News
Philanthropist supports 700 people to get NHIS card
A philanthropist, Mr Mickydary Yakubu has financed over 700 Ghanaians to obtain the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) card at a total cost of GHC 28.320.00.
The cost included the registration fee, transportation fare from their localities to where the NHIS cards were issued, and hotel accommodation.
The beneficiaries are from Jamasi in the Ashanti Region, Zaagum, Yuga, Yakura, in the North East Region, and Douri in the Upper East Region respectively.
Mr Mickydary Yakubu who is also the Founder of Maloa Foundation, Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), which assisted the poor people during the COVID-19 lock down, said he was moved to go to the aid of people who were living in poverty and could not afford the cost involved to obtain the NHIS card.
He said despite its immense benefits, there were many people who could not afford the means to obtain the NHIS card.
Mr Yakubu explained that since the NHIS issuing centres were not located in the towns where the beneficiaries lived, it became difficult for these people who were mostly peasant farmers to obtain the card from their own resources.
He said, ” I always want to put smiles on the faces of people who naturally would not have the means to repay for the services received.”
Mr Yakubu said there was nothing more refreshing than to reach out to the less privileged in society.
He said people should not be self-centered, but try to think about the welfare of others in dire need of vital support to make life more meaningful.
Mr Yakubu said he started the project to prepare NHIS cards for people in 2016 and was still poised to continue to lend his support to the vulnerable.
He intimated that he had planned a mammoth blood donation exercise to be held at Hohoe in the Volta Region to support the National Blood Bank.
Mr Yakubu said his objective was to help cultivate the habit in the citizens to willingly donate blood to save lives.
By Raymond Kyekye
News
Intake of ‘Gobe’ can prevent heart diseases —Nutritionists
Nutritionists have advised Ghanaians to eat more beans-based meals, including the popular local dish, gari and beans, also known as ‘Gobe’ to prevent heart diseases. They said incidences of obesity and cancer could be minimised with the regular intake of beans meals.
At a programme in Accra to mark the World Pulses ( Beans) Day on Monday, Mr Wise Chukudi Letsa, Nutritionist and Dietician, who spoke on the topic: ‘Beans: The Super Food for Healthy Living and Healthy Farmlands,’ admonished Ghanaians to include beans in their diets.
Mr Letsa said beans was rich in protein, fibre, vitamins, minerals, irons and other nutrients and contained just a little fat. Mr Letsa, a Nutritionist with Lets Consult, stated that the presence of those nutrients in beans explained why its intake could prevent heart diseases and other ailments, hence the need to consume it regularly.
The event, dubbed: ‘Meatless Monday’ was organised by the Communications Initiative for Change (CIC), a Ghanaian non-profit organisation.
The ‘Meatless Monday’ is an initiative aimed at encouraging Ghanaians to reduce their intake of meat by taking in more beans-based meals on every Monday of a week.
It was launched after the United Nations in 2019, set aside February 10 to celebrate and encourage the consumption of pulses (beans) worldwide. This year’s celebration was hinged on the theme: ‘Bringing Diversity to Agrifood Systems.’
Mr Peter Agbovi, National Secretary, Chefs Association of Ghana, said a variety of meals could be prepared with beans, which include Waakye (rice and beans), Kose (beans paste made into cakes), Ayikple, Aboboi, Tuo Zaafi, Akyeke, and kakro.
He encouraged Ghanaians to consume more of those foods to stay healthy.
Mr Emmanuel Fiagbey, the Executive Director, CIC, indicated that even if people could not eat beans-based meals regularly, efforts should be made to consume them every Monday.
He said that was the essence of the introduction of the ‘Meatless Monday’ initiative. -GNA
News
Restore beauty of Kwame Nkrumah Circle area / State of Kwame Nkrumah Circle an eyesore!
Small size quarry stones fixed at open spaces under the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange was to leave the place open and free from activities of beggars and other activities of the homeless.
By the way the stones were fixed, it makes the area, particularly the VIP and Neoplan Station stretch of the Interchange, inhabitable by the destitute.
But a walk through the area currently suggest the opposite.
At the median where pavement blocks have been taken over by these homeless and destitute, the area has been turned into a hotel where a number of these unfortunate ones have comfortably laid their mattresses and other stuff to rest from the day’s activities.
They have crossed over to the SSNIT and Kaneshie Station area with their activities and have removed the quarry stones which were to ward them off the place to enable them find spaces to sleep comfortably.
The pavement blocks removed from different locations under the interchange now serves as foundations on which beds were laid and in some cases, mosquito nets erected.
Their continued presence is not only creating a nuisance for commuters but marring the beauty and serenity of the place.
Sadly, the activities of these deprived fellows have been ignored while the numbers keep increasing day by day.
The Spectator finds the development very worrying and calls on the responsible authorities to clear the area to restore the beauty and serenity of the area.
By Victor A. Buxton
