SIX-HUNDRED-AND-THREE women in the Lawra District in the Upper West Region have received free medical care under the government’s policy of free maternal care for pregnant women.
Apart from receiving free continental, delivery and postnatal services, the beneficiaries are also enjoying a comprehensive package under the minimum benefit package for all insured members of the scheme.
The Board Chairman of the Lawra District Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (DMHIS), Naa A.N. Kunyelleh, made this known when addressing the fourth annual general meeting of the scheme at Lawra.
He explained that the minimum benefit package made it possible for women who visited health facilities with other ailments apart from the pregnancy, to be treated free-of-charge.
Naa Kunyelleh noted that the total patient attendance at health facilities across the district last year was 75,377.
Naa Kunyelleh lauded the rate at which people were registering with the scheme and expressed the hope that if the trend continued, the entire population of the district could be roped into the scheme.
On the challenges facing the scheme, Naa Kunyelleh said clients were abusing the scheme as they kept visiting health facilities multiple times.
He also expressed worry about the attitude of some of the staff of the scheme who frequently collected drugs from hospitals in the name of the scheme for uninsured patients.
Naa Kunyelleh, therefore, appealed to opinion leaders to sensitise the people to appreciate the benefits of the scheme.
For his part, the Lawra District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr George Sulley, was happy that the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) had made health care delivery accessible to all.
He also commended the managers of the scheme for their good work, and urged them to keep spreading the message in order to reach out to more people and register them.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
SIF MAKES STRIDES IN EDUCATION IN UW (PAGE 17)
THE Upper West Region, the latest in the country, cannot boast many educational facilities as compared to the other regions, especially in the south but it has over the years striven to improve the situation through the efforts of the respective district assemblies.
But one other intervention which has helped to enhance the provision of educational infrastructure, classroom furniture, among other things in the region, is the Social Investment Fund (SIF). The SIF, which was set up in 1998 through the efforts of the government of Ghana, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support both the rural and the urban poor across the country, was aimed at reducing poverty among the rural and urban poor.
This was also to ensure that people have access to basic economic and social infrastructure to enhance access of the poor to financial services by increasing the availability of micro finance as well as building the capacities of indigenous financial institutions.
It is significant to note that with that objective, classroom blocks with offices and public places of convenience have been constructed in the Upper West Region under the SIF, as well as furniture provided for schools across the nine districts of the region.
In the Nadowli District for instance, six three-unit classroom blocks with offices, stores and public places of convenience have been constructed. Furniture costing GH¢92, 845.23 have also been constructed.
Similarly, three different six-unit classroom blocks and a three-unit block have been provided for the Sissala West District at a cost of GH¢110, 783.33, while the Sissala East District has two of such classroom infrastructure worth GH¢62, 600. Other beneficiary districts include the Wa East, Lawra, Jirapa and the Lambussie districts.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the SIF Zonal Officer responsible for the three northern regions, Mr Kwame Obeng Nti, said the total cost of the entire projects was GH¢578, 270.66.
He said although the SIF was poised to reach almost every corner of the Upper West Region in particular, and the whole of the three northern regions, the demand for such facilities from the respective communities outweighs the financial position of the SIF, even though it is the wish of SIF to provide the facilities on a demand driven basis.
He pointed out that apart from the health facilities which had received some attention, the education sector had been neglected.
But one other intervention which has helped to enhance the provision of educational infrastructure, classroom furniture, among other things in the region, is the Social Investment Fund (SIF). The SIF, which was set up in 1998 through the efforts of the government of Ghana, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support both the rural and the urban poor across the country, was aimed at reducing poverty among the rural and urban poor.
This was also to ensure that people have access to basic economic and social infrastructure to enhance access of the poor to financial services by increasing the availability of micro finance as well as building the capacities of indigenous financial institutions.
It is significant to note that with that objective, classroom blocks with offices and public places of convenience have been constructed in the Upper West Region under the SIF, as well as furniture provided for schools across the nine districts of the region.
In the Nadowli District for instance, six three-unit classroom blocks with offices, stores and public places of convenience have been constructed. Furniture costing GH¢92, 845.23 have also been constructed.
