies.
He, however, said “the activities were not only to remind the Government of the need to work harder towards reducing poverty, but also to remind ourselves that we need to create an atmosphere where development that will lead to poverty alleviation can take place”.
The co-ordinator further said a high percentage of children of school age were out of schools, child and maternal mortality rates were on the increase and environmental degradation was a menace in particularly, the three northern regions.
“While we appreciate the Government’s efforts at ameliorating poverty in the country, we are reminding her that we have just six years left to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s),” the council stated.
The Northern Sector Co-ordinator of the CCG, Mr James A. Nahyi who addressed separate audiences in some selected mosques and churches in the Tamale metropolis, also expressed concern over the lack of employment opportunities for the youth.
He was speaking in connection with the campaign, “Stand up and take action against poverty and the MDGS,” under the auspices of the MDGS and the Ghana Coalition Against Poverty (GCAP).
The advocacy is part of a worldwide call to show support to end poverty and achieve and exceed the eight MDGs.
According to Mr Nahyi, the programme provides an opportunity for African citizens to show solidarity with millions of poor and excluded groups by demanding that Governments become more accountable by improving their governance practices and develop and implement pro-poor policies.
He, however, said “the activities were not only to remind the Government of the need to work harder towards reducing poverty, but also to remind ourselves that we need to create an atmosphere where development that will lead to poverty alleviation can take place”.
The co-ordinator further said a high percentage of children of school age were out of schools, child and maternal mortality rates were on the increase and environmental degradation was a menace in particularly, the three northern regions.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
GMA APPEALS TO GOVT (NOV 10, PAGE 30)
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, reconstitute and inaugurate the dissolved board and the council of the Medical and Dental Council and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons respectively, to enable them to execute their lawful mandate.
The association equally urged the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to streamline its programmes and avoid concentrating them in a few teaching hospitals, to the detriment of medical officers in deprived communities.
In a communiqué read by its President, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, at the end of its 51st annual general meeting in Tamale on Sunday, the GMA said, “Training should also place emphasis on practical district and community rotation that results in learning while delivering service.”
The week-long meeting was on the theme, “Towards a Better Health Care for Ghana; the Human Resource Challenges and Solutions”.
The communiqué further called on the government to resource health training institutions in the country and also offer more support for post-graduate studies.
It emphasised the need for the government to put in place a comprehensive package to attract health workers into deprived communities and retain them.
“District assemblies should also take urgent steps to address frustrating accommodation challenges by providing adequate and decent accommodation for health workers posted to deprived areas,” it said.
It said the GMA would continue to call upon its members to accept postings to serve in deprived areas of the country.
On the smooth operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), it called for the regular review of tariffs, while ensuring prompt re-imbursement of claims submitted by providers to avoid compromising quality care of clients.
Touching on the welfare of GMA members, the communiqué stressed the need for the government to address all outstanding issues on the conditions of service of doctors in the public sector.
The association equally urged the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to streamline its programmes and avoid concentrating them in a few teaching hospitals, to the detriment of medical officers in deprived communities.
In a communiqué read by its President, Dr Emmanuel Adom Winful, at the end of its 51st annual general meeting in Tamale on Sunday, the GMA said, “Training should also place emphasis on practical district and community rotation that results in learning while delivering service.”
The week-long meeting was on the theme, “Towards a Better Health Care for Ghana; the Human Resource Challenges and Solutions”.
The communiqué further called on the government to resource health training institutions in the country and also offer more support for post-graduate studies.
It emphasised the need for the government to put in place a comprehensive package to attract health workers into deprived communities and retain them.
“District assemblies should also take urgent steps to address frustrating accommodation challenges by providing adequate and decent accommodation for health workers posted to deprived areas,” it said.
It said the GMA would continue to call upon its members to accept postings to serve in deprived areas of the country.
On the smooth operations of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), it called for the regular review of tariffs, while ensuring prompt re-imbursement of claims submitted by providers to avoid compromising quality care of clients.
Touching on the welfare of GMA members, the communiqué stressed the need for the government to address all outstanding issues on the conditions of service of doctors in the public sector.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
SANITATION CLUB INAUGRATED AT SAWLA (SEPT 15, PAGE 21)
A SANITATION youth club has been inaugurated at Sawla in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Northern Region, charged with the responsibility of educating the people on sanitation matters and to embark on periodic clean-up exercises in the area.
The formation of the club, whose members are to be offered training, will be replicated in other areas of the district in line with the Government’s vision of ensuring improvement in the sanitation situation in the entire country.
The group was inaugurated by a 10-member team put up by the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council to supervise the establishment of sanitation clubs in various districts of the region.
The team led by Justice Joshua Dawuni, had earlier interacted with the chiefs, assembly members and other opinion leaders in the district.
Mr Dawuni also explained the team’s mission to them and called for their support in addressing the sanitation challenges in the area.
“The problem of sanitation is a shared responsibility of everyone because environment related diseases such as malaria and cholera do not discriminate among persons”, he stated.
The people suggested that, more places of convenience be constructed to dissuade people from defecating around the communities while a bye-law was passed to empower sanitary inspectors to arrest and prosecute offenders to serve as deterrent to others.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Alhassan Bukari Shakour, assured the team of the assembly’s support in the realisation of President Mills’s vision of ensuring clean environment in all parts of the country.
He observed that proper sanitation practice and management were important in the control and spread of diseases for which reason the assembly would not shirk its responsibilities in that sector.
The chief executive, however, expressed concern that in spite of the numerous appeals and education campaigns for people to change their attitudes by cultivating good sanitary practices, the situation still left much to be desired.
He added that some residents still persisted in the habit of improperly dumping refuse while others also littered their surroundings without any reflection on the implications of their actions.
‘‘We cannot do it alone if the people do not co-operate with us by changing their habits and ensuring that their surroundings are kept tidy at all times’,’ Mr Shakour stated.
He also underscored the need for residents in the area to rally behind the assembly by getting actively involved in its activities to accelerate the pace of development in the district.
The formation of the club, whose members are to be offered training, will be replicated in other areas of the district in line with the Government’s vision of ensuring improvement in the sanitation situation in the entire country.
The group was inaugurated by a 10-member team put up by the Northern Regional Co-ordinating Council to supervise the establishment of sanitation clubs in various districts of the region.
The team led by Justice Joshua Dawuni, had earlier interacted with the chiefs, assembly members and other opinion leaders in the district.
Mr Dawuni also explained the team’s mission to them and called for their support in addressing the sanitation challenges in the area.
“The problem of sanitation is a shared responsibility of everyone because environment related diseases such as malaria and cholera do not discriminate among persons”, he stated.
The people suggested that, more places of convenience be constructed to dissuade people from defecating around the communities while a bye-law was passed to empower sanitary inspectors to arrest and prosecute offenders to serve as deterrent to others.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Alhassan Bukari Shakour, assured the team of the assembly’s support in the realisation of President Mills’s vision of ensuring clean environment in all parts of the country.
He observed that proper sanitation practice and management were important in the control and spread of diseases for which reason the assembly would not shirk its responsibilities in that sector.
The chief executive, however, expressed concern that in spite of the numerous appeals and education campaigns for people to change their attitudes by cultivating good sanitary practices, the situation still left much to be desired.
He added that some residents still persisted in the habit of improperly dumping refuse while others also littered their surroundings without any reflection on the implications of their actions.
‘‘We cannot do it alone if the people do not co-operate with us by changing their habits and ensuring that their surroundings are kept tidy at all times’,’ Mr Shakour stated.
He also underscored the need for residents in the area to rally behind the assembly by getting actively involved in its activities to accelerate the pace of development in the district.
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