Ajumako Bisease (C/R), June 15, GNA – The chiefs and people of Ajumako Bisease have launched their Abangye festival with a call on all stakeholders to work collectively towards building a resilient healthcare system for the Area.
Abangye, which loosely translates as ‘fencing’ is celebrated to ask for protection, favour and blessings of the gods for the community in the years ahead.
Among other customary rites, the chiefs and people built a fence of palm fronds around their shrine in appreciation to their protection over them.
The festival returns after a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic and it will be held on the theme: “Accelerating the development of Ajumako Bisease through improved health delivery.”
The youth of the community, as part of activities marking the launch, embarked on a health walk.
Launching the festival, Osabarima Damfo Baah VII, the Chief of Ajumako Bisease and Adontehen of the Ajumako Traditional Area, said the devastating effect of COVID-19 was a wakeup call for the country to strengthen and expand its healthcare system, particularly in the rural communities.
“Happenings around the world over the years, no one ever anticipated that a pandemic like COVID-19 could bring the entire world to a standstill.
“Our healthcare system is not robust enough and therefore our efforts in preparing for such unfortunate phenomenon must be deliberate at all levels,” he noted.
In view of that, he said the community would renovate its old health centre to augment the operations of the newly built polyclinic in order to accommodate more patients.
Osabarima Baah further urged the public to be proactive in ensuring proper personal and environmental hygiene to ward off all forms of diseases, adding that a nation was only as healthy as its people.
GNA