‘Make patient care utmost priority’-Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum

The award winners and dignitaries at the function

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua, has challenged health workers in the country to give quality care to sick people who visit the hospitals to access health care.

He entreated them to treat every patient with dignity and respect, and serve the sick from the depth of their hearts with compassion.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum with Mr. Kpesesse
and Dr. Mantey interacting 

The Bishop said these during the joint Accra Archdiocese and Koforidua Diocesan launch of the 25^th World Day of the Sick at the St. Joseph Hospital at Effiduase-Koforidua.

The message was based on the theme: Amazement of what God has one for me: Amazement of what God has accomplished: The Almighty has done great things for me (Luke 1:49).

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum, who read the Pope’s message for the occasion, urged health workers to be active in the care they give to the sick at all times.

Mr. Victus K. Kpesese, Executive Secretary for Health in Koforidua Diocese, urged the various departments at the facilities to be interested in monitoring their performances, adding that whatever we do should be directed at saving lives.

He advised facilities going paperless to get a strong IT system to safeguard the data they feed into the system.

On motivation for staff, he urged management of the various facilities to go beyond salaries and opportunities to upgrade staff but also recognize for good efforts of their staffs.

Mrs. Attipoe Bempong, representative of the Eastern Regional Director of Health stated the need for health workers to have compassion for patient in order to better serve them.

Speaking on how to avoid diabetes, she urged Ghanaians to watch their what they eat and their eating habit, and stressed the essence to eat a lot of balance diet with fruits and vegetables.

She urged Ghanaians to inculcate regular exercise habits, avoid smoking and excessive drinking and adopt health lifestyle.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum blessing the sick

Mrs. Bempong urged people diagnosed of the disease, not to worry because it could be managed, entreating them to visit health facilities to seek care.            

Nana Ampem Frempomah I, Nkosuohene of Effiduase-Koforidua, who chaired the launch commended the Catholic Church for its strive in health care delivery in the area and the in the country as a whole, on the government to revamp and improve upon the NHIS to help more people access health care.

She called on Ghanaians to clean rid and rid their environment of filth to promote healthy living.

In attendance at the function was the all-male Choir of the Pope John Minor Seminary and Senior High School, who entertained the guest at the programme.

Dr. Ebenezer Akrofi-Mantey, Medical Officer of the St. Joseph Hospital was adjudged the winner of the Koforidua Diocesan Health Excellence Awards, for his exceptional dedicated service over the years, while Dr. Kofi Effah, Head of the Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Catholic Hospital of Battor named the winner for the Accra Archdiocesan Health Excellence Awards.      

On behalf of the awardees, Dr. Mantey thanked God, the hospital management and the Koforidua Diocese for the honour and recognition of their efforts.

He also thanked the staff who he works with and his family, entreated the staff to be diligent and keep working hard, adding that in all their edeavours and work, one day they would be recognize and they would receive a just reward.

In a welcome address, Mr. Valentine Bruku, Director of the Hospital, stated that launch has brought the health facilities together as one family, to share in the vision of utmost and holistic patient care.

He expressed the hope that health workers would reflect on the theme and imbibe its meaning to their daily work.

Present at the programme were section of the patients at the facility, who praised the hospital staff for the great work they were doing to care for them.

In attendance was the Pope John Seminary and Senior High School Choir who sang medleys of songs to spice up the programme.

The front view of the St. Joseph Hospital.

     

Going places

Lovely sunset at Tarkwa

Market scenes at Tarkoradi

Section of a polluted Odaw river somewhere
at Dzowulo, Accra 

One Tyre operators at Kasoa 

DE ‘Youngster supports St. Thomas School

Msgr. Bobby-Benson blessing the De' Youngster family

The proprietor of the DE ‘Youngster International Schools in Accra, and a native of Asamankese, in the Eastern Region, has donated a set of brass band drums to the St. Thomas Senior High/Technical School.

