It�s Sad The Spirit Of Voluntarism Is Fast Waning�Because Of The Craze For Money
The Ghana Red Cross Society has launched its MECFA Project geared towards community based health promotion by youth volunteers at Wa Senior High School in the Upper West Region.
The MECFA (Malaria, Ebola, Cholera and First Aid) project is in line with the federation of Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) implementation. It is also to address most of the health challenges in various communities in order to achieve the upcoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs: extension of MDGs 2015).
The Deputy Regional Minister, Dr Mustapha Alfah Abdulai, stepping in the shoes of the Regional Minister, Ing Amin Amidu Sulemani and launching the project on Tuesday commended the Ghana Red Cross Society for coming up with such initiative.
According to him, “it is very sad that the spirit of voluntarism that bonded our communities together in the past is fast waning as our society is becoming more and more very individualistic and driven by the craze for money no matter the form it may take. I am therefore happy to note that your organisation, the Red Cross Society which traditionally has its roots in service to mankind, continues to hold on to the tenants of voluntarism”
He urged the volunteers to also look at the area of education so that they can improve the quality of teaching, support the Ghana Education Service staff to implement effective school management systems, increase awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention and keeping their surroundings clean to prevent malaria ad cholera.
“As you go round as volunteers, you must also support civil society organisations to advocate on educational issues as well as encouraging community involvement in school management as a means to addressing barriers to girl child education” he added.
Speaking to the MECFA project in an interview with peacefmonline.com, the National Youth Coordinator of the Ghana Red Cross Society, Ernest P. Nyame-Annan indicated that MECFA is a five year project which is divided into two phases: Phase 1 will take 3 years and phase 2 will take two years.
“The objective of the MECFA is to create awareness and encourage community members and students to be responsible to their health in order to maintain a healthy live and a healthy community. Our target is to reach over 20, 000 people in our communities and schools at the end of the five year project period” he added.
On Wednesday, volunteers of the Ghana Red Cross Society who are camping in the Upper West Region for a week went round the community to educate them on prevention of Malaria, Ebola, Cholera and how to do First Aid.
This year's camp meeting which was organised by the Ghana Red Cross Society at Wa Senior High School, Wa, was sponsored by Prudential Bank.
<<Print>>