DFID Country Director inspects projects

The Country Director of the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom (UK), Mr Philip Smith, has visited some projects being carried out by BasicNeeds-Ghana in Accra.

The tour is to enable Mr Smith to familiarise himself with some of the DFID-funded projects in Ghana, having recently taken over the administration of DFID in the country.

He was accompanied by the Health Adviser of DFID, Mrs Luisa Hannah, and Mr Archie Laing of DFID health department. The team visited the Nima 441 community where the members interacted with some beneficiaries of projects.

Psychiatric hospital

They also visited the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, where the Medical Director, Dr Appau Pinaman, conducted them round the forensic, observation and female wards.

Dr Pinaman appealed for support to rehabilitate some parts of the hospital to make it more habitable and safe for patients and staff.

Impact

For his part, the Executive Director of BasicNeeds-Ghana, Mr Peter Badimak Yaro, said the organisation was focused on reaching out to the poor and vulnerable persons, especially those with mental illness and their families.

He commended the DFID for its funding, stating that more than 36,299 people had benefited from health treatment.

He said BasicNeeds-Ghana was focused on making persons living with mental problems useful to themselves and their communities.

Mr Yaro also urged the public to stop stigmatising persons with mental illness or epilepsy.