The Head of the Weija Leprosarium, Rev Father Andrew Campbell has appealed to Government to include lepers in the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme in order to give them needed relief.
According to him, LEAP support would provide regular meal for the inmates of the various leprosaria and also reduce their level of poverty.
Rev. Fr. Campbell made the appeal when the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and family threw a big pre- Christmas party for over 100 lepers at his residence in Accra.
“I have never experienced such joy in my almost 48 years of priesthood. To be invited with my precious jewels (lepers) to the home of the Vice President, to sit, eat and dance with him is just wonderful, and we are most grateful Your Excellency.â€
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon Mrs Cynthia Morrison, who was accompanied by her deputy, Hon Mrs Gifty Twum-Ampofo, assured him of greater governmental support for the vulnerable, especially the lepers.
She said that the request by the Rev Father Campbell would receive very serious attention. “This is a listening government, and I can assure you, Fr Campbell, that your appeal will receive very serious attention.â€
The main objective of the LEAP programme is to reduce poverty by increasing consumption and promoting access to services and opportunities among the extreme poor and vulnerable.
It also to improve basic household consumption and nutrition among children below 5 years of age, the aged (65 years and above without productive capacity) and people with severe disability; and to increase access to health care services among children below 5 years of age, the aged (65 years and above without productive capacity) and people with severe disability.
Also present at the party were Hon Joseph Osei Owusu, MP for Bekwai and 1st Deputy Speaker of Parliament; Dr Anthony Nsiah Asare, Director General of the Ghana Health Service; Hon Dr Kwabena Twum-Nuamah, MP for Berekum West and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health; Hon Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, MP for Ledzokuku and Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital; Pharm Audu Rauf (PhD), Registrar of the Pharmacy Council; and Ms Naa Torshie Addo, Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund, who is also a very strong advocate for lepers in Ghana.
, December 11, 2019