NGO undertakes Ebola and cholera education

A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), with support from UKAID, has embarked on a six-month awareness creation project on Ebola and cholera in Accra.

A behavioural change communication (BCC) intervention, the project aims to use evidence-based strategies to educate people on the prevention of cholera and Ebola. 

The project targets at least 70 per cent of “at risk groups” to educate them on the modes of transmission, signs and symptoms of Ebola and cholera and ways of preventing their transmission. 

Working in 200 communities in 10 districts, the team has so far visited seven districts and forged close working relationships with regional directors of health, regional School Health Education Programme (SHEP) co-ordinators, regional co-ordinating councils , district directorates of health, district SHEP co-ordinators, metro/ district assemblies, the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) and the Information Services Department, among others.

According to the Communications Officer-Ebola and Cholera Project, Ms Jacqueline Daku-Mante, the team had also met about 250 executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and also trained volunteers  within Ashaiman, Accra. 

She said five schools — three from Ashaiman and two from Sakumono — had also been sensitised.   

The NGO has also organised an orientation seminar for some media personnel to update them on issues of cholera and Ebola as well as on the activities of HFFG in that direction.

The media orientation was also to help decrease the stigmatisation and misconceptions about Ebola and cholera. 

HFFG is a non-governmental organisation established in June 2001 with a focus on women and children and  with a  mission to implement rights-based pro-poor interventions that improve the education, health and socio-economic status of women, children and communities through participatory and sustainable processes using community resources.