Rotary Club of Takoradi-Anaji has cut the sod for construction of a one-storey Nurses’ Quarters at the Sekondi School for the Deaf (SekDEAF) to improve healthcare delivery.
“This is in response to an appeal made by the school to accommodate nurses who commute to take care of these children on a daily basis,” explained Angelina Aba Yalley, President of Rotary Takoradi-Anaji.
According to her, there are no nurses to take care of the children when there is an emergency in the evenings. They are taken to Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital when there is an emergency, and when they get to the place nurses over there are not trained in sign-language; so communication becomes very difficult, as well as treatment.
“Based on what the school authourity explained to us, we did our needs-assessment and realised that this falls under Disease, Prevention and Treatment on our Flagship project” Ms. Yalley said.
She mentioned that Justmoh Group of Companies has always been the club’s major financier, and has donated stone-chippings for this worthy course. “Hanniab Ventures is also supporting, and we have over 2,000 blocks, 100 percent quarry products cement among others to start this project.”
Favour Afakpui, Headmistress of the Sekondi School, said the school has an infirmary but the major challenge has to do with nurses who should be able to take care of them on campus. “I am overwhelmed by the response from the Rotary Club with construction of the Nurses’ Quarters,” she said.
She said the school serves those from the Western part of Central as well as Western North Regions and has a vocational Centre that trains the children in sewing, beads-making and decoration, among others.
She appealed for government, institutions and individuals to support the schools with computers and projectors to aid teaching and learning; they learn better by seeing. “We have an audio centre that is open to the public and they refer people here for assessment; but the equipment used is outmoded and we need the support of all. We are also urging Audiologists to also visit the school to test the hearing of these children among others,” Ms. Aflakpui added.
In a related development, the Rotary Club of Takoradi-Anaji has donated books to three schools within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. They are Ponty International School, Anaji M/A Basic School and Khariyah English and Arabic Basic School.
Receiving the books, Odame Robert – Headteacher of Ponty International, was grateful to Rotary Club of Takoradi-Anaji Club and promised that the books will be put to good use. “These supplementary and literacy textbooks will help the children in their studies, and we urge other institutions to assist the schoolchildren with exercise books and school uniforms,” said Margret Buabeng, Headmistress of Anaji M/A Basic School.
Also, Issah Azaara Rita – Headmistress of Khariyah English and Arabic Basic School, appealed to Rotary and other organisations to assist the school with desktop computers to improve Information Communications Technology (ICT).