The drums worth GH₵3,500. 00, was to support the school music ministry.

Mr. Anthony Kwame DE ‘Youngster, has over the years has support the community with an Education Endowment Fund help promote education of less endowed in the area, and also provided a scholarship package for the St. Thomas School, to assist brilliant but needy students.

He also donated football and trophies to support supporting activities in the community.

*Msgr. Bobby-Benson blessing the Mr. and Mrs. DE ‘Youngster

Msgr. Bobby-Benson blessing the drums 

New Head Master to transform St. Thomas

Mr Ansah, (middle) the new headmaster with the dignitaries
after the Mass

The New Headmaster of the St. Thomas Senior High/Technical School at Asamankese in the Koforidua Diocese has pledged to work assiduously to transform the school into a place of excellence.

Mr. William Ansah, who was inducted into office as the substantive headmaster of the School, declared his intention to utilise available resources to make the School one of the best in the country.

 “I will ensure that St. Thomas School remains competitive among the best schools in the country,” he assured.  

Pledging to uphold the Catholic teachings and principles as the pivot in building the School, the new headmaster promised to collaborate and work with all stakeholders including the old students’ association to promote the growth of the school.

Mr. Ansah (seated) flanked by dignitaries after his induction.

He made these remarks recently at his induction ceremony at the St Mary’s Catholic Church at Asamankese in the Koforidua Diocese, and commended his predecessors, the Church, the Parent Teacher Association (P.T.A), with particular thanks to its longest serving Chairman, Mr. Patrick K. Kumi, as well as the Chief of Asamankese.   

Very Rev. Msgr. Francis Twum Barimah, Vicar General of the Koforidua Diocese and main celebrant at the induction Mass urged the new headmaster to emulate the steps of Jesus Christ who came to fulfill the works of the prophets.

He bemoaned the tendency in the country, where successive leaders discredit the records of their precursors, and urged Mr. Ansah to build on what his predecessors have started.

The Vicar General entreated the headmaster to rely on God, who raised him to head the School, and urged the staff to eschew factionalism and work together to support the new headmaster in discharging his duties successfully.

Concelebrants at the well-attended Mass included Very Rev. Msgr. Alex Bobby-Benson, Chairman of the Koforidua Diocesan Education Committee; Rev. Frs. Paul K. Tordzro, Parish Priest and Matthias T. Djabatey, Associate Priest and Chaplain at the St. Thomas Senior High Technical School.

At the Mass, 14 students were confirmed into the Catholic Church by the Vicar General, who advised them to uphold their faith and endeavour to understand the teachings of the church.

Msgr. Bobby-Benson saying a prayer
Mr. Acheampong.

As part of the ceremony, the Kofordua Diocese honoured Mr. Eward Achemapong, Assistant Headmaster of the St. Thomas Senior High/ Technical School (Academics), for his dedicated and committed service to Catholic Education for several years.

Msgr. Bobby-Benson who presented a citation with an undisclosed amount to Mr. Acheampong on behalf of the Church, extolled his contributions to education in the Diocese.

In recognition of his hard work, the staff and the Students Representative Council as well as the P.T.A and the School Welfare made various presentation to Mr. Acheampong, who was due for retirement.           

The Acting Deputy Director at the Ghana Education Service (G.E.S) Mrs. Felicia Boakye-Yiadom, who together with the Vicar General inducted the new Headmaster, expressed the confidence in the potential of Mr. Ansah to deliver and make the school a place of excellence.

She encouraged Mr. Ansah not to fear but seek the face of the Lord to help him in discharging his duties at the School.

While commending Mr. Acheampong for his service to Ghana, she thanked the Church and the PTA for honouring him for his commitment and dedication.

Mr Kumi (with microphone)
speaking at the function

Mr. P. K. Kumi, who was honoured together with other long serving members of the P.T.A, lauded the determination of the pioneers through whose effort the school has come this far and assured the current leadership of their continued support to help the growth of the school.   

