United Way, Prudential Life Insurance partner for health advocacy in Chorkor

A partnership between United Way Ghana, an NGO focused on sustainability and climate change initiatives, and Prudential Life Insurance Ghana has launched the "Pru Climate Action" project, aimed at fostering a cleaner and safer environment in coastal communities.

The initiative, unveiled at the Chemunaa South 4 Cluster of Schools in Accra, seeks to educate students and community members as change ambassadors while tackling environmental challenges such as open defecation and plastic waste. The collaboration involves several schools, including Saint Moses Basic School, St. George’s Basic School, Mamprobi South 4 Basic School, Chemunaa Basic School, and Chorkor Presbyterian Basic School. With a $100,000 investment, the project will fund the construction of a 20-seater washroom facility for the schools, the building of 100 bio-digester toilets to curb open defecation, and the enrolment of 300 community members into the National Health Insurance Scheme. A year-long advocacy campaign will also promote attitudinal change toward environmental sustainability.

A board member of United Way Ghana, Madam Jane Butler, emphasised the urgency of collective action against climate change. She stated that the effects of climate change are already being felt and must be mitigated through shared responsibility. She stressed that the initiative offers tangible solutions to protect communities while focusing on safeguarding indigenous populations and building a healthier future.

The CEO of Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Jane Mingle, called on community leaders to prioritise environmental protection to prevent diseases like cholera. She revealed plans to partner with Zoomlion to educate students on the importance of recycling plastics into household items such as chairs and bowls. She reaffirmed that this is a yearly commitment aimed at driving sustainable change.

The initiative has received widespread praise. Madam Georgina Rabbles, Circuit Supervisor of the Chemunaa Sub-Metro District Education Service, applauded the provision of washroom facilities, lamenting the lack of such amenities in Chorkor and Chemunaa. She assured that measures would be put in place to ensure the facilities are well maintained for future generations.

Dr Louisa Matey, Director for the Sub-Metro of the Ghana Health Service, linked poor sanitation to recent cholera outbreaks, urging students to shun open defecation and embrace cleanliness. She stressed that the lack of basic amenities has greatly affected the community and described the project as a step in the right direction.

The Assemblyman for Chorkor, Theophilus Quaye, highlighted the sanitation disparity between the northern and southern parts of the community. He explained that the northern part, once inhabited by Europeans before independence, has toilet facilities, while the southern coastal belt suffers. He expressed gratitude for the intervention and appealed for more support.

As part of the initiative, the partnership donated essential sanitation tools, including shovels, hand wash stations, dustbins, standing brooms, cutlasses, wheelbarrows, and a tricycle. Receiving the items, the Queen of Chorkor, Naa Adorkor Gyamfi I, expressed gratitude and pledged their effective use. To mark the official commencement of the project, Nii Adotey II, a community leader, broke ground for the 20-seater toilet facility, signalling the start of construction.