Similarly, three different six-unit classroom blocks and a three-unit block have been provided for the Sissala West District at a cost of GH¢110, 783.33, while the Sissala East District has two of such classroom infrastructure worth GH¢62, 600. Other beneficiary districts include the Wa East, Lawra, Jirapa and the Lambussie districts.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the SIF Zonal Officer responsible for the three northern regions, Mr Kwame Obeng Nti, said the total cost of the entire projects was GH¢578, 270.66.
He said although the SIF was poised to reach almost every corner of the Upper West Region in particular, and the whole of the three northern regions, the demand for such facilities from the respective communities outweighs the financial position of the SIF, even though it is the wish of SIF to provide the facilities on a demand driven basis.
He pointed out that apart from the health facilities which had received some attention, the education sector had been neglected.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
PNC ELECTS JANE-FRANCIS TO CONTEST JIRAPA SEAT (PAGE 17)
THE People’s National Convention (PNC) has elected a 28-year-old secretary to contest as its Parliamentary candidate for the Jirapa Constituency in the Upper West Region.
Miss Jane-Francis Galyuon, who polled 17 out of the 21 votes cast to get the nod, would thus rub shoulders with political veterans like Mr Edward Salia of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the incumbent, and Mr Justin Dakorah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Jirapa District Chief Executive.
Her rival contestant, Mr Abu Arthur, a teacher, polled four of the votes in the election supervised by Mr Jackson Annor, the electoral officer in charge of Jirapa.
In an address, the Upper West Regional Chairman of the PNC, Dr Gilbert Dabori Bainye, called on all PNC supporters and sympathisers to abide by the motto of the party, “service with honesty".
To this end, he urged all true PNC members to go by all the rules and regulations governing elections in the country to ensure a trouble-free general election in December.
"The December elections is for a winner and not for tricksters who have more money," Dr Bailey stated, and added that "we must not vote for money but for the best and most competent candidate”.
He described Dr Edward Mahama, the flag bearer of the PNC, as the best presidential aspirant with the best ideas, and that when the PNC was given the chance in December, it would add value to sheanuts.
Miss Jane-Francis Galyuon, who polled 17 out of the 21 votes cast to get the nod, would thus rub shoulders with political veterans like Mr Edward Salia of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the incumbent, and Mr Justin Dakorah of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Jirapa District Chief Executive.
Her rival contestant, Mr Abu Arthur, a teacher, polled four of the votes in the election supervised by Mr Jackson Annor, the electoral officer in charge of Jirapa.
In an address, the Upper West Regional Chairman of the PNC, Dr Gilbert Dabori Bainye, called on all PNC supporters and sympathisers to abide by the motto of the party, “service with honesty".
To this end, he urged all true PNC members to go by all the rules and regulations governing elections in the country to ensure a trouble-free general election in December.
"The December elections is for a winner and not for tricksters who have more money," Dr Bailey stated, and added that "we must not vote for money but for the best and most competent candidate”.
He described Dr Edward Mahama, the flag bearer of the PNC, as the best presidential aspirant with the best ideas, and that when the PNC was given the chance in December, it would add value to sheanuts.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
DON'T ABANDON BABIES ...Women groups tell mothers (PAGE 11)
THE rampant dumping of babies into toilets and at refuse dump sites in the Wa municipality and other areas of the Upper West Region has prompted some women’s groups in the region to call for proactive measures to address the issue.
The frustration of the women stem from the fact that in recent times a number of newly-born babies, some with their unbilical cord attached, were dumped at various sites in the municipality.
They have, therefore, called for intensive education on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and abstinence from pre-marital sex, and appealed to men not to shirk their parental responsibilities.
Members of the concerned women’s groups who went on a demonstration through the principal streets of the municipality to express their displeasure at the criminal act, later converged at the forecourt of the Regional Co-ordinating Council where Madam Evelyn Debari, leader of the group, presented a petition to the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mrs Winifred Dy-Yakah.
Carrying placards, some of which read, “save the tears of our innocent babies”, “stop illegal abortion” and “life, not death” included members of the Christian Mothers Association of the Wa Catholic Diocese, the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Ghana (FOMWAG) and the House of Liberation for Empowerment, also of the Wa Catholic Diocese, who were supported by some schoolchildren.
The petition indicated that in July this year alone, five newly-born babies were dumped either in toilets or at refuse dumps at different areas of the municipality. It added that three other babies were also dumped at different times in the early part of the year.
