Editorial
Educate public on proper use of zebra crossing
Pedestrians crossing the road
Dear Editor,
I am writing to express concerns to the relevant authorities on the abuse of zebra crossing by the public, especially residents of Assin Fosu in the Central region.
Some road users in Assin Fosu seem to be ignorant about the dangers associated with not using zebra crossings appropriately.
They cross the road anyhow, unconcerned about whether they are going to be knocked down by a vehicle or not.
They feel that once they have gotten to the zebra crossing, cars have to stop for them to cross but that may not be so because drivers might be on high-speed and stepping on the brake may be dangerous.
One finds it hard to believe whether such pedestrians are knowledgeable about how to cross as it is clearly seen in their attitude whenever they are about to cross.
Road users need to understand the various road markings and their benefits.
Drivers must be made to understand that, failing to give way to pedestrians trying to cross the road at a zebra crossing can have some consequences on them as a zebra crossing is an area of the road where vehicles must stop if pedestrians wish to cross.
Despite the fact that drivers are required to make way for pedestrians to cross, pedestrians must also know when, where and how to cross. They must not cross roads at junctions where drivers need to make a turning decision.
I would urge the Driver and Licensing Authority (DVLA) and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to make it a point to ensure that road contractors include zebra crossings at the appropriate places for the convenience of road users.
To ensure safety on our roads, and the proper use of zebra crossing, there should be more practical education at the basic school level to help the young ones know the appropriate ways of crossing the road.
Additionally, I would urge commercial drivers to help when it comes to passengers crossing the roads.
Elizabeth Nyarko,
Swedru.
Editorial
Kudos to Ho Teaching Hospital staff, but …
Dear Editor,
If there is any group of professionals that get bad-mouthed the most, then you are referring to nurses and medical doctors assigned to public hospitals across the country.
For this particular letter, I want to sing the praises of this same group of professionals that work at the Ho Teaching Hospital, famously known as Trafalgar.
Despite the work load and the mass casualties received at the emergency ward of the hospital, the welcoming nature of the nurses and the professional touch by the doctors can’t be ignored. My personal experience has got me travelling from my base in Accra to seek medical services from these professionals.
Special mention has to be made of the likes of Precious of the Pharmacy Department, Dr Brandon Banor (a maxillofacial resident) of the Dental unit, male nurse Justice assigned to the female surgical ward. Words cannot really do justice to their affable, professional caring nature. A simple thank you is all that I can say.
In the same vein, I can’t but call out the bad attitude of the auxiliary staff and contractors of the hospital.
Chief among them is some of the contracted bank staff that handle the payment section of the hospital and the patient registration section (those that check the status of the patient as to whether they are fee paying patients or NHIS sponsored).
The attitude at times leaves a bad taste in the mouth. One such occurrence was a night staff of the registration section who had her legs on the office table whilst talking to patients.
The CEO of the hospital needs to shine his torch light on this support sections before they erode the awesome performance of the direct medical staff of the hospital.
Thank you for the space.
Kwesi Manu
Accra
Editorial
Develop policies to address disability concerns
Dear Editor,
AT the beginning of the year, when I went to the bank to deposit money into my uncle’s account, I observed a very sad situation where a man in a wheelchair struggled to navigate his way around the facility.
This is because the structure is disability unfriendly.
As I stood and watched how the man struggled to move his wheelchair, I felt sad and wondered if this is how the life of a disabled person should be. It becomes worse if there is no one to offer help.
In Ghana, People With Disabilities (PWDs) are often treated differently and are often subjected to all forms of discrimination.
Most of these people find themselves in such a situation as a result of unfortunate happenings such as accidents and injuries.
It is, therefore, not appropriate for anyone to discriminate against them. Discrimination against such persons take many forms, including how buildings are constructed.
Most of the public structures are not disability friendly and impede their movement.
As a country, we should consider the PWDs in designing our structures. I also think that there should be a national policy that seeks to address this issue.
I have a strong conviction that when such a policy is developed by the government, people with disabilities would feel appreciated and also promote social inclusivity.
Ray,
Kasoa
