Coalition of NGOs in Health Mark World Polio Day in Upper East
Bolgatanga, The Coalition of NGOs in Health has organized a public forum in Bolgatanga to mark this year’s World Polio Day with a call on all parents to ensure that their babies were vaccinated against polio.
The day, which falls on April 28 every year, is celebrated globally to remind the world community on the work that is left to wipe out the deadly polio virus.
Addressing the public forum which attracted stakeholders including mothers, various occupational workers, traditional rulers, the media among others, Mr Alagskoma Asakeya Noble, the Upper East Regional Chairman of the Coalition, said poliomyelitis, commonly known as Polio is a disease that cripples or paralyses children at early ages and deforms them for life.
Mr Noble said although Polio was dangerous, it had safe and effective vaccines and urged parents to ensure that their babies were given the vaccines.
He commended the Global Polio Eradication Partners for collaborating with the Ghana Health Service, (GHS), the Ministry of Health (MOH), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF), to sustain the fight against the disease.
Mr Noble said the collaboration has effectively contributed to the reduction of the infection by 99 per cent.
He said, this notwithstanding, the goal was to reach every child with the polio vaccine and ensure a polio-free world for future generations.
Mr Noble said the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH) was also happy with the new initiative – new tools and new strategies for improving immunization and surveillance developed by the Global Partners and pledged the Coalition’s commitment to ensuring that these strategies worked to attain the ultimate goal of a polio free Ghana.
He said the Coalition was also grateful to the Upper East Health Directorate and the District Directors for collaborating with it to undertake pre-vaccination activities such as the mobilization of communities for immunization.
Source: Ghana News Agency
NPP calls on workers to remain steadfast
Accra, The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called on Ghanaian workers across the country to remain steadfast in the collective interest of helping build a prosperous Ghana.
As we commemorate May Day, it is the hope of the New Patriotic Party that workers across the country will take stock of the past few years and work tirelessly towards achieving economic progress and strengthening our democracy.
Such a commitment from the nation’s workforce will build a prosperous Ghana, a statement issued by the NPP and signed by its Acting General Secretary, John Boadu, to observe this year’s National May Day celebration, said on Monday.
It said: The hope and change that Ghanaians have been yearning for is here…The NPP urges workers from the various sectors of the economy, especially organised labour, to remain steadfast in the collective interest of our dear nation Ghana.
It said the well-being of the Ghanaian workforce and the future of their children were the priorities of government, adding; we will fulfil our promises to the Ghanaian people.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Bolgatanga Polytechnic alumni re-scheduled
Bolgatanga, The Bolgatanga Polytechnic Alumni Association at the weekend failed to reach consensus on voting rights when it held its delegates congress to elect new executives to manage the Association.
The Association decided to postpone the meeting and reschedule the national congress to May 27, 2017 for the election of new executives to steer the affairs of the Association.
There was heated debate that ensued among members as to who was qualified to vote and not to vote. Some members of the house disagreed with the interim executives’ point of view that one needed to be in good standing by paying his or her dues fully before he or she could vote or contest for the election.
Members of the house unanimously agreed to organize another National Congress in Bolgatanga on May 27, 2017 to elect the new executive.
This, they noted, would give room for those who have not met their financial obligation to the Association to do so.
Mr Stanley Abopam, the General Secretary of the Association, who read the report on behalf of the National President, Mr Joseph Apakre, said the Association over the years has made significant contributions to the development of the Polytechnic.
He said some of the contributions of the Association to the institution include the institutionalization of award schemes for final year students of the Polytechnic who excelled in their various disciplines.
Mr Abopam said whilst the Association has over the years continued in its efforts to support the institution and this includes the re-roofing of a facility of the school when it reaped off in the year 2008.
The National President commended the members of the Association for their various contributions and entreated them to attend regular meetings to ensure the growth and sustenance of the Association and the Polytechnic.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Accra Keep-fit Clubs donate to Echoing Hills Village
Accra, The Greater Accra Keep-Fit Clubs Association (GAKFCA) has on Monday, donated assorted items to the Echoing Hills Village, a non-profit residential care facility for orphans and young people with disabilities located at Ogbojo, Madina.
The items, include bags of rice and sugar, detergents, toiletries, clothing, soft drinks, bags and boxes of water among others worth thousands of cedis, were donated to the facility to assist in caring for the inmates.
The donation, which formed part of GAKFCA’s observation of Ghana’s 60 years of independence, was on the theme: Supporting the Deprived in Society through Physical Fitness.
Mr Alphonse Bebli, the President of the Association said they saw the need for the donation knowing that Ghana was celebrating 60 years of independence and people were celebrating it in diverse ways.
Mr Bebli said: It is our hope that the managers of the orphanage will use the items for the intended purpose for the children to benefit from them.
He said they were proud the items were received in good faith and urged other corporate bodies and groups to emulate the gesture to assist facilities like the Echoing Hills Village and other orphanages.
The Reverend Lawrence Lamina, the Director at the Echoing Hills Village said the items donated by the GAKFCA were the exact items they needed to run the home and expressed appreciation for the kind gesture.
It is going to go a long way to provide good nutrition and healthy provisions that we need for the children.
We are very grateful to them for demonstrating this love to the children and I am encouraging other groups to emulate this generous gesture, Rev Lamina said.
GAKFCA is an association of keep-fit clubs in Accra with the aim of promoting fitness activities within the area as well as monitor and regulate the activities of the various keep-fit clubs.
According to the President, it is their responsibility to encourage more Ghanaians to join keep-fit clubs and engage in fitness to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Source: Ghana News Agency
Volunteer information on criminals – Superintendent Punopyin
Bolgatanga, Mr Samuel Tibil Punopyin, Police Superintendent in charge of the Bolgatanga Municipal Police Station, has called on the public to take good care of themselves and avoid being victims of activities of criminals.
He said the increasing spate of robberies in the Municipality was alarming and cautioned residents to take the necessary steps to avoid being trapped by these criminals who operate mainly using motorbikes and guns.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Supt. Punobyin expressed regret that the crime wave was increasing in Bolgatanga as members of the public, with the needed information, have declined to volunteer information to the police for the arrest and their prosecution.
He said it is the responsibility of members of the public to volunteer information to the police to help in their investigations.
Supt. Punobyin said the protection of suspects of robbery by refusing to report or hand over such miscreants to the police has compromised security in the area leading to the incidence of broad daylight robberies in the Municipality.
He said the Bolgatanga Municipality in March alone suffered four reported cases of robbery attacks which included an incident at the offices of Tolaram and Company, distributors of products of Accra Breweries Limited, attack on some gold dealers and as well as snatching of motorbikes.
Supt. Punobyin said the police investigations led to the arrest of two of the robbers who attacked the gold dealers and they are currently before the court.
He also expressed worry about growing cases of land disputes in the Municipality and advised the members of the public to be circumspect in dealing with people from whom they acquire lands.
Source: Ghana News Agency
