Tuesday, 27 September 2011

“Parading Sick Children On TV for help, is a disgrace to Ghana” Dr. Awoonor-Williams

26-09-2011     



Narration: The Upper East Regional Director of Health Services, Dr John Koku Awoonor Williams has appealed to government to put in place pragmatic policies to provide health care to the poor who undergo expensive surgery.  This he said will reduce the number of poor and needy individuals, especially children who are paraded on television for medical support.  Dr Awoonor Williams made the appeal at the launch of Nania Life Care Foundation in Bolga.  The foundation is an NGO, which aims to assist the people of Northern Ghana to meet critical health care needs. Correspondent Isaac Asare was at the launch and has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.
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 Report
The launching ceremony which took place at Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital attracted chiefs and elders from the three regions of the north, representatives from the various health NGOs and officials from the regional health directorate among other key stakeholders. Dr Awoonor Williams said the health sector of the region is faced with numerous health challenges with malaria accounting for 53 percent of out patient cases, 41 percent of all admission and 41.7 percent of all deaths among children under five, whilst women continue to die as a result of pregnancy related complications. The situation he indicated gives a cause to worry as people continuously refuse to access health care due to apathy, ignorance, superstition and poverty. He said the region has for the past years made remarkable strives in addressing some of the health challenges in the region and attributed the success story to the collaborative efforts of health staff and donor agencies. Dr Awoonor-Williams commended other stakeholders for their assistance over the years and called on other health related NGOs and organizations to partner the health sector in bringing health service delivery to the doorstep of the people, particularly those in deprived communities of the region. He commended Nania Life Care Foundation for the bold initiative taken to help contribute their quota to addressing the health needs of the poor and vulnerable in society. The Executive Director of Nania Life Care Foundation, Aisha Salifu said her outfit is committed to the needs and ideals of the people of northern Ghana and it is determined to partner the health sector of the region in the improvement of human life through enhancing the possibilities of improved food, shelter, health, income and security. According to Ms Salifu, the foundation would promote the equal status of men and women, particularly enhancing women's income and influence and also provide a forum and support to young professional and other personnel desirous to work in especially marginalized communities in both village and urban areas. Healthcare practitioners in the region through the support of the foundation would be provided with training assistance to enhance their knowledge and capacity as care givers and moreover, help coordinate the activities and interests of healthcare and developmental practitioners, to make contact with similar bodies in other countries and to make representations for and on behalf of disadvantaged groups. She said Nania Life Care Foundation is prepared to partner with any public institution that is interested in advancing the welfare of people in the three regions of the north and called on organizations and individuals to support the foundation to achieve its desired objectives.
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