              

 

‘Respect dignity of the sick’

Fr. Dzumador blessing a sick person 

Health workers have been urged to accord respect and compassion to the sick who visit their health facilities, and help them receive healing.

Very Rev. Fr. Paul Dzumador, Chancellor of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese, made the appeal to health professionals to uphold the dignity of the sick who access health care at their facilities, during the Diocesan launch of the 25^th World Day of the Sick at Tagadzi-Dorfor, near Juapong.

“The dignity of the human being is important” he stressed, urging Nurses, Doctors and all care givers to treat the sick with respect and promote their welfare. He also entreated the sick to respect the health givers.

Fr. Dzumador, noted that health work is a vocation and not a profession, entreating them to work with a good heart in serving the sick. 

He expressed the need for Christian medics to pray with the sick as part of the process of medication, and charged them to be God fearing and render good services to the sick.

Mr. Christian Akoto-Brown, Executive Director for Health in the Diocese, called on health workers to appreciate the sick and pray for them.

He commended the entire health workers of the six facilities in the Diocese as well as their collaborators, and reminded them about the need to remember the sick and suffering, who are at the centre of their work.

Mr. Akoto-Brown appealed to health professionals to give off their best for the sick, noting that “nobody invites sickness to himself or herself intentionally and nobody knows when they would be taken ill”.

In spite of the challenges they faced in their work, the Executive Secretary admitted that the Lord has done a lot for them in the past year and urged them to continue having faith and conviction in the Lord.

The institution of World Day of the Sick by St. Pope John Paul, 25 years ago seeks to raise awareness of the Christ’s healing ministry, care for the sick and focus on care-giving where the sick would experience the warmth of God’s care and love.

Mr. Akoto-Brown, entreated the health workers to observe the week-long celebration through home visits to bed ridden patients and through provision of support to them.

Togbe Kakrada IV, Chief of Tagadzi-Dorfor, in a remark thanked the Catholic Church for establishing the facility at the area, and commended the Health Workers for the care, their sense of urgency to duty and the dedication they attached to executing their task.

The Chief acknowledged that due to the quality healthcare provision at the facility, a lot of people were coming from far places to seek health care at the Polyclinic, and appealed to the management and staff to keep up the good works.  

In his address, Mr. Evans Ativor, North Tongu District Director for Health, commended the Church for her commitment in healthcare delivery, and assured that the District would continue partnering with the Christian Health Association and do its best to complement the growth of the Polyclinic.

He however called on philanthropist and well-meaning Ghanaians to come to the aid of the Polyclinic, which he said was in need of delivery equipment, medicines, wheelchairs and medical consumables.  

Fr. Dzumador, who officiated the Mass to commemorate the day, read the Popes Message for the occasion on the theme: Amazement of what God has accomplished: The Almighty has done great things for me (Luke 1:49).

He later led the Priests at the function and some medics to visit and pray for the sick at the various wards of the St. Anne’s Polyclinic.      

Con-celebrants at the Mass included, Rev. Frs. Ignatius Attipoe, Parish Priest of St. Francis of Assisi Church at Juapong; Peter Amegashie, Chaplain at the Sacred Heart Hospital Abor; Theodore Agbekudzi, Chaplain at the Comboni Hospital at Sogakope.

Others were Rev. Frs. James Amuzu, and Franklin Adzaho, the Diocesan Bursar and Director of Communications respectively.    

Present at the occasion were staff of the Sacred Heart Hospital at Abor; St. Anthony Hospital at Dodze; the Comboni Hospital at Sogakope, and the Cuniberto Maternity Home at Lume.

The St. Francis of Assisi Parish Choir and the Alafa Cultural troupe graced the occasion  

Scale-up Women’s Annual Cultural ‘DINOMA’ Festival

The Organizers of the Zuarungu-Moshie Women’s Annual Cultural Festival dubbed DINOMA Festival, have been challenged to scale-up the celebration of the festival to cover more communities in the country.

