Environmental cleanliness is a “shared responsibility” – Second Lady

The Second Lady, Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, has stated that environmental cleanliness is not government's responsibility alone but the individual as well.

According to her, primary healthcare starts with everyone especially at the time Ebola and cholera is around: she would always be a crusader for environmental cleanliness, so has asked Ghanaians to observe strict environmental cleanliness in order to check the spread of the Cholera disease.

Presenting school bags with learning tools, fruits, and other assorted items to the Children’s Ward of the St. Anthony's Hospital in Dzodze, in the Volta Region, Mrs. Matilda Amissah Arthur ,called for action by all to curb preventable diseases like Cholera , which is needlessly claiming lives, so the need to minimize the body contact like shaking of hands.

The donation was in line with her commitment to improve healthcare delivery, especially for children across the country.

The wife of the Vice President, who was conducted round the hospital by Dr Joseph K Korpisah, the Medical Director , interacted with some of the children on admission and gave them school bags, pencils, books, toys and wished them speedy recovery.

Making the official presentation, Mrs. Amissah-Arthur commended the hospital and staff for their dedication to provide healthcare to the people and for managing childhood illnesses and also the way they have kept her environment clean.

Mrs. Amissah-Arthur said her aim is to see that children were treated with care because they were of topmost priority to their parents.

“Children are the future leaders, and I am someone who believes in growing with the young generation in the area of health care delivery,” she said.

She praised the staff for the good job that they are doing and encouraged them to do more to ensure quality healthcare for children.

Mrs Amissah Arthur said when listened to role that the St. Anthony’s Hospital play in the region with a catchments’ population of 260,000 people, receiving patients from all the 10 regions of the country with about 25 to 30% of the hospital’s clients from neighboring Republic of Togo; there was the need for them to get protective gears so would help to facilitate their request at a time that Ebola is around.

Dr Korpisah, the Medical Director of the hospital, commended the Second Lady for her passion in helping the needy as well as for providing social services for deprived communities.

He stated that the St Anthony Hospital was in dire need of vital medical equipment and logistics such as protective gears in case there is an outbreak of Ebola so the need for government to come in and help to enable the institution to function

The hospital, Dr Ntodi said, had not seen any major maintenance since its establishment so the need for government to take a look at the hospital.

He said with a very humble beginning in 1960, there has been remarkably admirable growth with various departments and specialized services.

The regional Director of Health also announced that the hospital has been able to secure the necessary certificate to run a midwifery school.

On her Part, the Regional Minister Hon Helen Ntoso, advised parents and the traditional authorities to lead the crusade on the need to keep our environment clean so as to avoid diseases that might bring health hazards.