Bolgatanga, Jan 4, GNA – The Children’s Ministry of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Bolgatanga, in the Upper East Region, has organized a health screening and clothes distribution to members.
The free health screening exercise, which was carried out in collaboration with the Centre for Child Development, a child development and protection organization, screened 300 street children, the aged and persons living with various forms of disabilities.
The vulnerable persons were given hot meals, used clothes and screened generally for diseases such as high blood pressure, weight, sugar level, malaria, temperature, eyes, nose and ear test, among others.
Treatments and medications were also given to those whose conditions required so, while a few others were referred for further examinations and treatment at major health facilities.
Meanwhile, the exercise was supported by Aide a la Vulnerabilite, an organisation that offers free health screening for the vulnerable, in partnership with the Plaza Health Center and Endswell Pharmacy.
Mr Jacob Alhassan, Parish Co-ordinator of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Sacred Heart Cathedral, noted that the annual exercise, which begun in 2019 was part of activities marking the festive season.
He said the initiative was not only to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable people through the various activities, but to also inculcate in the children the fear of God and love for mankind and the need to share with the less privileged.
This, he said, would enable them to grow, develop and become responsible citizens in society and contribute significantly to the development of the people and the country at large.
“I believe that one of the reasons we have numerous social vices such as armed robbery in the country is because they feel neglected growing up, they think people do not care about them and so they do not have that human feeling,” he added.
Mr Alhassan noted for instance that one of the beneficiaries in the 2020 exercise underwent surgery with the help of the sponsors, adding “what we are doing for them, it is our believe that they will feel loved and have the fear of God and love for a neighbour.”
Mr Felix Frederick Amenga-Etego, Project Manager, Centre for Child Development, noted that street children and their parents faced numerous challenges and the focus of the organisation over the years had always been to rescue, restore and reunite the children with their families.
“Children living on the streets have varied needs ranging from homelessness, health, training, school and feeding among others, and so those who will be identified after this exercise will be recruited under our various programmes that we run,” he said.
Mr Amenga-Etego noted that streetism was a major development concern and advocated for a multisectoral approach from child protection institutions such as Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Department of Children and the District Assemblies to address the phenomenon.
Mr Charles Lwanga Moandiyiem Tabase, Chairman of Aide a la Vulnerabilite, said the organisation explained that malaria cases were the dominant health conditions that most of the beneficiaries faced.
He said two cases of diabetes and cataracts were identified and had been referred to appropriate health facilities for proper treatment.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Children’s Ministry and its partners for showing love to them.
GNA