Bonsaaso Millennium Villages Project makes progress against rural poverty

Manso-Bonsaaso (Ash), April 26, GNA - The Bonsaaso Millennium Villages Project (MVP) has within the past six years made some significant progress in the fight to reduce poverty among the people of the area.

The project is benefiting a population of about 30,000 in 30 contiguous rural communities in the Amansie West District, where majority of the populace engage in cocoa cultivation and food crop farming,

Under the project, a telemedicine centre has been established at the Agroyesum Saint Martin's Hospital, provision of mechanized water system at Manso-Takorase, construction of a health centre, teachers' accommodation and learning centre at Manso-Datano, laboratory and staff accommodation for health professionals at Tontokrom.

Added to these are information communication technology (ICT) centre, and warehouse at Bonsaso, health facility, solar battery charging system and ICT centre at Akyerekyerekrom, health centre at Manso-Aboaboso, a six-classroom block at Adagya, community learning centre at Watreso, and a kindergarten block at Wonipaniadue.

The MVP project is an initiative by the United Nations to aid rural communities to lift themselves out of extreme poverty through simple technologies.

Dr Mensah Homiah, the Cluster Manager, said this when interacting with selected journalists at Manso-Nkwanta to highlight the success story of the intervention.

He said given the high prevalence of protein deficiency in the diet of greater percentage of the population, the project has supplied quality protein maize to the farmers, fertilizers and increased access to extension services.

They are also being assisted to go into fish farming and animal rearing for the twin goal of meeting protein requirements and expanding income-generating sources.

He said due to the dispersed nature of settlements and the bad nature of the roads the project's strategy focused on the building of more health facilities and rehabilitation of existing ones, introduction of medical services, antenatal and clinical outreach and the supply of essential medicines in the communities.

Dr Homiah said it has also deployed a number of health professionals through outright hiring and posting by the Ghana Health Service.

He said the project has also been improving school's infrastructure and doing everything to provide the needed incentives to attract professionally trained teachers to the area.

GNA