Regional News of Friday, 13 February 2009

Source: GNA

Two pregnant women and six children injured in a rainstorm

Adaklu-Ahunda, Feb. 13, GNA - Two pregnant women and six children at Adaklu-Ahunda, last Tuesday, sustained various degrees of injuries following a rainstorm.

Over 200 other people have also been displaced with 10 houses having their roofs completely ripped off. Estimates of damage could not be given immediately but could run into thousands of Ghana cedis. The six children and Edith Boatsi, one of the pregnant women, have been treated and discharged, while Peace Boatsi, the other pregnant woman and sister of Edith, is still on admission at the Adidome Government Hospital.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency at Adaklu-Ahunda, Mr Alexander Seshie, assembly man of the area, said the storm started around 1530 hours and within 45 minutes caused damage to about 20 houses. He said a thatched house in which the two pregnant women were relaxing collapsed on them, sending them into coma. Mr Seshie said the six children were also eating after school when the kitchen in which they were eating collapsed on them. He said the pregnant women with the children were rushed to the Adidome Government Hospital, where they were revived. Mr Seshie said the situation was making life very uncomfortable for the victims and appealed to the government and other benevolent organizations to go to their aid. He recalled that this was the third time such a disaster was befalling the people within the past five years. Mr Seshie said in the previous disasters, no relief or assistance, was received from any quarters and appealed to the National Disaster Mobilization Organization (NADMO) to respond promptly to the victims this time round.

Mr Nicholas Nuku, Adaklu Zonal NADMO Officer, who was also taken round the community, said he would present a situational report to his office for the necessary action. He advised the community to plant trees to serve as wind breaks. Mr Nuku also urged them to fortify their roofing with hooks to forestall any similar disasters in the future.