SIAKON MEDIA

Tamale, May 29, GNA - The Northern Regional Office of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), on Thursday dispatched three vehicles loaded with relief items to displaced persons in Bunkrugu/Yunyoo District in the region.

The items include 200 packets of roofing sheets, 30 packets of nails, 3,000 poly mats, 200 plastic bowls, 200 plastic buckets, 100 cartons of soap, a quantity of used clothing, 400 student mattresses and 15 tents.

The Northern Regional Coordinator of NADMO, Alhaji Mahama Abdulai Silimboma told the GNA that the gesture formed part of government's support for the displaced persons, following conflicts in the area.

He said more assistance from the government and other development organizations was expected towards the rehabilitation of the victims.

Alhaji Silimboma called on the displaced persons who had gone to Northern Togo to return home and continue with their livelihood, and reminded the people that it was only through peace that they could progress.

He appealed for assistance from individuals, organizations and donor agencies to complement government efforts.

The people of Kumbatiac and Gbankoni and other communities in the Bunkrugu/Yunyoo had engaged in communal and chieftaincy clashes resulting in some of the victims fleeing to nearby Togolese towns for safety.

International media report indicates that some 3, 5000 Ghanaians had fled to Northern Togo, an accession that the Government of Ghana had refuted.

GNA

UNHCR does not know the population of Ghanaian refugees in Togo

May 30, 2010

Gbaduak (N/R), May 30, GNA - Mr. Ibrahima Traore, United Nations High Commission for Refugees' (UNHCR), Country Representative in Togo, has said that the UNHCR does not have the actual figure of Ghanaian refugees in the Togolese town of Gbaduak.

He, however, said that on March 18, this year, about 200 Ghanaians entered Togo as refugees but returned to Ghana a few days later.

But on April 20, when the conflict in the Bunkpurugu area renewed, the number of refugees in Togo increased.

Mr. Traore disclosed this when high-powered government delegations of the two countries met at Gabduak, on Friday, to find amicable solutions to the Ghanaian refugee situation in Togo, which has received international attention.

The Ghanaian delegation was led by the National Security Coordinator Lieutenant Colonel Gbevlo Lartey, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Moses Mabengba, Director General of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police John Kudalo, while the Togolese delegation included the National Security Minister, Colonel Atcha Titikpina.

Mr. Traore told the GNA that he did not have the number of Ghanaians currently being regarded as refugees in Togo and appealed to Ghanaians who were  in Togo to return home because peace had returned to their areas.

He said UNHCR, a humanitarian institution, supports distressed people and the Government of Togo supported the refugees from Bunkpurugu with blankets, mats, soap and gari.

GNA

Community NGO creates awareness on TB prevention

Ghanaians have been advised to take precautionary measures by reporting early to the nearest health facility in order to receive medical care if they experience severe cough constantly to help stop the spread of Tuberculosis (TB).

Mr. Tomah John, the Executive Director of Care for Deprived Community (CDC), an NGO operating in the Northern Region, regretted that although the TB disease is curable, it is one of the most killer diseases among adults in the region.

Mr. Tomah was speaking at a one day sensitization workshop organized by CDC in collaboration with the National TB Control Programme and sponsored by Global Fund to assess the performance of the community volunteers.

The workshop was also aimed at imparting new skills to the volunteers to improve upon their performance. Participants included health workers from the District Health Hospital, religious leaders and traditional leaders among other groups.

Mr. Tomah recounted that as part of the vision of CDC to promote good health among inhabitants, it has since 2007 collaborated with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to train about 250 health volunteers in the various communities to augment the efforts of the limited health personnel in the district to educate the people on the need to prevent the spread of TB.

A senior nurse at the Bole District Hospital, Madam Kadari Rhatu outlined the causes and treatment procedures of TB.

She lauded CDC for its initiative to assist the district health directorate to intensify and expand public education on TB prevention in the area and encouraged other NGOs to do same to prevent the spread of the disease.

"TB is a curable disease and is free treatment for all. I will advise you to seek medical attention early should you find yourself coughing constantly for a long period".

Author: Fidels Anipu, Bole