Old Vandals support Mampong Ahanta residents
Residents of Mampong Ahanta, a farming village in the Western Region are reeling under the lack of social amenities in the area.
According to Nsete Kwamena, the Abusuapanyin or head of the community, residents have been forced to drink water from a nearby river due to the lack of potable water.
The polluted nature of the water he said has made residents too vulnerable to diseases.
As if that is not enough, they have to walk miles to the Essikado General Hospital to seek medical care because of the absence of health care facility in the area. Some residents he maintained have died because of their inability to readily access health care.
He also lamented the poor road network which becomes virtually immotorable, especially during raining seasons, and called on government to fulfill their campaign promises to them.
Abusuapanyin Kwamena made these revelations to Myjoyonline during an outreach programme organised by the Western Region Branch of the Old Vandals Association (Alumni of the Commonwealth Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon) on Saturday.
The residents benefited from a free registration under the National Health Insurance Scheme, as well as free health screening exercise as part of activities marking the inauguration of the association in the region.
Confirming the concerns raised by the abusuapanyin of the area, Dr. Jonathan Hundeyin at the Central Regional Hospital who was part of an eight man medical team, diagnosed skin and respiratory infections, malaria, anemia, and hypertension as the dominant ailments suffered by the residents.
He advised residents to keep a hygienic environment, observe good health practices and to register with the NHIS, without which he said life will be difficult.
With sponsorship from Phoenix Insurance Company, Stanbic Bank, and GHAPOHA, a total of 396 residents were registered under NHIS, with the breakdown as follows; Old age (18), Adults (166), children (212).
Swearing-in
President of the Old Vandals Association in the region, Peter Sagpio said the free health screening exercise and free National Health Insurance Scheme registration for residents was in line with the theme of their inauguration ceremony, “Options for the under-priviledge in society.”
In their goodwill message to the new association, the National Assistant General Secretary of the Old Vandals, Kofi Agbogah on behalf of the National President, Kwesi Essel Koomson reiterated the need for the new leadership to allow truth to permeate all activities they engage in.
He urged them to build on the vibrant nature of the members and expressed the hope that the vandals will police the new enterprise of oil discovery in the region.