NGO embarks on Ebola, Cholera education in Schools in U/E

A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Institute of Social Research and Development (ISRAD), with support from UKAID, is embarking on a six-month awareness creation on Ebola and Cholera in schools in the Upper East.

The project which is targeting Basic and Senior High Schools and has already begun in some selected schools in the Bolgatanga and Bawku Municipalities, Talensi, Pusiga, Binduri, Bawku West, Builsa North and South Districts, is using evidence-based strategies to educate people on the prevention of Cholera and Ebola, as part of its Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) intervention.

The team sensitized the students on Ebola and Cholera diseases and the Students took turns to ask many pertinent questions about the outbreak of the diseases which the team provided answers.

The Regional Coordinator of ISRAD, Mr Abdul-Razak Issah, stated that the goal of the project was to widen the knowledge of at least 70 percent of ‘‘at risk groups’’ on the modes of transmission, signs and symptoms of Ebola and Cholera, and ways of preventing their transmission.

According to the Regional Coordinator, the sensitization formed part of the organization’s health promotion activities at the school level dubbed: “In-School Sensitization Programme,” adding, “ creating awareness in students and teachers is fundamental in the attainment of quality health care and will also help enhance personal hygiene and sound environmental management at the school and community levels”.

Mr Abdul-Razak appealed to students to practise hand washing with soap under running water, and report any suspected cases to the nearest health facility for investigation.

He said plans were far advanced to reach more of the schools when they re-opened, and urged students to be more proactive, by serving as ambassadors in raising more public awareness on the diseases at the community level.

He indicated that ISRAD was working in 200 communities in the Upper East Region and had so far carried out stakeholders meetings, orientation of traditional and religious leaders, and training for community health and surveillance volunteers in all the 13 Municipal and District Assemblies, and forged closer working relations with Regional, Municipal and District Directors of the Ghana Health Service, Decentralized Departments, including the Ghana Education Service, the Department of Community Development and the Information Services Department, among others, aimed at prevention of the diseases.

“The fight against Ebola calls for the concerted efforts of all, and the signs and symptoms include high fever, vomiting, headache, diarrhea, sore throat, and bleeding”, he stressed.

He expressed gratitude to the heads of the schools and students for the opportunity given for the sensitization programme, and also commended the UKAID for funding the project and the Ghana Health Service for their support in the implementation of the project.

Among some of the beneficiary schools,were Adabase Primary School, Aningadage Primary School, . Bolga Experimental Primary School in the Bolgatanga Municipal, Moagnori Primary School , .Gentiga Number One Primary School and Gentiga Number Two Primary School, Moagnori Junior High School in the Bawku Municipal, Kulungungu Primary School , Belimatanga Primary School ,. Bimpiela Primary School in the Pusiga District and the Yamerigu Junior High School in the Talensi District.

ISRAD was established as an NGO in Ghana in 2006. It was founded to undertake integrated development research, design and manage development programmes to improve the lives of people. Since its inception, ISRAD has implemented numerous projects mostly in the area of health particularly in the three Regions of the North.