German Church Donates to Needy

The Saint George\'s Parish of Attenstein Ahaus in Germany on Sunday presented more than 200 million cedis worth of medical equipment and assorted items to the Bullengu-Chaggu parish of the Wa Diocese of the Catholic Church.

The items included an ambulance, drugs, hospital beds, wheelchairs, bed sheets, computers and monitors, a generator, toys, exercise books and chalks.

In its efforts to promote health care delivery and education in the area, the parish appealed to its partner in Germany for assistance.

The area which has 25 communities of about 20,000 people, is one of the most deprived in the Upper West region in terms of good roads, health facilities, education and potable water.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Parish Priest, Father Francis D. Bakyor, said the area is saddled with many problems but health and education have been singled out by the parish for assistance.

He said the provision of exercise books and chalk will relieve parents and appealed to them to feel encouraged to send their children to school, since \"education is a door for everybody to pass through.\"

Mr Ken Dabuoh, Upper West Regional Director of Education appealed to the District Education Office to take immediate steps to staff rural schools with qualified teachers to enhance teaching and learning.

He said there is an imbalance in the performance of children of rural and urban schools due to poor staffing of rural schools, adding that \"this should be checked to give equal opportunities to all\".

Dr Fulgence Sangber Dery, Wa District Director of Health Services said under the community-based health services scheme, his outfit is in the process of identifying personnel willing to serve in the rural areas to ensure quality health delivery.

He appealed to the district assemblies to assist with accommodation for the personnel who will be posted to man health institutions in the rural areas.

Madam Maria Holling of Saint George\'s Parish, said a youth group from Germany would visit the area to join the people to build a Junior Secondary School.