Correspondence from Upper East Region:

Heads of second cycle schools in the Kasena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region have appealed to government to support their schools with the necessary equipment to enable them fight against the spread of the COVID-19.

The Heads are appealing to the government to support the schools with items such as handwashing detergents, sanitizers, Victoria Buckets, nose masks and some other relevant equipment that would help prevent the spread of the COVID-19.

They have also appealed to health authorities in the area to visit their various schools and sensitize the students on the viral disease.

The Heads made the appeal at a crucial stakeholder meeting organized by the Municipal Assembly in Navrongo on Tuesday.

The meeting was to discuss ways to implement the directives of the President to curb the spread of the disease and its possible havoc on the people.

In attendance were the Municipal Chief Executive, members of the security agencies, the clergy, representative of the municipal education directorate, staff of the Ghana Health Service from both the Municipal and Regional levels, Heads of second cycle schools and the three Paramount Chiefs of the area.

The meeting also had in attendance representatives of the various political parties, Heads of basic schools and the Media.

Headmistress of the Navrongo Senior High School (NAVASCO), Babachuweh Mercy, in her speech said Heads of the various second cycle schools in the municipality have adhered to the directives of the President and have in compliance sent the first and second year students home.

She said even though it would affect academic work, it was also important to avoid the spread of the disease among the student and as such supports the directive by the President to temporarily stop all school activities at all levels.

She, however, appealed to authorities to give the schools support to safeguard the health of the final year students who have been left on the campuses to prepare for their WASSCE.

She said: “We have followed the President’s directives in our schools and have sent all the first and second-year students home. We have also changed the sitting positions of the students in the classrooms and dining halls according to the best seating arrangement”.

“But with all that, we will still need the support of the Municipal Assembly to enable us fight against the spread of the disease on our campuses. We don’t have the equipment in our schools. So there is the need for the assembly to give us some support. In fact, when I received the invitation to come for this meeting, I prepared myself, brought a vehicle hoping to carry some items (sanitizers, Victoria Buckets, nose masks) back to my school”.

In response, the Municipal Chief Executive, Williams Aduum, gave the assurance of the Assembly to help the schools prepare themselves adequately towards the pandemic.

He said aside giving the schools equipment and the sensitization visits, the Assembly was going to work closely with major stakeholders to make sure the virus finds no place in the area.

Whiles urging the three Paramount Chiefs to give unwavering support to the implementation of some of the President’s directives to ensure a safer environment for all, he urged the people to practice good hygiene, handwashing and maintain clean surroundings at their home, markets and workplaces.