The Central Regional Minister, Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah has called for the active involvement of all religious bodies, particularly churches and mosques, in the fight against cholera in the region.
He emphasized that those affected by the disease are often members of religious communities, urging pastors and imams to educate their congregations on the importance of sanitation and the consequences of neglecting it.
The Minister made this appeal during his visit to the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, followed by a tour within the metropolis to assess environmental conditions and gather first-hand information on the cholera outbreak.
As of Friday, February 14, there have been 28 confirmed cholera cases, with 14 patients treated and discharged, while the others are still receiving treatment.
In an effort to curb the disease’s spread and work towards its eradication, the Regional Minister stressed that religious leaders must play an active role in spreading awareness and educating the public about cholera, rather than leaving the responsibility solely to health professionals.
“We want the pastors and the imams to take charge, to be part of education. All other institutions might come on board, and that’s the only way we can get the information to the people”, he said.
The minister announced plans for a region-wide clean-up exercise aimed at improving sanitation and raising awareness about the importance of maintaining a clean environment.
The Central Regional Minister believes Zoom Lion is failing in its duties, citing evidence of dirty streets and unpaid workers who have stopped working hence advocating for community responsibility in cleaning the environment.
“We have declared that as a region we are bringing back the end of month clean-up exercise starting this month to every last Saturday of the month we will do a general cleaning.”
He also suggested that this year’s Independence Day celebrations should focus on environmental awareness, proposing that the usual festivities be replaced with activities that promote cleanliness and environmental consciousness.
“My proposal would be that in Cape Coast and its environs, including Winneba, we will not have a 6th March where the kids will have to be marching on the parade grounds. I think we should use that period to clean our environment.
So we are going to march against ourselves, to test against ourselves and change our behavior and see whether we can make a difference in this region,” he emphasized.
Read also: Central Regional Minister Debunks Poverty Claims, Highlights Region’s Wealth and Opportunities
Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
