The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Okaikwei North, Hon. Christian Tetteh Badger, together with staff of the Assembly, has embarked on an over two-hour health walk to promote fitness, sanitation, and public health awareness.
The walk, which started from Abeka and passed through Lapaz, Akweteyman, Nii Boi Town, Achimota and Abofu, was part of efforts by the Assembly to encourage regular exercise and healthy living among workers and residents.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the exercise, Hon. Badger expressed appreciation to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei North, Hon. Theresa Lardi Awuni, and the MP for Okaikwei Central, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah, for their support.
“The President has given me the opportunity to serve, and I have realized that health is very important. A healthy body ensures an effective workforce, so I organized this health walk for the staff of ONMA. This is the first of many,” he said.
He explained that the walk, also doubled as a sanitation awareness campaign, is in line with the President’s national sanitation initiative.
“We are making residents aware that every first Saturday of the month is National Sanitation Day. In addition, every two weeks, we will clean our Electoral Areas so that we can keep the city clean and free from diseases,” he noted.
The MCE revealed that the Assembly had adopted a two-way waste collection strategy (morning and evening) and was also procuring sanitation equipment.
Youth groups, sanitation police, community-based organizations, and contractors such as Zoomlion would also be engaged to strengthen the Assembly’s sanitation drive.
He further pledged that within four years, Okaikwei North would be ranked among the cleanest municipalities in the city of Accra.
The MCE also highlighted efforts to combat drug abuse, particularly among the youth.
According to him, discussions have begun with the police, pharmaceutical companies, and other stakeholders to curb drug misuse and addiction in the municipality.
“Drug abuse destroys the future of young people and weakens the human resources we need to build our nation. I want to encourage the Youth to stay away from drugs and live healthy lives,” he cautioned.
Mr. Akwesi Mensah, Assistant Hospital Manager of Lapaz Community Hospital, said the hospital has a good team of health professionals including a medical doctor to provide consultations and advice to the citizens of Okaikwei North at all times.
The health walk was climaxed with a free health screening exercise in partnership with the Lapaz Community Hospital. Staff were screened for blood pressure, malaria, typhoid, diabetes, COVID-19 among others
The initiative, according to Hon. Badger, would be sustained to promote healthy living, environmental cleanliness, and Youth development in Okaikwei North.
Sourc: onma.gov.gh
By: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson, AD II B
