Legon TEIN cleans University Hospital, fight cholera

Members of TEIN-NDC, University of Ghana Branch on Saturday launched a campaign against Cholera under the theme: “Eradication of Cholera for a Better Ghana: The Role of the Tertiary Student”.

The launching took the form of a massive clean-up exercise at the University of Ghana Hospital, Legon.

The over 200 members who participated in the exercise included Dr. E.K. Hayford, a Member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of NDC, Mr. Ekow, Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency Youth Organizer, the TEIN-NDC Executive and polling station executives from the 10 polling stations on Legon Campus.

The members cleaned the hospital compound and environment, mopped the floors and windows of the wards, and presented some dustbins donated by Dr. E.K. Hayford to the Children and Maternity Wards.

Speaking on the purpose for the exercise, the TEIN President, Mr. Kannyiri Thadious Banyen said as in tune with the theme, TEIN has seen the need for tertiary students belonging to organized groups like TEIN to play major roles in the development of the country.

He added that “as students we have been equipped with the ability to read and write and we need to start making our knowledge useful to the society by educating those not privileged enough to attend school on very critical developmental issues like the prevention of cholera”.

He urged other student groups to join in the sensitization and general campaign against cholera and advice every literate in Ghana to try and educate at least ten (10) illiterates about cholera, its prevention, and treatment.

Asked why TEIN chose Legon and no other Hospital, Mr. Banyen said one must keep his environment clean to have the morale right to either advice others to clean their environment.

He added that since this was a launch, the group would be working in collaboration with other stakeholders like the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Services, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly and other organizations to undertake similar exercises throughout the city of Accra.

This they believe would send a clear message out there that everybody has to keep their environment clean, that prevention of a cholera outbreak is our collective duty.

Dr. E.K. Hayford who solely sponsored the clean-up exercise and also participated in it fully told the media that the idea is to send a signal to Ghanaians that with our small contributions to development, we could build a Better Ghana together. He encouraged every Ghanaian to keep their environment clean and to practice simple personal hygiene. He also called on other political figures and organizations to join in the fight against cholera.

The Branch Chairman for the Pentagon (University of Ghana North) Branch of the NDC, Mr. Ali Dantani Joseph called on all Members of Parliament to try and go down to their communities and organize the youth into groups that would facilitate development, fight injustice and as a matter of urgency, mount an open campaign against cholera.

He also encouraged the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Services to support youth groups like TEIN to carry the message about cholera prevention to the rural areas and equip them to help fight other diseases.

The TEIN General Secretary, Mr. Iddisah Yeboah Seidu added that the youth were ready to help in fostering national development and that elders in positions should learn to harness the strengths of the youth for development.