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Involve children in waste segregation – SHEP Coordinator
The Eastern Regional Coordinator of School Health Education Programme (SHEP) of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Godfried Caeser has stressed the need to teach children about waste segregation.
According to him, children’s involvement is waste segregation would not only earn the children income but helps the cause to keep the environment clean.
Mr Ceaser said this in an exclusive interview with The Spectator, after the inauguration of school health clubs formed in some selected schools in the Koforidua Municipality.
The clubs, purposed to be agents and ambassadors of waste segregation included RIIS Presbyterian Model Schools A, B and C, Koforidua Presbyterian Basic Schools A, B, E, and F, Koforidua Freeman Methodist Basic School A, and Adweso D/A Basic School.
Stakeholders involved in the initiative include Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Eastern Regional Environmental Protection Agency, Eastern Regional Environmental Health Department, Ghana Health Service, Ensign Global College, Kpone, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the University of Environment and Sustainable Development.
Explaining the involvement of school children in the fight against filth, Mr Caesar said a lot of waste were generated in the junior and senior high schools, adding that these waste was normally mixed up and dumped at sites in the schools and later burnt or left to rot.
Such practices, he indicated, rather pollutes the environment as its invites flies and other harmful insects,bringing about various diseases like cholera, among others, hence the need to teach pupils and children to reduce pollution and its impact on climate change.
Zoomlion presented dustbins, gloves, Veronica buckets and nose masks among others to the schools to help them in the waste segregation.
Mr Caeser stated that waste segregation was very fundamental in realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Considering the SDGs on 6 on clean water and sanitation, Goal 13 on Climate Action, 14 on Life Below Water, and 15 on Life on Land, there was the need to engage in waste segregation to enable the country to reach the goals. Practicing waste segregation is important to achieve the goals by preventing pollution of the environment and water bodies.”
For his part, the Eastern Regional Environmental Health Officer, Mr Prince Kissi stated that waste management has become critical to dealing with management of school waste.
He added that the practice has always been group dumping, adding, the health problems associated with it was enormous, and revealed that waste management was not handled well in schools.
For her part, the Eastern Regional Coordinator of Zoomlion, Patricia Shardey said waste segregate was beneficial and pledged her outfit’s support for the laudable project.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
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GTA staff in Cape Coast for refresher training programme
Staff of Ghana Tourism Authority are currently in Cape Coast in the Central Region for capacity building.
The staff members from the Ghana Tourism Authority’s departments of Corporate Affairs, Marketing, Research, Product Development, and Investment have convened in the Central Regional Capital for a refresher training programme.
Against this backdrop, the team took the opportunity to visit some of the city’s notable sites and attractions, including Cape Coast Castle.
This initiative is under the esteemed leadership of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GTA, Mrs. Maame Efua Houadjeto, who prioritizes capacity building and equipping teams with adequate resources to achieve optimal results.
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Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana discusses potential collaborations in the health sector
The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. A. M. Youseef has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, to discuss potential collaborations in the health sector.
The Ambassador highlighted several proposals from the Egyptian government, including providing accommodation for physicians inside or close to the hospital building.
Additionally, H.E. Youseef expressed interest in bringing expert physicians and medical instruments on board but emphasized the need for the Ghanaian government to provide the necessary infrastructure.
The establishment of pharmaceutical companies in Ghana was also proposed, with the Ambassador noting that proposals had already been made to some businessmen.
However, the Ambassador mentioned that one of the challenges they face is the slow response time from the Ghanaian government.
Mr. Akandoh in response acknowledged this challenge and assured the Ambassador that the President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, is committed to the health sector.
Given the current pressure on the government to provide funds for the health sector, Mr.Akandoh suggested that the Egyptian government take up the project in its entirety, including the construction of infrastructure and equipment.
This, he explained, would be more feasible as the Ghanaian government is currently focused on completing old projects left by the previous administration.
Mr.Akandoh appreciated the Egyptian government’s interest in collaborating with Ghana on health projects and advised them to bring more companies on board to help complete the project, noting that, it is a vital area of healthcare that the government would like to see thrive.