Honorable Matilda Adombiri, Chairperson of this year’s Festival, observed the essence of sustainable development efforts at the community level, and called for active inclusion of women in development programme.

The festival, an annual celebration aimed at empowering women through the promotion of culture, food security and food sovereignty, was started by Mr. Samual Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana in 2005, for the women at Zuarungu-Moshie in the Upper East Region.

The festival, which Mr. Akologo single-handedly funded over the years, is to create a platform for women to celebrate their efforts at promoting community development.

The annual event also provided space for the women in the community to articulate their views, challenges, needs and to make advocacy demands to public duty-bearers for attention. So far, the festival serves as a means of raising awareness of cultural sustainability of traditional food, through the showcasing of some local dishes and how they are prepared.

Hon. Adombiri, who underscored the essence of food security in the Country and in line with the attainment of the SDGs Goals, stated the relevance of the platform for women to advance their economic development, education and unity in the rural areas.

She called for the involvement of young women in the festival in order to learn about these local dishes and how they are prepared.

To make the Festival lively, she suggested the programme be turned into an annual home coming food show, which would be more competitive and held between young and the elderly women in the communities.

“The venue for the programme could also be alternated among communities around Zuarungu and its environs,” she noted.

She however appealed to Corporate organizations and well-meaning people to support the programme to motivate the participants to ensure their full participation in attaining the SDGs through their efforts to ensure food security and development at the community level.

Hon. Adombiri observed that the continuous organization of the festival was good, since it would serve as learning platform for young ladies and the younger generation to learn the different recipes of the local foods and how to prepare them.

Among some of the diet prepared at the festival included Gingilima la bito, Waha, Suma, Gaare, Tikolgo, Tigella, Kinkama gela, Kunkono, Konkogre, and Suma, Zonliga.

In an address, Mr. Akologo, expressed the need to harvest the water from the community stream into a dam for purposes of all-year agricultural production.

He hinted that his family friends in the Netherlands – the Jacobsons, have shown a lot of interest in the Zuarungu-Moshie Dam project and stated that technical feasibility surveys have been completed.

He assured that work would soon begin once the drawing and costing for the necessary resources for the project are mobilized, but expressed the hope that the NPP Government’s policy direction of building dams in communities, would respond timely and to support the Zuarungu-Moshie’s efforts for a dam.

The programme which is held on the first Saturday in January every year, brought together politicians from the Upper East Region, the traditional and opinions leaders in the Zuarungu Traditional area.  

The platform which also supports the socialization of the participants, offers the community an opportunity to address development issues in the area, which was echoed in the theme of the festival: Promoting Sustainable Development Goals at the community level; ensuring that women are not left behind.

Speakers, including the Chief of Zuarungu-Moshie – Naba Adobire and the President of the Community Women’s Association – Madam Azurema Anongtebsim, touch on the need for infrastructure development in the areas of education, community development as well as the need to promote unity.   

Insincere Affair

Political parties do not always serve our collective interest.
Political activities are not necessarily partisan.
Political leadership is supposed to be responsible for our well-being.
But today we know that political actions do always serves our interest.
We know that dancing the political dance in a democratic jamboree does help us all.
We know that the public cannot always question the powers that be.  
We know that most political questions are not always answered.
Politicians do not always represent our collective interest. 
Sometimes, I am lost for words when I watch our words and conduct. 
We need to rethink our political actions and the political system as a people. 
Afrika deserves better, we deserve the best in all.

NCHS trains Pharmacist on minilab

Flashback: Ms. Patinora Manye(R) leading the practicals 

The National Catholic Health Service has organised a five-day training four Pharmacist and Pharmacy technicians on the Minilab protocols to ensure that patients at the various NHCHS health facilities in the country were served with good medication.

To achieve this, participants were taken through the four Minilab of testing procedures, including Visual detection; Disintegration; Colour Reaction Test, and the Thin-Layer Chromatography (TLC), to test and detect counterfeit medicines.

