The United Nations Mission in South Sudan Ghana Battalion eight (GHANBATT 8) in collaboration with the Ningo – Prampram District Assembly on Friday, organised a medical outreach and clean-up to mark the 2019 Farmers Day.
The medical outreach and clean-up which took place in some selected areas of the district formed part of the Battalion’s Civil Military Cooperation, (CIMIC) activities geared towards fostering unity between the military and civilian populace.
The residents of the beneficiary communities participated extensively in the two exercises making available their cleaning kits to weed, desilt choked gutters and cleared paths of stagnant waters.
Hundreds of the residents took advantage of the medical outreach to get screened at the Mac Ashley Memorial Basic School in Miotso where the District Farmers’ day celebration was also held.
Commanding Officer of UNMISS GHANBATT 8 Lt Col RK Sagoe, told the Ghana News Agency that as part of the GHANBATT’s mandate in protecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s) camps in South Sudan as well as foster a bond between the Military and Civilians, it was imperative to exhibit the warm gesture with the Prampram community where Bundase Training Camp was located to reinforce civil-military relationship.
He added that he together with the 700 men which included about 86 females and 52 officers were in Bundase for a pre-deployment training and found it proper to inculcate in the residents the habit of keeping a clean environment and staying healthy.
Lt Col Sagoe said, apart from staying healthy, Ghanaians must endeavour to protect and cherish the peace the country was enjoying stressing that “no matter the situation we must value the impact of peace in our environment and lives”.
Senior Medical Officer, UNMISS GHANBATT 8, Lt (GN) Joseph Awuah Menkah, said that as part of their assigned tasks in saving and protecting lives, the medical team screened and assessed ailments such as Blood Pressure, Malaria, Diabetes, Hepatitis B, HIV and Dental issues that had bedeviled the community over the years.
He urged the local populace to periodically get themselves screened at any clinic or hospital so as to carry out their duties effectively and contribute their quota towards national development.
Lt (GN) Menkah, said free medication were also given to those who needed it adding that those who had to be referred for further screening and care were referred to the Prampram Clinic and the Tema General Hospital.
For his part, Ningo-Prampram District Chief Executive, Jonathan Teye Doku expressed his profound gratitude to the Commanding Officer and the GHANBATT, for the gesture and urged for continuous rapport building between the Military and the public through such CIMIC activities.
GNA
