CHRISTIAN NGO SUPPORTS RURAL COMMUNITIES (PAGE 15, OCT 16, 2010)

A Christian non-governmental organisation (NGO), the  Meaningful Life International (MLI), is making impact on the lives of some deprived rural communities in the country by supporting them with boreholes and free medical care.  
The communities dotted across the country include Jumpo in the Nkwanta District of the Volta Region, Opijua in Kokomba South, Yadodo in the Wulensi District of the Northern Region, Chasea and Sietore in the Jirapa District of the Upper West Region and Kpakplabuni communities, as well as Jyanvuuri in the Wa East District.
Other beneficiary communities are some cocoa farming communities in the Ashanti, Eastern and Brong Ahafo regions and Ga Rural. 
An industrial technologist and Chief Executive of the Meaningful Life International, Pastor  Godwin Ahlijah, told the Daily Graphic that the gospel was not just about preaching but also improving upon the living conditions of deprived people.
He said: ' There is the need to empower  individuals to fulfil their God-given dreams'.
Pastor Ahlijah also stressed the need for the local people to be oriented to basic management and creativity skills to free their minds from poverty, which was mind-related. 
He said the MLI had trained the local people in basic management techniques to enable them to undertake maintenance and repair works on the boreholes.
Pastor Ahlijah said they were also encouraged to form water committees. 
He explained that one of the objectives  of the Meaningful Life International was to support the needy in deprived communities. He announced that MLI would embark on a project to operate a mobile  medical van system which would provide affordable  medical care and educate rural folks on their health needs in support of the efforts of the government in providing quality and affordable healthcare to the underprivildged in the country.
Pastor Ahlijah said in line with the vision, the  Meaningful Life International had with support from its local and foreign partners completed the first phase of the medical centre off the Afienya road  at a cost of US$ 430,000  to serve as the hub of the operations of the mobilie  Medical Van. 
The Executive Director said the medical centre would have a 52-bed ward, a well-equipped surgical theatre, intensive care unit, conference facility for the training of health personnel and modern facilities estimated to cost over US$ 800,000 when completed.
Pastor  Ahlijah said water-related diseases were some of the major challenges rural dwellers suffered and this called for  the provision of potable water to enable the people to access clean and disease -free water. 
He said a medical team led by Dr (Mrs)  Lenusia Ahlijah of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital  made the assessment when the team visited many rural areas including cocoa- growing villages in the West Akim District in collaboration  with  the Meaningful Life International. Some of the communities visited included: Mensah Krom, Roll Call on the Asamankese-Nsawam road and Akyease among others.   
  Pastor Ahlijah said the medical team, made up of  laboratory technicians, nurses, doctors and community health nurses numbering about 20, went on each trip.
Pastor Ahlijah expressed the view that the mobile medical van system would help expand  programmes of the MLI and enable the  medical team to treat the rural dwellers at their doorsteps while referring those in critical condition to hospitals at a minimal fee.
He said the MLI was considering to partner the National Health Insurance Scheme to offer healthcare-related services for a minimal fee.
Pastor Ahlijah called on all Christian organisations to join hands to support the deprived in society  not only by providing them with health care and potable water, but also construct educational facilities to help accommodate the ever- increasing number of schoolchildren.