This was part of the NCHS efforts to pursue the fight against counterfeit medicines in the health systems.

The trainees, drawn from the St. John of God Clinic at Amrahia in the Accra Archdiocese; St. Joseph Hospital at Effiduase, Koforidua; Sacred Heart Hospital at Abor and the Catholic Hospital at Anfoega in the Keta-Akatsi and Ho Dioceses respectively, commended the NCHS for taking them through the training exercise.

A practical section of the Conference

They observed that the training was an eye opener to them and would help them in their work at their various facilities and to ensure that quality medicines were served patients.

They also appealed to DIFEAM and other partners to provide them with the minilab kits to help them put what they have learnt a lot in practice, would now take critical look at drugs and to ensure that counterfeit ones were prevented from reaching the patients.  

The main facilitator for the programme, Ms. Pattinora Manyi, Pharmacy Technician from the Central Pharmacy of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, expressed satisfaction at the active interest of the trainees throughout the training session.

She expressed optimism that they would become ambassador to fight the counterfeit medicines in the country.

As part of the training, Mr. Frederick Sowah, the other Co-facilitator for the workshop, stated that the participants tested 10 different drugs, in the categories of Anti-Malaria, Anti-Asthmatic, Antibiotic, Antidiabetics and Analgesics (painkillers).

The Minilab project

The Minilab project was conceived and funded by German Institute for Medical Mission (DIFAEM) and its partners to train and equip health personnel to complement efforts of government to counter the influx of counterfeit drugs into the health system.

The Project which is part of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN), is the Pharmaceutical arm of world Council of Churches in health delivery, which has passion to fight counterfeit medicines from circulation within the health system.

DIFAEM and EPN established the “Minilab Network” to provide a platform for equipped and trained organizations to share information, experiences and provide peer support to each other to enhance best practice.

In November 2016, DIFAEM and EPN in conjunction with NCHS organized the First West African Regional Minilab Workshop at Aburi, at which participant among other points resolved to prioritise on sampling and testing for Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR), as well as Embark on working visits to each other network member.

Flashback: The Participants at the November 2016 Conference

St. Joseph Hospital honours Staf

Rev. Fr. Br. John Opong presenting the award to one of the
longest serving Doctors at the Hospital.

The St. Joseph Hospital at Effiduase in the Koforidua Diocese has honoured 45 members of staff, in recognition of their hard work over the years.

The awards were conferred on the staff at a brief thanksgiving ceremony at the Hospital.

Among the awardees were four staffs, due for retirement, who were presented with certificates and some prizes.

Rev. Msgr. Twum-Barimah, Vicar General of the Koforidua Diocese and the main celebrant at a Mass preceding the presentation of awards, urged the staff to emulate the good works of the awardees to make the hospital the best.

He commended the awardees for their good works, noting that whatever one did in his or her work God sees it, and entreated all to be diligent in their work.        

Preaching the homily at the Mass, Rev. Fr. Richmond Sintim, Chaplain of the Hospital, called on the staff to get on board and effectively play their roles to ensure quality healthcare delivery at the facility.

Fr. Sintim congratulating an awardee

“Let’s work to sustain the growth of the hospital,” he appealed, and charged the staff to stop living on the past glory but work for the progress of the facility.

He urged the staff to give off their best and let their presence be felt through the work they do at the hospital. “Let’s salvage the sinking image of the hospital and fill part of anything that happens here” he added.  

Rev. Br. Bartholomew presenting the
awards to a staff.

Rev. Bro. Bartholomew Camara, Provincial Superior of the St. Augustine Province of the hospitaller Brothers of the St John of God Congregation, expressed appreciation to the awardees for the tireless service they rendered at the facility over the years.

He noted that the feat the awardees chalked hinged on the pillars of team work, perseverance, self-disciplined and a determination to make a difference with their work.

