College of Community and Organisational Development in conjunction with MIHOSO International has donated assorted items to GBC Radio Upper West and some other institutions in the Upper West Region as part of its campaign in the fight against the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The items include tip tap machines, Veronica buckets, hands sanitisers and cash.
Some of the institutions that benefited from the donation are Lawra Municipal Health Directorate, Nandom, Jirapa and Wa Pastoral Center.
The Upper West Regional Coordinator of the College, Tuo Frankline Dombo, who handed over the Tip Tap hands washing Machine to GBC’s Radio Upper West said it will enhance hygiene of the workers and visitors coming to the station.
The Coordinator for CCOD who deputised for the President of the College for Community and Organisational Development, Gabriel Gbiel Benarkuu, said the gesture is to support the station and institutions to fight the pandemic.
He charged Ghanaians to uphold environmental cleanliness and ensured that they obey health protocols from the World Health Organisation and directives from President Akufo-Addo.
Mr Frankline Dombo however expressed worry over how health centers at some border communities are still admitting patients from neighbouring Burkina Faso at their facilities at this critical period.
“As at yesterday, I was told that Burkinabes are being admitted at Saint Theresas Hospital Nandom, and some have undergone hernia operation and I asked myself, why that?
They have shut down their health facilities and their people are running to Ghana.
How sure are we that they are not running to us with the disease? I think we were supposed to return them.
If their country knows their health needs are important, then they should put measures in place to keep their health workers at work so that they can take care of their people.
I do not see the reason why Ghana, we should keep them and they put our health in danger,” he lamented.
Mr Frankline Dombo said as community oriented Organisation, they consider it necessary to support institutions and the communities to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
He called for the protection of the vulnerable, especially the aged in society and underscored the need for the country to learn valuable lessons from the pandemic.
The Upper West Regional Director of GBC, Lawrence Tetteh, said it is unfortunate that Upper West has recorded its first case of COVID-19 and described the gesture from CCOD as timely.
“So I entreat every worker of Radio Upper West and all visitors coming to Radio Upper West to ensure that before they enter any office or the studio, they should wash their hands with soap and running water.
My message to the Upper West Region is that is quite unfortunate for us to have recorded our first case of the virus but what do we do? I urged all people of Upper West to ensure that they abide by the rules and regulations that have been given out by the government and Ministry of Health, this will help in a long way to avoid contaminating ourselves with the virus.
But I urge the people in Wa not to panic, God is in control and will see us through,” he emphasised.
Mr Lawrence Tetteh expressed gratitude to CCOD and assured that the support would be put to good use.
Story filed by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo & Dennis Bebane.