It said only two out of the nine babies that were abandoned survived, stressing that such acts were becoming habitual hence the need to start talking about the issue to let people know that babies also had the right to live.
Mrs Winfred Dy-Yakah commended the women for taking up the issue, and promised to assist to address the issue. She urged them to spread the message to organisations and institutions to let people appreciate that the act constituted a criminal offence, and urged members in the communities to be vigilant and report suspects to the appropriate agencies.
The frustration of the women stem from the fact that in recent times a number of newly-born babies, some with their unbilical cord attached, were dumped at various sites in the municipality.
They have, therefore, called for intensive education on the dangers of teenage pregnancy and abstinence from pre-marital sex, and appealed to men not to shirk their parental responsibilities.
Members of the concerned women’s groups who went on a demonstration through the principal streets of the municipality to express their displeasure at the criminal act, later converged at the forecourt of the Regional Co-ordinating Council where Madam Evelyn Debari, leader of the group, presented a petition to the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mrs Winifred Dy-Yakah.
Carrying placards, some of which read, “save the tears of our innocent babies”, “stop illegal abortion” and “life, not death” included members of the Christian Mothers Association of the Wa Catholic Diocese, the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Ghana (FOMWAG) and the House of Liberation for Empowerment, also of the Wa Catholic Diocese, who were supported by some schoolchildren.
The petition indicated that in July this year alone, five newly-born babies were dumped either in toilets or at refuse dumps at different areas of the municipality. It added that three other babies were also dumped at different times in the early part of the year.
It said only two out of the nine babies that were abandoned survived, stressing that such acts were becoming habitual hence the need to start talking about the issue to let people know that babies also had the right to live.
Mrs Winfred Dy-Yakah commended the women for taking up the issue, and promised to assist to address the issue. She urged them to spread the message to organisations and institutions to let people appreciate that the act constituted a criminal offence, and urged members in the communities to be vigilant and report suspects to the appropriate agencies.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
CHRAJ, CSO TO MONITOR CORRUPT POLITICAL PRACTICES (PAGE 16)
THE Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), in collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs), has put in place mechanisms to monitor corrupt practices by political parties in the run-up to the December 7 general election.
That, according to the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Richard Quayson, was to ensure that there was much integrity among those who aspired to be in public office and that any presidential aspirant who would win the elections would represent the will of the people.
Mr Quayson, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the move by CHRAJ and the CSOs was to discourage the alleged canker of vote buying by political parties.
He gave the assurance that results from the monitoring exercise would be published on a later date to draw the attention of people to the indirect effects of vote buying on the electorate and the entire country.
He said if acts of corruption during political party campaigns were checked, within the next 12 years the face of elections in the country would improve, with politicians talking more about reality during their campaigns, not fanciful things.
“Once we have all accepted multi-party democracy, the parties must play it fair. We must know that if parties use dishonest means to get the votes, the same dishonest culture will be exhibited by the politicians when they are in office,” the deputy commissioner stressed, adding, “Operators of the political system that should give us leaders must not corrupt it.”
Mr Quayson also described as very weak the argument that “we will take the items but we will not vote for them”, stressing that very good candidates could lose an election because they did not provide gifts or distribute items to the electorate.
That, according to the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mr Richard Quayson, was to ensure that there was much integrity among those who aspired to be in public office and that any presidential aspirant who would win the elections would represent the will of the people.
Mr Quayson, who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Wa, said the move by CHRAJ and the CSOs was to discourage the alleged canker of vote buying by political parties.
He gave the assurance that results from the monitoring exercise would be published on a later date to draw the attention of people to the indirect effects of vote buying on the electorate and the entire country.
He said if acts of corruption during political party campaigns were checked, within the next 12 years the face of elections in the country would improve, with politicians talking more about reality during their campaigns, not fanciful things.
“Once we have all accepted multi-party democracy, the parties must play it fair. We must know that if parties use dishonest means to get the votes, the same dishonest culture will be exhibited by the politicians when they are in office,” the deputy commissioner stressed, adding, “Operators of the political system that should give us leaders must not corrupt it.”
Mr Quayson also described as very weak the argument that “we will take the items but we will not vote for them”, stressing that very good candidates could lose an election because they did not provide gifts or distribute items to the electorate.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
UNKNOWN GUNMEN ATTACK ELEDI'S RESIDENCE (PAGE 20)
RECENT attacks on certain personalities in major cities of the country have been extended to Wa, capital of the Upper West Region.