Stating the family spirit that exist and defines the work at the hospital, Bro. Bartholomew stressed the need to begin the new year on the note of reconciliation.

He commended the Hospital Management for holding the fort and successfully steering the affairs of the facility.

Mr. Valentine Bruku handing over the
certificate to a staff

Bro. Bartholomew announced the confirmation of Mr. Valentine Bruku, as the substantive Director of the St. Joseph Hospital and called on the staff to work together to sustain the good works of the facility.

Madam Rosemary Ayivor, on behalf of the awardees thanked the organizers and the management of the hospital for honoring them. She appealed that the awards would be sustained.

Among dignitaries present at the facility included Mr. Victus Kpesese, Executive Secretary of Health in the Koforidua Diocese; Rev. Fr. Bro. John Opong, Chairman of the Management Advisory Board.     

   

‘Exhibit honesty in your work’

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle

The Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, has urged Ghanaians to be more honest in the discharge of their duties to enable the growth of the country.

He entreated citizens to eschew laziness and negative attitudes that was hampering high productivity in the country.

“It is incumbent on Ghanaians to change their attitudes and demonstrate the spirit of hard work and humility in their work” to ensure the country got the necessary development it ought to get.

The Archbishop gave this brief New Year message, after commissioning the Clinic “Holy Bakhita” for the City of God at Old Fadama, Accra, and charged Ghanaians to support projects that would alleviate the plights of the poor and needy in the country.

He stressed the point that Ghanaians have a great responsibility to work hard, exhibit honesty and humility in all their endeavours, especially at a time the country voted for a new President.

City of God gets Clinic

Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, has commissioned the Clinic “Holy Bakhita” for the City of God at Old Fadama, Accra, and entreated Catholics and well-meaning Ghanaians to support the project.

The facility which was donated by Amici Della Clinica in Venice and Gocce D’Amore Universal, Italy, was at a cost of GH ¢25,000.00, which aims at bringing healthcare provision to the doorsteps of inhabitants of Old Fadama.

The Archbishop, who commended the benefactors for their commitment, also urged stakeholders and donors to support the project with little drops of their love to sustain it.

“You don’t need to have much in order to give, but learn to share the little you have” he explained, adding that through their little support, the lives of many people in the area particularly children would be touch.

The Archbishop elucidated that the Catholic Church in establishing the City of God project, wants to change the so called ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’ name given the area, adding that God’s children reside here.

The Second Lady, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, who encouraged Medics to support the project, pledged to assist the clinic with some medical equipment.

She advised residents to take care of the facility and regularly clean their environment to avoid contracting diseases.

Rev. Fr. Subash Chittilappilly, MC, Administrator of the City of God Project, expressed gratitude to Amici Della Clinica for the completion of the project, and appealed for a team of Volunteer Medics to run and sustain the project.

“There is need for more volunteer doctors and nurses” he indicated, and added that he was in talks with other stakeholders to ensure the effective running of the Infirmary.      

The Pupils of the School under the project also witnessed the inauguration of the Clinic, amidst signing and poem recital which centred on the need to keep clean environments. 

The Second Lady Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur; Msgr. Renato Kucic, Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio; Friar Stefano Cavalli, President of the Institute of Ecumenical Studies in Venice, Italy, Dame Mrs. Cicila Koffie, President of DOMOD Ltd., were among dignitaries who graced the occasion.

Others were Mr. Claudio Turina, a benefactor of the project and author of the City of God book; Very Rev. Adrew Campbell, Pastor of the Christ the King Church, Cantonments and some Religious.      

Background

The City of God project, a baby of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra is an effort to evangelise the people living in the area and its surrounding, as well as bring relief to the suffering. It is committed to train the unemployed and empower both young and old to acquire some basic skills or to read and work arithmetic among others.

With the addition of the Clinic, the City of God Project has expanded from offering training and basic education to adults and children, to offering health care to the people in the area.