Programme to manage waste launched

Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - The government, on Thursday, launched the Greening Ghana part of its Environmental Policy, in Accra, in line with its agenda to execute effective Sanitation Programmes within 100 days of assuming power. Under the "Ghana Going Green" banner, the project is being run in conjunction with Deganic Products, a United-States company to recycle liquid, solid and industrial waste for agricultural and other purposes. Part of the strategy dwells on transforming liquid waste into water, which can then be used as inorganic manure to boost agriculture. Similarly, a spraying exercise that uses environmentally safe chemicals would be utilized to abate the stench emanating from refuse dumps dotted in many parts of the country, and in the process, destroy flies which spread diseases.

The Vice President, Mr John Dramani Mahama who launched the project, enlisted the support of the private sector in helping to protect the ecosystem from degradation. He said the government would be consulting with stakeholders in the plastic industry to consider ways of recycling plastic waste, which, he said, were a "drain on the Ghanaian society." Vice President Mahama called for a change in negative behaviours and attitudes to sustain the new measures in ensuring a clean environment to promote good health.

Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah, chairperson of the Sanitation Taskforce, said the strategy being pursued was the most cost effective in dealing with waste management and sanitation in the country. She said the government was also working towards ensuring a fair and equitable payment for all companies engaged in scouring garbage to encourage them to deliver good services. Dr Bruce Watford, Senior Vice President of Deganic Products, said the company would establish a plant in Ghana to deal with the problem.

5,164 children in Asante Akim South to be immunized against polio

Juaso (Ash), Feb. 13, GNA - The Asante Akim South District Directorate of Ghana Health Services, has targeted to immunize 5,164 children below 5 years against poliomyelitis (polio) in this year's National Immunization Day exercise. The exercise that is aimed at eradicating the disease from the country is scheduled to take place between February 12 to 14 for the first round and March 26 to 28 for the second round.

Mr. Bernard Ofosu, the District Disease Control Officer, said these at a day's workshop on Tuesday at Juaso, organised for health personnel in the area as part of preparations towards the exercise. He said 105 teams would be deployed in the district to undertake the immunization and monitoring and supervision would be intensified to ensure the success of the programme.

Mr. Fosu urged members of the teams to administer the vaccines properly for the desired results. He observed that polio posed serious threat to the development of children and called on parents, religious leaders and other stakeholders to collaborate with the teams. Miss Christiana Aidoo, District Director of Health Services, urged volunteers for the programme to keep proper records of the exercise to avoid immunizing children more than once.