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18.12.2017 Health

Fight Against Swine Flu And Meningitis: NUGS Deploys Over 400 Volunteers

By NUGS Press and Information Secretary Office
Fight Against Swine Flu And Meningitis: NUGS Deploys Over 400 Volunteers
18.12.2017 LISTEN

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) through its health bloc the National Health Students Association of Ghana (NAHSAG) is to deploy 480 health graduates and student volunteers across the country following the widespread of swine flu and meningitis in some SHS.

An official release dated 17th December, 2017, signed by the General Secretary, Kabu Nartey, and the president (Leader) Frank Amoakohene, the Union disclosed “This is part of efforts to complement the containment measures by sector Ministries even as we await the arrival and administering of vaccines across affected schools”

The exercise is scheduled to be in two phases, The Emergency Phase 1 and Emergency Phase 2 with the first phase beginning Wednesday, 20th December, 2017. The second phase which includes deployment to affected schools, the Ashanti Region, the Northern Region and some suspected parts of Eastern Region would be a collaboration with the Ministry of Health and sector players. The Union said it awaits response from a petition to partner sector players and more importantly, secure safety gears as they dispatch health officials to the affected schools across the country. As captured in the release, the following are the breakdowns of the deployment:

“The Ashanti Region (affected) and the 3 Northern Regions (affected partly) - 60 and 80 each respectively; Central and Greater Accra Regions - 60 personnel each; Western and Eastern Regions (suspected)- 60 each ; and Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions – 50 each.”

Meanwhile, NUGS has petitioned Parliament and the Parliamentary Select Committees on Health and Education; the Ministries of Health and Education and international bodies including the World Health Organization (WHO); the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), among others, demanding a quick and concerted emergency plans to spread the spread and the chain of deaths. The latest decision by the Union is to contribute its bid to the sudden hit of swine flu and meningitis and many deaths recorded across the country, mostly among students.

Below is the full statement :
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 17th December, 2017
*NUGS TO DEPLOY 480 HEALTH GRADUATES & VOLUNTEERS TO AID CURB DEATHS & SPREAD OF SWINE FLU AND MENINGITIS ACROSS VARIOUS SHS*

The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) through its health bloc the National Health Students Association of Ghana is to deploy 480 health graduates and student volunteers across the country following the widespread of swine flu and meningitis in some SHS. This is part of efforts to complement the containment measures by sector Ministries even as we await the arrival and administering of vaccines across affected schools.

The deployment exercise would cover both affected schools and schools yet to record a case of the outbreak. It is categorized under Emergency Phase 1 and Emergency Phase 2. The following is the breakdown of deployed personnel:

The Ashanti Region (affected) and the 3 Northern Regions (affected partly) - 60 and 80 each respectively; Central and Greater Accra Regions - 60 personnel each; Western and Eastern Regions (suspected)- 60 each ; and Volta and Brong Ahafo Regions – 50 each.

Emergency Phase 1
The first batch of health graduates and volunteers shall be dispatched on Wednesday, 20th December, 2017, to schools that haven’t recorded any case yet. They shall collaborate with management and health professionals in the schools’ infirmaries (clinics) on ways to bring the situation under control and avoid more deaths of students. They shall also take stock of their challenges and revert with recommendations on how to equip the centers to handle such emergencies.

Emergency Phase 2
The phase two of the exercise would be to the affected Senior High Schools, during the vacation. We are still in talks with sector Ministries after our petition to secure safety gears among others for volunteers. This would equip management and campus clinics with the requisite information on how to handle cases that show signs of the swine flu or the meningitis. Also, stocks on the health challenges of the clinics and the schools will be taken by the volunteers and relayed to the Union for address. The Regional Students Representative Councils, a bloc under NUGS would also play significant role in the mobilization. We please contact us.

We call on all stakeholders, NGOs, corporate entities, and individuals who wish to support this cause to call on leadership

Cc: The Media; Parliament of Ghana ; Ministries of Health and Education ; All Blocs of NUGS ; All SHS

Aluta Continua ; Victoria Ascerta
Signed
Kabu Nartey
General Secretary 0268751831

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