Fairtrade premium committee donates to health facilities, communities

Gel Banana Farm Fairtrade Premium Committee, a subsidiary of Golden Exotics Ltd, has donated items worth GHC 327,835 to some health facilities and communities in the Shai Osudoku, Yilo Krobo, Lower Manya Krobo, and North Tongu Districts.

The donation of the items, according to the Manager of Fairtrade Premium Committee, Isaac Terkper Kodjo, was targeted at communities and health facilities from where the majority of its workforce resided and sought health care respectively.

At Lower Manya Krobo, the committee donated items to four health facilities including the Atua Government Hospital, Akuse Government Hospital, St. Martins De Porres Hospital, and the Kpong Health Center.

At Shai Osudoku, the committee presented the items to health facilities such as the Shai-Osudoku District Hospital, Army Recruits Training school Clinic and Asutsuare Health Centre while communities including Osuwem, Asutsuare, Kasunya, Akuse, Natriku, and Volivo also received various COVID-19 prevention items.

Each hospital received a total of 6 non-contact thermometers, 5000 pieces of surgical masks, 150 liters of hand sanitizers, 10 packs of surgical gloves, 30 sets of overall PPE kits, and 50 packs of medical gloves.

Similar items were handed to the Somanya Polyclinic in the Yilo Krobo District, Battor Catholic Hospital, and Juapong Health Center, both in the North Tongu District.

Mr. Terkper said the gesture to ensure that its workers prevent themselves from contracting the virus and also, are adequately attended to when they visit the various health facilities to ensure that they are healthy enough to discharge their work efficiently.

This, he added would ensure the maximum production by the company. Corporate Affairs Manager, George Boye on his part said the presentation was a token contribution of the company to combat the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

The donation, he said was also to help protect the 2,800 staff of the company who live at different locations within the four districts whenever they visit the hospital for treatment.

Receiving the donation on behalf of the four health facilities, Municipal Chief Executive for Lower Manya Krobo, Simon Kweku Tetteh attributed the containment of the disease in the municipality to the timely intervention by municipal and health officials, adding that enhanced testing was still ongoing.

He commended the Eastern Regional Minister and his deputy for their support in the establishment of an isolation center at the Atua government hospital and appealed for further assistance from other corporate organizations for the facility as it was the responsibility of the various stakeholders to protect the people.

On his part, District Chief Executive for the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly, Daniel Teye Akuffo expressed much appreciation to the donor organization adding that the items would go a long way to support Health delivery in the District.

He seized the opportunity to urge the public to continue observing the various safety protocols as the fight against the pandemic continue unabated.

A Medical Superintendent at the Shai-Osudoku Hospital, Dr. Kennedy Brightson used the occasion to urge the public to ensure they put on their face masks in public to avoid contracting or infecting others with the virus.

He also educated them and demonstrated to them the proper way to put on the mask.

Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Samuel Nuettey Ayertey urged the public to protect themselves since COVID-19 “is here to stay.”

He commended Fairtrade Premium Committee for undertaking their corporate social responsibilities and urged other corporate institutions to emulate the gesture shown by the committee.

The deputy minister who recalled the 13 weeks battle against COVID-19 in Lower Manya Krobo expressed relief over the “triumph” over the disease following the 100% recovery by infected persons and hoped the contribution by the company would assist in the various health facilities in ensuring that it effectively keeps COVID-19 away.

Mr. Kodjo handed the items over to the DCE and MCE who handed them over to representatives of the various health facilities.