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Chinese Embassy presents medical supplies worth GH₵480,000 to UGMC
The Chinese Embassy in Ghana has presented quantities of medical supplies worth GH¢480, 000 (about 80,000 US dollars), to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), to support the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The supplies included 15 ventilators, 20,000 medical masks, 1,600 N95 masks, 120 protective suits, 60 face shields, and 100 medical googles, in addition to some food items comprising milk, cocoa powder, and cereals among others, to cater for the nutritional needs of the patients.
Mr Shi Ting Wang, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, who presented the items to the management of the hospital at a short ceremony in Accra yesterday, said the donation which was made in partnership with the Chinese community in Ghana, formed part of China’s effort in supporting developing countries in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said in addition to the medical supplies sent to over 50 African countries and the African Union, and seven medical expert teams dispatched to the continent, China would do all in its power in the future to give more assistance to Africa.
He said to build consensus on uniting to fight against the pandemic, an extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19 was convened on Wednesday via video link and a joint declaration was issued.
In view of this, Mr Wang noted that, China will start ahead of scheduled the construction of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) headquarters this year.
“China will work with Africa to fully deliver the health care initiative adopted at the Beijng summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and speed up the construction of China-Africa friendship hospitals and the cooperation between paired-up Chinese and African hospitals,” he said.
He pledged that once the development of COVID-19 vaccine was completed in China, African countries would be among the first to benefit, and urged African countries to stay committed to enhancing China-Africa cooperation, especially in public health, economic reopening and people’s livelihood.
He revealed that, within the FOCAC, China will cancel the debt of relevant African countries in the form of interest-free government loans that are due to mature by the end of 2020.
“For those African countries that are hardest hit by the COVID-19 and are under heavy financial stress, China will work with the global community to give them greater support by such means as further extending the period of debt suspension,” he added.
He pledged his support to working closely to build a community with a shared future with Ghana to defeat the virus as China-Ghana marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic relations.
Receiving the items, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, the Deputy Minister of Health, thanked the Chinese government and its citizens resident in Ghana for their sustained support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that government was constantly monitoring the situation and would take measures that would help the country overcome the pandemic.
Present at the ceremony were Dr Darius Osei, Chief Executive Officer of UGMC, Dr Ebenezer Oduro Owusu, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana (UG) and some leaders of the Chinese Community in Ghana.
Source: Ghanaian Times
Medical Doctor and dietician, Dr Bernice Korkor Asare, has urged women to take greater responsibility for their lifestyle choices, particularly their eating habits and levels of physical activity, to help reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
According to her, although, some breast cancer risk factors, such as family history and certain reproductive factors, may not be within an individual’s control, lifestyle choices offer an opportunity for people to take preventive action.
She made this known during a talk on the topic: “Role of diet in breast cancer prevention” organised by Times Ladies Association of the New Times Corporation, publishers of The Ghanaian Times and The Spectator, in Accra on Thursday.
The event themed “Breast Cancer Awareness- Promoting Early Detection, Healthy Eating and Prevention.” 
She noted that having a risk factor did not automatically mean a person would develop breast cancer, but could increase the likelihood of developing the disease compared with someone without that particular risk factor.
“Having close relatives who have had breast cancer, particularly a mother, sister or daughter, may increase the risk, although not everyone with a family history will develop the disease,” Dr Asare opined. Read More.
By Adizatu K. Munkaila
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A group of compassionate friends from Innovation Gospel Impact last Friday visited the management, teachers and learners of the Street Academy in Accra.
The visit was to interact to get a deeper insight into the operations of the Academy that houses hundreds of street and underprivileged children and find ways to support them.
The team was led by Rev. Dr Isaac Apenteng Yeboah, a former Director for West African Mailbox Club and Director for Prisons Support Foundation, and Rev. Dale Sutherland from Washington DC.
The call, according to the visitors was occasioned by reports about the struggles of the Academy despite the occasional support it enjoys from individuals and some corporate entities.
Briefing them, the Founder and Executive Director of the Academy, Dr Ataa Lartey, thanked them for the concern showed, indicating that “this is a major boost for both teachers and learners; knowing that their plight is known by people outside their premises.”
According Dr Lartey, the Academy had planned to undertake a number of project to enhance teaching and learning and also procure facilities for the children with keen interest in sports but had to shelve those plans for lack of finance.
He told the team that their biggest concerns were the monthly utility bills that takes a toll on their finances.
“We have a piece of land we planned to turn into an astro turf pitch to train the younger ones whose interests lies in making a career out of football, however, we have been unable to commence because there is no money now,” he said.
Dr Lartey expressed gratitude to the teachers who have dedicated their lives to training these children, rather than going for well-paying jobs and hoped that with time, their conditions of engagement would improve.
Moved by the plight of the Academy, the group donated a cash amount of Gh₵3,000 to settle its water bills.
They described as unfortunate the conditions of learners and teachers of the Academy and pledged to continuously support their operations to realize the dream to build a better future for the unfortunate children.
The group offered to support the school with its monthly utility bills, feeding and staff allowance and urged the Academy staff to remain in constant touch with them.
The Street Academy is located at the Accra Art Center and offers brilliant but needy the chance to pursue their educational dreams by enrolling them in public schools with others offered training in sports and cultural activities.
By Spectator Reporter
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