The Light Foundation, in conjunction with UNICEF and the Ghana Health Service today held a community sensitization programme on the Covid-19, yellow fever and lead poisoning in Frafraha in the Adentan Municipal Assembly.
In his welcome address, the CEO of the foundation, Sheikh Abubakar Ali Napari thanked the chief of Frafraha, Nii Kommey Akpor I, opinion leaders and the clergy for gracing the occasion. He further outlined the reasons for the occasion.
“We are here to deliberate on issues related to health and sanitation that are bothering most of our communities in Ghana. Religious leaders, Imams and pastors have a crucial role to play in changing behaviours of people. As you can see today, our partners, UNICEF have come to support this community engagement at Frafraha.”
He said there was an earlier workshop last year November on the issues which was held at the Miklin Hotel in Accra.
He said the workshop addressed three key issues bothering the community.
The first issue he said was lead poisoning, which has a direct impact on people’s lives and it was realized that a lot of people did not have any clue on what it is.
He said secondly, there w a training on vaccine hesitancy when the Covid-19 restrictions were still in force.
For her part, the UNICEF official, Margaret Owusu Amoako said the organization is happy to partner and support the Light Foundation to carry out the activities in the various communities.
She cautioned the people to be extra careful in order to avoid lead poisoning.
She said people should avoid the unnecessary burning of scrap metals, as it has a dire consequence on the health of the people, especially children. She said the smoke coming from the burning of these scrap metals which pollutes the air has the tendency to affect people and cause liver problems.
“..If you listened to what madam has said, she said we should wash our hands. We should not let our children play in the ground and those who burn scraps, if they will want to do so, should go to a remote place where there are no human settlements so the smoke will not harm them as they inhale the smoke especially children.
“If the people or children inhale the lead as they play and don’t wash their hands, it affects them mentally and for the adults it may affect their liver or kidney. That is why we are supporting the Light Foundation to sensitize the people in this cause,” she added.
An official from the Ghana Health Service, Madam Bernice Danquah took the audience through the precautions to take in protecting themselves from contracting the Covid-19.
She outlined the symptoms of having the Coronavirus and said everyone is at risk of contracting it.
She also urged the people to get vaccinated to avoid being infected with the virus.
She entreated the people to take very good care of themselves in order to avoid being infected with the yellow fever which she said is caused by mosquito bites.
Some residents who participated in the programme Baina News spoke to, shared their thoughts on how useful the exercise has been.
They indicated with firm belief that it will go a long way to create the needed awareness for them and the community at large.
In attendance was the Chief of Frafraha, Nii Kommey I who served as the chairman for the occasion, the clergy from both the Muslim and Christian communities, residents from the Frafraha community and some selected basic schools.
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