TLF, UNICEF intensify Covid-19, lead poisoning, yellow fever safety campaigns in Agbogbloshie/Old Fadama

Acting Director of Internal Communication at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Madam Hellen Asiamah has urged residents of Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama to limit the rate at which they burn tires, fuels, metals and other substances to prevent lead poisoning whilst taking hygenic and urgent  steps to avoid breeding grounds for mosquitoes which are causative agents of yellow feaver.

According to her, the absorption of gases from burning substances into the human body causes lead poisoning that is harmful to mankind.

Speaking during Agbogbloshie/Old Fadama Community Engagement by The Light Foundation and UNICEF under Religious Leaders Support for Covid-19 Vaccines confidence, lead poisoning and Yellow Feaver on Sunday 13 February 2021 in Accra-Ghana, the Acting Director of Internal Communication at Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Madam Hellen Asiamah said “When burning substances such as tires, paints, car battery, the gasses are absorbed into the body causing lead poisoning. If you don’t have Ghana card it doesn’t mean, you can’t go for Covid-19 vaccination, mosquito causes yellow Feaver … jaundice, making your eyes yellowish. You need yellow Feaver test to travel outside Ghana. Let’s go for vaccination to boost our immune systems”.

World Health Organisation had predicted that Covid-19 could kill 190,000 people in Africa in 2020. Aside this, United Nations Commission for Africa’s report also predicted that Africa could witness 300,000 deaths from Covid-19 in 2020 even under the best-case scenario that cites modeling from Imperial College London. But, in the worst case scenario with no interventions against novel Corona Virus, Africa could record 3.3 million deaths and 1.2 billion infections.

In an interview with African Editors on the sidelines of the Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama Community Engagement, CEO of The Light Foundation Shikh Ali Abubakar Napari appealed to journalists to consistently use their plaforms to intensify education of Ghanaians on lead poisoning, Yellow Feaver, and scale up sensitization about vaccination to ensure efficiency and effectiveness”.

The Light Foundation (TLF) in December 2021, trained over 200 pastors and Imams across Ghana as ambassadors. According to him, both FDA, WHO and national regulatory agencies ensure that, Covid-19 vaccines undergo rigorous testing in clinical trials to ensure that they meet international benchmarks for safety and efficacy. According to Sheikh Napari the yellow feaver is a disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes and individuals should adopt behavioural change and hygienic lifestyle to prevent it.

World Health Organization’s statistics shows that Africa has recorded relatively lowest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases and deaths as compared to China, UK, USA, Russia, France which are Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council exercising Veto Power at the world’s highest decision making body with Italy, Germany, Iran, and other developed countries are hard-hit by thousands of confirmed Corona Virus cases.

Contributing to the debate, Secretary of Council of Chiefs for Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama who chaired the Community Engagement, Torgbui Arku Sabah “Congratulated The Light Foundation and UNICEF and urged that the sensitization programme on the Covid-19 vaccination, lead poisoning and Yellow Feaver should be extended to other communities in Ghana to improve health outcomes”.

Krobo Chief Nene Oware who spoke on behalf of the Christian Community in Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama said “The community engagement by The Light Foundation and UNICEF will complement education and sensitization programme the embarked on as religious leaders when Ghana was hard-hit by infectious Covid-19 pandemic. I urge all and sundry to take lessons from today’s community engagement seriously”.

Meanwhile, Old Fadama Imam Fuseini entreated community members to adopt behavioural patterns required to improve health conditions and outcomes. Let’s pay attention to Covid-19 vaccination, lead poisoning and Yellow Feaver in accordance with the lessons learnt.

In attendance of the Agbogbloshie/Old Fadama Community Engagement, were Chief Executive Officer of The Light Foundation Shikh Ali Abubakar Napari, Frafra Chief Adamu A, Kotokoli Chief Mumuni Salifu, Chief Malgu Naa, Ewe Chief Torgbui Arku Sabah, Krobo Chief Nene Oware, Kokomba Chief Okpenja, Chief Gushie Naa Mohammed Yakubu, Saha Naa Yelpalsi Naa, Mohammed Zakaria, Abubakar Chari Chari, Old Fadama Community Organiser Abdullai Yakubu, Secretary of Old Fadama Deveopment Association Alhaji Abdullai Suleman, Poet Nakeeyat Dramani.

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Source: africaneditors.com

Exclusive pictures from Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama Community Engagement: