School health competition begins

Ewutu-Odumase, (C/R), Aug 1, GNA - Plan Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) has introduced a special school health programme dubbed "Healthy School Competition" to strengthen a project it initiated three years ago.

It is aimed at drawing school children closer to domestic and environmental health issues so that they could help to sensitise their parents and other less fortunate community members on domestic and environmental hygiene to avoid the outbreak of diseases in their communities.

Under the new programme, schools wishing to participate would be required to write and perform role-plays, compose and sing songs as well as poetry recitals or combine the three methods during such competitions.

To encourage the pupils to develop greater interest in the programme, schools, which would be adjudged the best in the competitions, would be given awards.

As part of the programme, the Ewutu-Bawjiase Unit Area of Plan Ghana has organized a two-phased healthy school competition for 25 primary and junior secondary schools in Ewutu, Senya-Breku and Effutu Traditional areas to sensitise the children and a section of the communities on relevant health matters like, best ways of solid and liquid waste disposal location of school buildings, water and food preservations and general cleanliness.

Addressing the closing session, Mrs Berenice Nartey Quao, Health facilitator of the NGO, said the programme was meant to improve upon the hygienic practices and health of the children She said it was only when the children were physically sound that they could pursue their academic pursuits to the admiration of all.

Mrs Quao said; "as future leaders, it would be proper for us to inculcate in them a high sense of hygiene so that they would grow up with sound healthy minds to pursue their goals and challenges "

In a message, the Programme Manager of the Bawjiase Unit, Mrs Emelia Allan congratulated the contestants and teachers, who prepared them for the competition to enabled them to put up such an excellent performance and advised them to maintain the enthusiasm with which they had accepted the challenge to take part in the programme.