Kumasi, (Ashanti Region) 15 Sept.,

The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) has launched a loan scheme to support under-privileged women, especially those in the rural areas, to go into income-generating activities. Already 45 women groups engaged in palm oil extraction, cane basket weaving, tomato farming and soap-making, have benefited from the loans with each group receiving about 500,000 cedis. Mr. Cecil Sunkwa-Mills, National Resource Officer of the GRCS, announced this at the closing of a one-week training workshop organised for Mothers' Clubs in Kumasi. Topics discussed at the workshop included the prevention and control of diseases such as malaria and diarrhoea. Breast feeding, family planning and environmental sanitation were also discussed. It was attended by 35 participants drawn from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions. Mr. Sunkwa-Mills said as part of measures to ensure early repayment of the loans, the society has introduced a system of close monitoring and reporting on the scheme. gri....