General News of Thursday, 22 February 2007

Source: GNA

New polyclinic ready for Agona Mensakrom

Agona Mensakrom, C/R, Feb 22, GNA- A 90,000 Euros Polyclinic constructed for the Chiefs and the people of Agona Mensakrom by the Stichting Empower, a Non Governmental Organization based in the Netherlands has been completed and handed over to the people.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Mensakrom after taken round the chiefs and elders to inspect the clinic, Madam George Rullmann Schmidt, International Lecturer and Counsellor and Director of the Organization said the project, which started last year will be commissioned on March 3,2007 to promote quality health care in the area.

Madam Schmidt, who would be installed as Nkosuohemaa at Mensakrom under the stool name Nana Akosua Duoduaa said she was inspired to build the health facility to care for the pregnant women and also provide good nutrition to the children.

She noted that the provision of the facility will save the people, especially pregnant women from travelling long distances to Agona Duakwa, Nsaba and Agona Swedru to seek for medical care.

The Director of the Organization stated that medical equipment and other facilities such as chairs, tables, beds, baby phone and residential accommodation had been provided to the midwife and other health workers to enable them to work effectively in comfort. She said the provision of the facilities at the polyclinic was to help them commence work after its commissioning on Saturday March 3 2007, by the District Chief Executive for Agona Mr. Ben Mensah and the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur.

According to her, vocational schools had been built at Kwahu Mpreaso and Alabanu in the Eastern and Volta Regions for school dropouts to enable them to learn trades to become self-reliant. She said similar projects had been established in Tanzania, Kenya, Benin, Liberia, Togo and Nigeria to empower women and girls who could not pursue further education to become self- employed and also discourage them from practicing prostitution. Nana Obiri Boa Krampah III, Omankrado of Mensakrom appealed to the District Chief Executive to fulfill the promise he made during sod-cutting, last year to begin the project of ensuring that water and electricity are extended to the Poly clinic.

He said the Chiefs and the people of Mensakrom would officially install Madam Schmidt as Nkosuohemaa of the town to serve as honour and appreciation for the assistance given to them.

Nana Krampah appealed to the Ghana Highways Authority to repair a portion of the road in front of the clinic on the Agona Swedru/Oda main road which could cause accidents and also disturb the patients. He expressed appreciation to the Packs and Gardens, Joe Hanson Family and one, Kofi Okay for their immense contributions towards the construction and completion of the polyclinic and to the Director of NGO Madam Schmidt.