The Upper West Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana (AAG), George Dery, has reiterated the call for Ghanaians to be law abiding by obeying the restrictions imposed by government by adhering to all safety protocols in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our localities.
He equally stressed the need for the citizenry not to discriminate against people infected and affected by COVID-19.
Mr. Dery made the call during the handing over of AAG’s survival centre to the Wa Municipal Assembly for temporary utilisations as a COVID-19 Centre.
He observed that considering the extent of the spread of the coronavirus disease and the resources needed to prevent and contain it, government alone cannot fight it without the support of others.
The Upper West Regional Programme Manager of ActionAid Ghana indicated that based on the spirit of collaboration, his outfit decided “to complement government’s efforts during this trying moment by releasing the survivors centre to be used by the Ghana Health Service as COVID-19 isolation centre in Wa.”
Mr Dery continued: “This gesture is as a result of a request made to us by the Wa Municipal Assembly.” He added that ActionAid was considering some other forms of support and in due course would be made known.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih was very happy that AAG has joined other organisations to complement government’s effort to tackle COVID-19 in the Region, saying “the facility will be put to good use”.
He said the battle ahead looks challenging because whilst the whole country is battling COVID-19, those of us in the Upper West have the additional responsibility of fighting CSM [cerebrospinal meningitis] which has made our situation worse than other parts of the country.
Dr Bin Salih pointed out that the additional responsibility on the region requires “assistance and cooperation from all and sundry”.
He promised that the government will do all within its power to lead the people of Ghana out of the two deadly diseases, COVID-19 and CSM.
The MCE for Wa, Tahiru Issahaku Moomin stated that the handing over the facility demonstrates the readiness of ActionAid Ghana and the Wa Municipal Assembly to give a leg up to the government to fight COVID-19.
The MCE expressed appreciation to AAG for giving the Assembly “the opportunity to vary the use of the [survival] centre”, adding that, “the gesture shows how dynamic and responsive ActionAid Ghana is.”
The Wa Municipal Director of Health Services, Dr Pascal Kingsley Nwin, said the facility has come at a time that they need a concerted effort to be able to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in the Wa Municipality which has only five beds to respond to cases that need admission.
He intimated that he was very grateful to AAG for gracefully providing an isolation centre as a back-up for the Municipal Hospital. Dr Nwin pledged that the facility will be used judiciously for the intended purpose.
In another development, the Upper West Program Unit of Plan International Ghana has presented a cheque for ¢20.000.00 to the Upper West Region towards the fight against CSM.
The District Coordinator of Plan International Ghana, Kamaldeen Iddrisu presented the cheque to Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih who doubles as the Head of Epidemic Management Committee of Upper West.
Mr Iddrisu described the money as Plan International Ghana’s little support in the fight against CSM outbreak in the Region. The CSM outbreak has caused a number of deaths in Upper West and Plan International Ghana deems it obligatory to contribute to eradicating “this CSM outbreak that is causing a lot of inconvenience to the people of the good region of Upper West”.
Receiving the cheque, Dr Bin Salih extended a word of gratitude to the Plan International Ghana for coming to the aid of the RCC for the second time as the region confronts CSM and COVID-19. He pointed out that Upper West has been stretched to the limit and entreated public spirited individuals and entities to come to aid of the region.
The Regional Accountant of Ghana Health Service, Emmanuel Galenku, who stood in for the Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Osei Kuffour Afreh thanked the Regional Minister for facilitating the donation towards CSM.
Mr Galenku was also appreciative of the noble gesture of Plan International Ghana for towards the fight against CSM.
Story by: Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo.