This time around, the victim of the attack was a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Clement Eledi, whose private residence was besieged by unknown assailants.
The attack was said to have taken place at about 1 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2008 when some armed men stormed the deputy minister’s house and started shooting indiscriminately.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, he confirmed the incident and said his outfit was investigating the matter.
Mr Gyening, however, declined to give further details with the explanation that the investigations were at the primary stages.
Meanwhile, the Daily Graphic has gathered that the shooting was foiled by a policeman in the house who also fired back at the attackers, thereby compelling them to flee.
Mr Eledi was out of town at the time of the attack. When the Daily Graphic checked at the Wa Regional Hospital it was discovered that there was no casualty.
This time around, the victim of the attack was a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Clement Eledi, whose private residence was besieged by unknown assailants.
The attack was said to have taken place at about 1 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, 2008 when some armed men stormed the deputy minister’s house and started shooting indiscriminately.
When the Daily Graphic contacted the Deputy Regional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Augustine Gyening, he confirmed the incident and said his outfit was investigating the matter.
Mr Gyening, however, declined to give further details with the explanation that the investigations were at the primary stages.
Meanwhile, the Daily Graphic has gathered that the shooting was foiled by a policeman in the house who also fired back at the attackers, thereby compelling them to flee.
Mr Eledi was out of town at the time of the attack. When the Daily Graphic checked at the Wa Regional Hospital it was discovered that there was no casualty.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
CHRAJ-MEDIA COLLABORATION ESSENTIAL (PAGE 21)
THE Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Richard Quayson, has called for effective collaboration between the media and the commission in dealing with human rights issues.
He said people ought to understand human rights issues to prevent others from trampling upon their rights.
According to him, that would also empower the public to hold public officers accountable for their actions.
Addressing a day’s workshop for media personnel at Wa in the Upper West Region, Mr Quayson said many people were ignorant about human rights issues and needed to be educated.
He said in order to reach out to more people, CHRAJ needed the media to make inroads and bring issues on human rights to the doorsteps of people.
On what CHRAJ was doing to prevent abuse of the rights of people, the deputy commissioner said a manual to improve human rights in schools had been developed for the Ghana Education Service (GES) to discourage the bullying and maltreatment of students.
“We are also preparing a code of conduct and documents on conflict of interest for public officers. This is aimed at improving the level of integrity for public life”, Mr Quayson noted.
He said most of the complaints received by his outfit were on human rights and administrative injustices, adding that on the average, the commission received 14,500 complaints annually, out of which about 85 per cent were disposed of in a year.
He said CHRAJ would not shield anybody; neither would it allow anyone to use the commission to ridicule anybody, and stressed that if the country dealt with corruption and human rights issues as well as administrative injustices, it would receive the appropriate public recognition.
“We need to put our house in order so that our wealth does not drain out, especially with the oil find,” Mr Quayson emphasised.
He also said CHRAJ was very serious about eradicating corruption in the country.
He said people ought to understand human rights issues to prevent others from trampling upon their rights.
According to him, that would also empower the public to hold public officers accountable for their actions.
Addressing a day’s workshop for media personnel at Wa in the Upper West Region, Mr Quayson said many people were ignorant about human rights issues and needed to be educated.
He said in order to reach out to more people, CHRAJ needed the media to make inroads and bring issues on human rights to the doorsteps of people.
On what CHRAJ was doing to prevent abuse of the rights of people, the deputy commissioner said a manual to improve human rights in schools had been developed for the Ghana Education Service (GES) to discourage the bullying and maltreatment of students.
“We are also preparing a code of conduct and documents on conflict of interest for public officers. This is aimed at improving the level of integrity for public life”, Mr Quayson noted.
He said most of the complaints received by his outfit were on human rights and administrative injustices, adding that on the average, the commission received 14,500 complaints annually, out of which about 85 per cent were disposed of in a year.
He said CHRAJ would not shield anybody; neither would it allow anyone to use the commission to ridicule anybody, and stressed that if the country dealt with corruption and human rights issues as well as administrative injustices, it would receive the appropriate public recognition.
“We need to put our house in order so that our wealth does not drain out, especially with the oil find,” Mr Quayson emphasised.
He also said CHRAJ was very serious about eradicating corruption in the country.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)